| Installing a door knocker may seem like a | | | | If you purchase a replacement door knocker |
| simple project, but it seems that there are a | | | | with a different bolt center dimension you |
| few questions to be answered before getting | | | | will need to drill another hole through the |
| started. | | | | door. The further problem is there will be an |
| | | | unused hole in the door that must be covered |
| I just had one of the best laughs I have ever | | | | or filled. |
| had. While watching one of my favorite TV | | | | |
| shows, the main characters walked up to a | | | | It is usually preferable to find a |
| house to knock on the door. I had to look | | | | replacement door knocker using the same bolt |
| twice but there it was, a beautiful little | | | | center dimension but this is not always |
| urn style door knocker not only mounted way | | | | possible. There is no standard and the bolt |
| to high on the door, but it was installed | | | | center is usually determined by the design of |
| upside down. This situation required a very | | | | the door knocker itself. |
| tall visitor to use a door knocker that | | | | |
| probably could not generate enough knock to | | | | And now what seems like the hundred thousand |
| be effective. | | | | dollar question for door knocker |
| | | | installation. Where do I mount it on the |
| Needless to say, knuckles were used instead. | | | | door? |
| | | | |
| This was a good laugh but it did expose a | | | | The pattern and design of the door itself may |
| reality to a guy who sells door knockers for | | | | dictate where the knocker is mounted. There |
| a living. | | | | always seems to be the lingering question of |
| | | | how high? |
| Door knockers are usually purchased that uses | | | | |
| either surface mounting or through the door | | | | Once again there is no standard but logic |
| mounting. | | | | should dictate that the average person should |
| | | | be able to reach the door knocker for it to |
| Surface mounting would be the simplest. | | | | be used. Even if you intend the knocker to be |
| Screws pass through the body of the door | | | | purely ornamental and not be used, it just |
| knocker and into the door behind. | | | | does not look right if it is located way to |
| | | | high or low. |
| Through the door mounting as the name | | | | |
| implies, uses bolts that pass through the | | | | A typical height from the bottom of the door |
| door and screws into the door knocker to hold | | | | would be around 5 feet, or about eye level of |
| it in place. | | | | an average person, give or take a bit to |
| | | | match the pattern of the door. |
| The through the door method is a bit more | | | | |
| complicated because holes must be drilled | | | | As a final thought, a door knocker really |
| through the door to match the mounting points | | | | should be mounted on the door itself, not |
| on the door knocker. To complicate matters | | | | next to it. Once again if the knocker is |
| many times the mounting bolts themselves must | | | | there for purely ornamental reasons it may |
| be cut to the proper length to match the | | | | make little difference but if you are |
| width of the door. | | | | expecting results from it that is another |
| | | | case. The tap of the knocker will not |
| If you are replacing an existing door knocker | | | | resonate through the door jam or wall |
| that uses through the door mounting you must | | | | effectively enough to be heard well on the |
| find a new door knocker that uses the exact | | | | other side. |
| same bolt pattern, or, as it is properly | | | | |
| called, bolt center as the previous one has. | | | | A door knocker is a wonderful inexpensive |
| | | | addition to your home that can add charm and |
| The bolt center measurement is the exact | | | | warmth to your entrance. Once installed it |
| distance from the center of one mounting bolt | | | | should require little attention or |
| to the center of another mounting bolt. | | | | maintenance for many years to come. |
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