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Entry door handles: mortised or tubular?

15 years ago

We're replacing the door slab and will be boring/mortising for the hardware ourselves, so clearly a tubular lockset is easier. They're also cheaper in the same design (we're looking at pretty high-quality handles like Emtek.) Is there some major reason why we need to spend $200 and a lot of aggravation more for a mortised set? Will it feel better, more solid to use? Any resale reason? Thanks!

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Stacey Collins
Original Author

15 years ago

Mightyanvil- I am dealing with a lumberyard where we have an account.. not some big box store or what have you. My salesman has been great on a lot of things, including pricing, but used to dealing, I think, with GCs who just get whatever's standard (ie steel, FRP doors, cheap locksets) so he doesn't have a lot of advice on the higher-end items. That is why we are asking here... you guys definitely have more experience.

Christine- beautiful photo!! is that a tubular set? (Emtek makes each of the designs we like in both tubular and mortised; about $175 price difference, hence our dilemma!)

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Comments (8)

Ron Natalie
15 years ago
I love my Emtek. It ends up looking like a mortised set but mounts over two holes (one for the spring latch, one for the dead bolt). You can't really tell other than by looking at the edge of the door.
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mightyanvil
15 years ago
The advantage of mortised lock sets is that they will last longer, lever handles won't sag and they offer many more latch/lock functions since the latch bolt and dead bolt are in the same housing and can even be operated together by turning the handle which is why they are standard for schools, hospitals and hotels. For a residential entrance door a mortise set can be set to lock automatically with a button in the door edge rather than in the center of the interior handle (ugh).

One style is no more difficult to install than the other if you know how to do it and own the proper equipment. You should be able to buy the door already cut for either set unless you are buying it out of existing stock from a retail store so it is best to deal with a distributor perhaps through a contractor.
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Stacey Collins
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks-

Mightyanvil, since we're replacing just the slab, and trying to match the already-mortised frame, we thought it would be less headache to buy the slab unprepped and locate and mortise the lockset ourselves... are we crazy?

Ronnatalie- thanks for the endorsement of Emtek tubular... great to get first-hand reports!

Stacey
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mightyanvil
15 years ago
Emtek says, "Attempted installation of a mortise lock by an average homeowner is not recommended". Not only is it a very difficult thing to do properly, a mortise jig will cost you about $400 and you will also need a plunge-cut router. If you go this route, you should practice on several old doors first.

Mortise hardware installation is on my list of "never do yourself" along with wood floor finishing, and roofing. Some things are a bargain at any price.
Stacey Collins
Original Author
15 years ago
Ah-ha. So it looks like we either buy the door already prepped for a mortise lock (do they do that?) or we go with a tubular set. Thanks...
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mightyanvil
15 years ago
People make doors for a living so they'll set it up any way you want it but you might have to deal with the distributor instead of a retail store. This discussion is starting to sound repetitive.
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Christine Decker
15 years ago
I love my Entek one also!

Here are some pics!

Christine
From door knobs and fixtures
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