Architectural Hardware

Understanding Architectural Door Hardware

At DAWSON, we have manufactured every solution to open doors for our customers for over 75 years. DAWSON Doors are engineered and manufactured to meet our customer’s requirements. We do not limit our customers with a couple of standard offerings.

DAWSON Doors are custom manufactured in your choice of hanging solutions and any commercial or custom pull available to your exacting specification.

Choosing the best option to hang and operate an entrance for your unique project can make a difference.

Let DAWSON Doors help make hardware easy for you.

Understanding the difference in door hanging hardware.

NOTE: most all hardware available, including DAWSON Balanced, available in matching door finishes.

Hardware represented below shown to highlight application.

DAWSON Balanced Door

Balanced door hanging hardware is used to create doors that can easily open and close even in high wind conditions or areas with significant air pressure differences (like tall buildings), as the design distributes the force of wind and stack pressure around the door, allowing for smooth operation with minimal effort needed to open or close the door, especially when dealing with heavy or large door leaves; essentially, the door “balances” itself against these external forces.
Offset Pivot

Offset pivot door hanging hardware is used to allow a door to swing open fully without hitting the door frame, particularly in situations where space is limited, by positioning the pivot point slightly off-center from the door’s edge, enabling a wider opening and clearing obstructions like wall trim or protruding objects; this is especially beneficial for commercial spaces with heavy traffic or large equipment that needs to pass through doorways.
Continuous Hinge

Continuous hinge door hanging hardware is used because it distributes the weight of a door evenly along the full length of the frame, preventing sagging, ensuring smooth operation, and making it ideal for heavy doors or high traffic areas where regular hinges might wear out quickly due to constant stress on the top hinge; essentially, it provides better stability and longevity compared to standard hinges.
Center Pivoted

Center pivot door hanging hardware is used because it allows doors to swing smoothly and effortlessly around a central point, evenly distributing the door’s weight, which is ideal for large or heavy doors, providing a balanced opening and minimizing friction while offering a sleek, modern aesthetic; it’s often preferred in situations where you need a door to swing freely in both directions without taking up extra space.
Butt Hinge
With a simple design, butt hinges provide smooth opening and closing motion with proper installation by DAWSON.

Unlike concealed hinges, butt hinges are visible when the door is closed, which can be preferred for a traditional aesthetic.