How to Choose Glass Door Handles
If you’re wondering what size pulls you should choose for your glass door, you have come to the right place.
Pulls are like jewelry that complete the look of a space by adding that finishing touch to the design.
When working with clients, they often ask our opinion about choosing the right size glass door handles to fit the look they are trying to achieve.
While design is really very personal and there are no set in stone rules for selecting the best size cabinet pulls, there are some general rules of thumb we follow.
Pull handles are an essential component of many types of furniture. You can find them on dressers, chests of drawers, cabinets and more. If a piece of furniture has drawers, it will likely have handles. Some machines, in fact, even have handles, with pull handles being one of the most common types of handles. You shouldn’t use any pull handles. Rather, you should consider the five following things to choose the right pull handles.
#1) Length
You’ll need to consider the length when choosing pull handles. Some of them have a short length, whereas others have a longer length. If a pull handle is too short, you may have trouble gripping it. If it’s too long, on the other hand, the pull handle may not fit. Take measurements of the furniture or machine with which you intend to use them, after which you can choose pull handles in an appropriate length.
#2) Threaded or Unthreaded Through Holes
All pull handles have through holes. To install a pull handle, you’ll have to drive fasteners into these holes so that the pull handle connects to the furniture or machine. With that said, pull handle through holes can be either threaded or unthreaded. Threaded through holes are designed to support bolts and similar fasteners in a specific size. You can still use pull handles with unthreaded through holes, but you’ll have to create the threading yourself.
#3) Grip Style
Something else to consider when choosing pull handles is the grip style. Pull handles require gripping to use. You’ll have to grip the pull handle, followed by pulling it to open the drawer or machine on which it’s installed. There are different types of grip styles for pull handles, though. Some of them use a rectangular grip style. Other pull handles use an oval or round grip style.
#4) Material
Don’t forget to consider the material when choosing pull handles. Different pull handles are made of different materials. One of the most popular materials is stainless steel. Pull handles made of this popular iron alloy are strong and resistant to corrosion.
#5) Finish
You should consider the finish when choosing pull handles. Regardless of the material from which they are made, many pull handles support finishes. You can find pull handles with a chrome finish as well as a dull finish. There are also pull handles with an anodized finish. Anodization is an electrochemical finishing process that’s designed to coat in a given surface in a corrosion-resistant substance.
Finishes
There are many finishes to choose from. When it comes down to it, the finish selection comes down to personal preference, but we do offer a couple of things to keep in mind:
Finishes vary. Finishes can differ widely across different manufacturers. One company’s Satin Brass may be entirely different than another’s. For this reason, we strongly suggest seeing finishes in person, especially if you are looking to match nearby fixtures.
Living Finishes: A living finish means the color can be expected to change and age over time. Depending on the finish and base material of your hardware, you could expect your hardware with a living finish to lighten, darken, or even turn a beautiful turquoise green. These finishes can give your hardware added character and make your home look more historic. If you are interested in how your particular finish could change, contact us and we would be happy to elaborate further.
PVD and Lifetime Finishes: Color changing hardware not your thing? Look into products that are lacquered or powder coated to resist the elements and keep your hardware looking new. For even added longevity, many manufacturers offer PVD or Lifetime finishes that undergo a high tech electroplating process to greatly extend the finish’s lifespan.
Materials
Oftentimes the base material of the hardware is overlooked. However, the material of your hardware can greatly affect its long term appearance and lifespan. We highly recommend choosing hardware made of brass, bronze, aluminum, or stainless steel. These high-quality materials will provide the best finish and the longest lifetime.
You’ll also want to determine if the hardware you are looking at is solid or hollow. Typically, hollow products are nowhere near as sturdy as their solid counterparts and are much more susceptible to damage. However, top of the line manufacturer, FSB, has developed hollow levers that perform just as well, if not better than solid products. These masterfully engineered levers are extraordinarily strong, while the lightweight designs reduce lever sag.
Brass
Brass provides an excellent base for high-quality finishes. Specialty finishes like antique brass, relieved bronze, and burnished nickel, look notably better when over brass, rather than steel or zinc. Brass is also a very hardy material well suited for exteriors or damp environments like bathrooms.
For solid brass door hardware, you can expect to pay upwards of $80 per set.
Bronze
Bronze is an old-world material with incredible durability. With its naturally uneven texture, it is a beautiful choice for those desiring hardware with a rustic or handmade appearance. The large majority of finishes over bronze are living finishes which means you can expect your hardware to gain even more character than what you see out of the box.
Solid bronze hardware tends to be more expensive than brass. Sets start at about $110 each.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is well known for its strength in coastal environments. Although it is extremely durable, stainless steel still can rust. Luckily, the rust can be easily buffed away. Due to low malleability, stainless steel designs tend to be relatively simple in shape. This makes it an excellent option for modern designs.
Stainless steel sets begin around $75 each.
For more in-depth information about hardware materials, read our Decorative Hardware Material Guide.
Overall Quality
The overall quality is one of the most important aspects to consider when purchasing your door hardware. You will likely be using your door handles every day for years to come. It’s wise to invest in something that is as reliable as possible.
There are a number of factors that play into the quality of hardware including the materials, internal components, and manufacturing process. However, you can typically get a good idea of a handle’s quality based on where it is made. In particular, the United States, Europe, and Australia are known for producing the highest quality hardware.
You may want to consider checking the manufacturer’s warranty as well. In the event that your hardware does fail, a good warranty policy could save you hundreds of dollars. When reading a company’s warranty, be sure to note what is covered. Some manufacturers may not cover the hardware’s finish or electronics, or the warranty may not be honored if the home is near the coast.
When in doubt, ask your salesperson for feedback about product quality! San Diego Hardware has been selling door handles since 1892 which means we have a lot of insight about the lifecycle of hardware from different brands.
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