When operating a hospitality venue like a hotel, it can be easy to forget about something as simple as your doors. While you can focus on aspects such as door aesthetics and security, functionality is just as vital. If your doors don’t function, your staff spend more time dealing with guests who cannot get into their rooms. Naturally, that is a time sink but also becomes damaging to your hotel's reputation, right?
That’s why anyone who manages a hotel should pay close attention to the function of their doors. Start by checking your door handles/knobs, and then reviewing your door knob spindle. To give you more insight into the importance of having a quality door knob spindle, we contacted Locks & Hardware a UK specialist in door furniture. Upgrade your door handles – and spindles – for greater guest comfort and satisfaction.
However, choosing the right door handle spindle can be more confusing than it first appears. Use this insight from Locks & Handles to make what can be a very confusing decision a little bit easier.
The main reason comes down to usability. If your door knob spindles wear out, then it is likely that your door handles will stop working entirely. After all, the spindle connects both sides of the door!
When you start receiving complaints about guests or staff regarding doors that do not open or only open from one side, it could be due to the door spindle. You might spend a lot of time (and money) replacing handles, locks, and even having doors planed so they fit better into the doorway. Most of the time, though, door handles that do not operate correctly are the result of a door handle spindle that has worn out.
Wear and tear is especially common in hotels due to the sheer regularity of usage. Compare how often a hotel room door is opened and closed compared to, say, a bedroom door in a house. These doors are used constantly, whether by staff in preparing the room for a future guest or by a guest, or guests, who are staying at your hotel.
As such, door spindles can become damaged, worn out or even fully broken. When that happens, you might find that door handles do not operate correctly. One side may work, but the other does not. Or, both sides could be broken. Replacing just the handle is unlikely to fix the issue; if the spindle is the cause of the problem, then you need to replace the door knob spindle.
To help you reduce the impact of wear and tear, and the regularity of replacing door handle spindles, we recommend you look out for commercial-grade door spindles, which offer you:
First and foremost, your door knob spindles need to fit with your door. Now, most modern doors in the UK have a door spindle fit of around 8mm. If your hotel has many older doors (predominantly from the 2000s or earlier), they may have a smaller spindle size of around 7mm. You would therefore need to measure your spindle size before buying replacements, as a spindle that is too large or too small will not work.
Sizing is so important; if you fit an ill-fitting door knob spindle, you can find that the door stops working as it should. Get the right measurements so you can buy a suitable size of spindle. The width is going to be just as important as the length, so accurately measure the length and width of your current spindles so you can buy a suitably-fitting alternative.
You should also buy a door knob spindle that remains reliable even in the face of regular usage. You should be looking for high-quality door knob spindles made from materials like steel. These tend to be more robust than cheaper spindles made from less durable metals. Reliability is everything because you don't want to receive a call at reception about someone who is locked in/out of their room.
If a door knob spindle breaks, the handles will stop interacting with the door's latchbolt. As such, the door will either open on only one side or not open at all. If you invest in a spindle that is of the correct quality, it should be far less likely to wear out. Wear and tear are the main culprits of having to replace a doorknob spindle, so make sure you buy high-quality, commercial-grade models.
Are you having a hard time finding suitable door knob spindles? Then contact a locksmith, or check Locks & Handles. That should make it easier to find a compatible model you can use instead.
Make sure that any door knob spindle you buy is renowned for its ease of use as well. Cheaper spindles can grind or jam a little when being used, meaning that door handles can stick or not turn as they should. When selecting a suitable door handle spindle, make sure that you buy a model that comes with a reputation for being smooth and easy to operate.
This is something that you should cover with a locksmith. Some door knob spindles are not going to be compatible with your lock mechanisms or choice of security implements, especially if you rely on electronic or digital locking systems. Contact a locksmith, and they can help you find a door knob spindle that is going to be compatible with the security setup that your hotel is using.
Hotels need to prioritise creating an easy-to-enjoy experience for all guests who come along. That means making sure that the doors remain secure, but also easy to open and close. If your door knob spindle wears out, then you can expect regular complaints from unimpressed guests!
If you want to remove one of the most common causes of complaint in a hotel, get your doors fixed. Hire a locksmith and have them review – and replace – your door knob spindles as soon as possible. The sooner these are upgraded to commercial-grade options, the more durable your doors become, the easier they are to use, and, crucially, the less likely they are to need replacement in the near future.
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
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