All about door knobs
We use them every day, often without noticing: door fittings open our doors. In Germany, the door handle is the most common door fitting. Internationally, however, the door knob is more widespread. Find out here what special features it has and where it is often used in Germany.
Door handle versus door knob
With the door latch, the handle is a lever that you push down. The mechanism inside the door pulls back the latch and the door opens. A great advantage of this is the ease of use: if you have both hands full, you can also operate the door handle with your elbow in an emergency. For this reason, door handles are very often used on room doors. The disadvantage is security: even small children or pets quickly find out how a door handle works - if you want to be sure that a door with a handle stays shut, you have to resort to a lock and key.
The doorknob - also known as a door knob or lever handle - on the other hand is a round door handle. To open the door, you have to turn it. Since this can only be done with a free hand and a certain degree of fine motor skills, doors with a door knob cannot be opened by small children or pets.
Doorknobs in Germany
In Germany, the door knob is rarely found on room doors, but mostly in the form of interchangeable sets or protective rosette sets with a fixed knob - usually made of stainless steel.
A knob handle door set consists of a door handle on the inside of the door and a door knob on the outside, which cannot be turned. Such a door can only be opened from the outside with a key and is therefore often used as a front door. In the case of the door knob of a changeable set, the lock can be housed under the knob in a separate rosette or, in the case of a long plate, in the door plate. However, the lock can also be integrated directly into the door knob.
A security rosette set also has a lever handle on the inside and a fixed door knob on the outside. The special feature of this lever handle set is an additional pull protection on the inside of the door and a burglar-proof stainless steel protective rosette on the outside under the door knob.
Other door knob types
Since door knobs enjoy great popularity internationally, there are other types of door knobs with different functions:
In many countries, a lever handle set with a turnable knob on each side and without a lock is the counterpart to the conventional door handle for room doors that do not have to be lockable.
Handle sets are like a "little sister" of the lever handle set, where there is a rotating door knob with an integrated lock on the outside. On the inside of the door, it is complemented by a door knob that can also be turned, in the middle of which there is a button. If the knob is not pressed, the set functions exactly like the simple door knob set for room doors. If the knob is pressed, the door can be opened from the inside by simply turning it, but from the outside only with a key. This variant is mainly used for side entrances of private houses, as well as in business premises and offices.
The same system is also available without a lock on the outside, i.e. the door can only be opened from the inside when the button is pressed. This is mainly used for bathrooms, WCs and other rooms where privacy is desired.
Doorknob design
Regardless of function, door knobs come in just about every design, style and material. For ergonomic reasons, most are round, but there are also cylindrical designs.
A fitting made of iron or brass with ornaments or antique patina fits wonderfully with the country house style or very traditional interiors. A combination of metal and wood also goes well with this style - or to add a warm touch to a modern home.
Minimalist versions made of aluminium, chrome and stainless steel are the all-rounders among door knobs. They are available in a polished finish or - very much in vogue today - in a matt brushed finish. This finish harmonises particularly well with the hygge style, but also with minimalist interiors. With Griffwerk, you also get stylish and haptically pleasant versions in black or cashmere grey.
Plastic sets have the advantage that they are very easy to clean and are available in a wide range of colours. However, they are somewhat less durable.
No matter what the purpose, the door or the style: beautiful door knobs are available for everyone.
