Door Closers
Door closers are devices that automatically close doors after they have been opened. Door closers can be fitted to all types of doors, wooden doors, upvc doors, metal doors and glass doors.
Types of door closers
There are various types of door closers.
Overhead door closers are fitted at the top of doors.
Internal door closers that are fitted in/morticed into the door.
Transom door closers are fitted in the top of the frame and are usually found on metal or glass doors.
You can get door closers that are fitted into the floor.
Another type of door closer you can get is called a surface mounted door closer
Wooden door closers or door closers for wooden doors.
Wooden door closers generally consist of 3 types. The first type is an overhead door closer which has a rectangular shaped box mounted on the door with the arm attached to the box/closer, then the arm attached to the frame.
The second type of wooden door closers is a mortised door closer which is fitted into the middle of the door. The tubular closers is generally fitted into the door and a chain is attached internally with a mounting piece that is fitted to the frame.
The third type of door closer is used on lighter doors, usually internal doors and is called a surface mounted door closer. As the name suggests it is mounted on the frame with an arm that is wound up to the required tension to make the door close.
Wooden door closers can come in different sizes and each size is able to close different weight doors. Some door closers are classed as light weight door closers some are classed as heavy weight door closers.
Metal door closers or door closers for metal doors.
Metal door closers come in two main types. The first type is mounted/fixed into the ground and is called a floor door closer or sometimes called a floor door closer spring. The floor closer is housed in a metal box that is then cemented/concreted into the ground.
The second type is an overhead door closers but is mounted internally and called a transom door closer. Both of these types of closers not only act as the closer but also the pivot that the door swings on. On these types of doors you won’t see any hinges.
The door closers mentioned above can also come with a hold open facility. This means that when the door is opened to 90* it will stay open or be held open.
Glass door closers or door closers for glass doors.
Glass door closers are generally the same as metal door closers mentioned above.
Installation of door closers
Installation of a door closer can vary in complexity depending on the type of door closer and the type of door the closer is being fitted on.
Installation of overhead door closers for wooden doors.
Overhead door closers for wooden doors can be fitted with a drill, screwdriver and maybe a chisel. Most tradesmen who know what they are doing should be able to fit this type of door closer easily within an hour.
Installation of internal mortised door closer.
Internal mortised door closers can be fitted with a drill, sometimes an extra long drill bit, screwdriver and a chisel. The complexity of fitting an internal door closer can depend If the door closer can be fitted with the door still in the frame, if it can be fitted in situ then it should be fitted within an hour. If the door has to be taken out of the frame it can add an extra hour, maybe two hours, this varies depending on the condition of the screws in the hinges and weight of the door.
Installation of surface mounted door closer for wooden doors.
A surface mounted door closer for a wooden door is generally the easiest type of door closer to fit and can be fitted with a screwdriver. Most surface mounted door closers only have about 6 screws so shouldn’t take more than 30-60 minutes.
Installation of door closers for metal doors.
The installation of the overhead metal door closers called a transom door closers take place at the time when the door and frame are being manufactured. The transom door closers can wear out and oil can sometimes be seen leaking down the door and frame. To replace the faulty transom door closers the door would have to be removed, the frame cover plate removed, this would then allow the transom closer to be bolted and removed. The new transom door could be refitted bolted back in, cover plated refitted and lastly the door lifted back into place.
Door closers adjustments
Some door closers operate on a spring to adjust the power/tension, some door closers use hydraulic systems to adjust them.
Wooden door closer adjustments
Overhead door closers usually have adjustments to adjust the closing speed and force. Usually there can be 2 overhead door closer adjustments, 1 adjusts the speed/force from the closed position “0” to “45” degrees, the 2nd adjusts the speed/force from “45” to “90” degrees.
Mortised door closers usually only have one adjustment. The force of the closer is adjusted by winding the chain to apply more pressure to the spring. This will make the door close with more or less force.
The surface mounted door closers are adjusted by placing the closer arm and winding it up to the required tension the screwing in the arm in the required place.
Metal door closer adjustments.
Overhead metal door closers called transom door closers are usually adjusted via two screws. One screw adjusts the closing/force from 0-45* and the other adjusts the closing/force from 45-90*.
Some door closers may only have 1 adjustment which is the force/power in which the door closes.
