Door closers are used to automatically close a door after someone has opened it. They are most commonly installed on fire doors to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke, but can also be fitted on other doors for a variety of other reasons, including:
- To maintain room temperatures.
- To provide security and privacy.
- To control noise.
There are many types of door closers, including surface mounted door closers, such as medium duty door closers and electro-magnetic door closers, as well as concealed door closers, such as concealed in door closer and floor springs (which are concealed closers fitted into the floor).
Most door closers feature dampers which allow users to control the speed and force at which the door closes. This feature is highly important to prevent injuries. If door closers are not operating properly, we would recommend replacing them for new ones. This guide will provide you with instructions to install a concealed door closer.
If you have not purchased a door closer, we would recommend our best-selling closers for internal doors weighing up to 75kg/165lbs: polished brass Perkomatic concealed hydraulic closer and satin chrome Perkomatic concealed hydraulic closer. For heavier doors, we have available heavy-duty door closers, and for any other doors, please feel free to browse through our whole selection of door closers.
Materials.
- Door closer
- Drill
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Tape
- Pencil
- Door wedge
- Pliers
- Ruler
Instructions.
Firstly, you’ll have to consider the location. Door closers must be installed within 12 inches (300mm) of a door hinge and no more than 39 inches (1000mm) from the floor for timber doors and 31 inches (800mm) from the floor for steel doors.
Place a door wedge under the door to ensure the door is locked in place. Use a pencil to mark the position of the closer on the edge of the door. Use a ruler to ensure that the mark is in the middle of the door.
Hold the barrel of the door closer next to the drill bit and mark the depth of the closer on the drill bit. This will help you know when to stop drilling.
Slide the barrel into the hole you’ve just drilled and mark the edges of the closer plate with a pencil. Take the barrel out and chisel inside the pencil line to get the depth of the plate. Reinsert the barrel to ensure that you’ve chiselled enough.
Remove the barrel and place it over the door frame in-line with the hole you’ve already made on the door itself. Use a pencil to mark around the closer plate and chisel within that section to fit the anchor plate of the closer.
Insert the barrel on the door and use pliers to rotate the anchor plate. Secure the closer on the door edge with the supplied fixings.
Use pliers to pull the anchor plate away and use a holding clip to stop the chain being pulled back inside the barrel. Secure the anchor plate onto the door frame by drilling its fixings into place.
Remove the holding clip with pliers and test how the door closes. Be very careful when removing the holding clip (we always recommend having a door stop in place, so that the door doesn’t quickly close after the installation of a door closer and injure the operator).
If you have any question regarding our ironmongery products, contact our team at info@ironmongeryexperts.co.uk or call us 01376 557 561. We have a wide range of door closers and other door control products available for sale.
Disclaimer
At Ironmongery Experts we strongly advise that you always take safety precautions into consideration when undertaking a DIY project. We also strongly suggest that you closely read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of any building materials, products or tools you use for your projects.
We try our best to provide clear and correct instructions within our articles, so you can easily complete any DIY project you desire. However, please note that the information we provide should only be used as a guideline and that some information within the text may not be entirely accurate.
When using our articles for information and advice, please note that is your own responsibility to determine your capabilities when undertaking and executing the task you wish to complete.
Before starting a DIY task, we strongly recommend that you educate yourself of any existing building, gas, water and electrical works regulations. We believe it is in your best interest to complete further research and/or contact the necessary professional body should you have any further concerns.
We also strongly recommend that a qualified tradesperson completes the relevant safety tests and checks on any DIY you have completed.
