Door Knockers

For that distinctive touch to add to your front door entrance, you may want to investigate installing a doorknocker rather than an electronic doorbell. In its basic form, a doorknocker is a two-part set consisting of a metal strike plate set flush onto the door surface. A heavy outer plate with a weighted ring attached can be manipulated to beat against the strike plate and create a loud knock to alert the residents to your arrival.

With their historical background and functionality a heavy brass doorknocker is a great accessory to your entrance door hardware. Traditional doorknockers are constructed in polished brass or bronze and come in many sizes from huge castle door sized knockers for the larger home to the small vestigial modern door knocker placed on the door of a small home and will prevent knuckle injuries to your guests.

While there are many traditional designs from medieval doorknocker rings designed like gargoyles and lion heads to the Irish Claddagh doorknockers, which are made to strike directly on the wooden surface of the door, you have an endless supply of ideas to choose from. It is a standard service with doorknocker manufacturers to offer custom doorknocker creation. From the simple addition of the family name to the strike plate to elaborate sculptures of animals, fruits and mythological creatures, you can make a personal statement about your likes with a uniquely created door knocker. For horror movie buffs there is even one company with the license to create a replica of the Blair House DoorKnocker!

For those who want the look of a classic doorknocker coupled with the modern convenience of an electronic buzzer type doorbell, you can find faux doorknockers that will have a push button buzzer in the design of the knocker rather than a heavy ring.

The biggest concern to investigate when choosing a doorknocker for your home is to balance the weight of your knocker with the strength of your door. A huge mansion styled knocker might actually smash a hole into a lightweight hollow core door, so study and common sense should be maintained. Since the mechanism is simple and there is only one moving part to a door knocker, a minimum of care and maintenance is required to keep this home decor accessory working properly for the life of your home.