Door hardware brand suggestions needed.

[skunkman]

I need to choose door hardware for my house under construction. Any advice on brands. I want something high quality with hopes it will withstand the salt air. We will be using a rubbed bronze appearance.

TIA

[dukegrad98]

If memory serves, my recent build was all Emtek -- also in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. It's not quite a year old yet, but under commercial office duty, it's holding up well.

Cheers, John

[Hoosier]

Look into Baldwin...

[rockpool]

my advice - get keypads on all external doors. I use kwikset units because I like the idea of being able to re-key all the locks easily if needs be.

not that I even bother carrying a key anymore

[crash]

If money is no object, then these are a pretty good choice...

Residential Locks

I have never sen a better lock set than what they offer, but then again, I'm not a locksmith!

[Kiwiracer]

I have installed thousands of handle sets. Literally.

The Baldwin is overpriced & has too many parts that can fail or come out of alignment. Same with Jado, Omnia etc.
Medeco, get a professional installer. They have a great exterior security rating, but see final note below.

Standard brands such as Schlage or kwikset have dropped in quality or "feel" over the last few years, but are a good low price alternative if you don't mind some play in the handles. Good range of styles also.

Emtek is a good choice, just make sure the installer uses the alignment bushing. Note you may have to ream out the latch bore to a full inch as most door shops only bore 7/8 & the privacy latch will NOT fit without that adjustment.

Just completed an installation of Copper Creek hardware. Excellent design concept as there is no left/right handing & each handle can be a privacy or passage depending which end caps ( supplied ) you use. Concealed screws also. If you can count you cant mess up the take-off lol. Feel is similar to a Schlage or kwikset.

Final note. All exterior hardware in Florida is GUARANTEED TO TARNISH.
Lifetime finish included. I personally like the oil rubbed finish as it gains a "patina" as opposed to looking worn out or corroded.

[TBullard]

Originally Posted by rockpool

my advice - get keypads on all external doors. I use kwikset units because I like the idea of being able to re-key all the locks easily if needs be.

not that I even bother carrying a key anymore

I agree about the keypads I put them on a few years back and wouldn't go back.

[ROB J]

I have a house full of Emtek. Built my house in 07-08. The oil rubbed dark bronze is nice, but it wears off of the high wear areas of the lock sets, handles over time. But, as Kiwi said, it doesn't look that bad, as it develops more of a patina type of look. The exterior sets have so far held up well to the brutal humid exterior here in Miami.

[skunkman]

Thanks for the advice. I will look into the Emtek. The keypad is a great5 idea since it is a second home and I could give someone the code to get in if needed.

[Kiwiracer]

x3 on the keypad. I have one my kids use when they lose their key.
In other words, all the time....

[CraigS]

We did key pads a couple of years ago using Schlage brand. I don't know anything about quality although ours seem fine. But we love the key pads. So nice not to need a key. I don't have to have a key hidden outside anymore. And we made the door combination the same as the alarm code so easy to get in the house even when the alram is set. One caution on the pads. Make sure to get one that has all ten digits on seperate buttons.My friend has one w/ three numbers per button and that just doesn't seem as good to me as you can have many codes that end up w/ the same buttons being pushed.

[ROB J]

Keith, don't forget to run CCTV cabling, so I can set you up with some surveillance equipment, so you can keep an eye on the house via your Smartphone, Smart Tablet, PC, MAC while you are away.