Glossary

Stainless steel is a noble metallic material. It's a family of steels, alloys of iron and carbon, to which chromium is essentially added. Above 10.5% in solution (depending on the carbon content) in the matrix, this leads to the formation of a protective layer of chromium oxide, which gives these steels their inoxidability.

Our products have been carefully selected for their resistance. It is either matte or polished when uncoated.

Our stainless steel handles can be found here .

 

Aluminium is a soft metal, light but resistant. It has a mat silver-grey aspect, due to a thin layer of oxidation of five to ten nanometers, which forms rapidly when it is exposed to air, and which stops corrosion from progressing under normal chemical exposure conditions. This film, composed of alumina, forms fast and spontaneously when the aluminium comes in contact with an oxidising environment such as oxygen.

Contrary to most other metals, it is usable even oxidised. Without this layer of oxide, it might even be improper for most of its functions. It is possible to artificially increase the thickness of this oxidation, through anodising, which allows both for better protection and for the metal to be coloured for decoration. Whereas aluminium is a great conductor, aluminium oxide is an excellent insulator.

Aluminum is a soft, light, yet resistant metal with a matt silver-gray appearance, due to a thin oxidation layer of five to ten nanometers that forms rapidly when exposed to air and prevents corrosion from progressing under normal chemical exposure conditions. This alumina-based film forms spontaneously and rapidly when aluminum is brought into contact with an oxidizing medium such as oxygen in the air.

Unlike most metals, it can be used even when oxidized on the surface. In fact, without this oxide layer, it would be unsuitable for most applications. It is possible to artificially increase the thickness of this oxidation layer by anodizing, thus increasing protection and decorating parts by coloring the oxide layer. Unlike aluminum, which is a very good conductor, aluminum oxide is an excellent insulator.

A "bâton de maréchal" or "tirant" or "pulling handle". A "bâton de maréchal" is a handle for doors without locks, or for swinging or sliding doors. It's shaped like a bar, with two holes at the ends to fix it to the door. It is possible to fit a tie rod on one or both sides thanks to a binding screw.

 

Find our range here .

(1) BEC-DE-CANE n. m. (pl. Becs-de-cane). 16th century. TECHN.
1. Lock comprising a bolt which can be operated without a key using a button or a lever handle.
2. Door handle shaped like a spout, which allows the bolt of a lock to be moved without using a key.

In the plural of the becs-de-cane.

Term still in force, used by many professionals.

Certainly for the image it conveys, and despite the evolution of the field. Evolution that we have mastered at La Quincaillerie, quite well.

A lever is an element that opens or closes a door using a lock system. Lever handles can be mounted on either a backplate or a rose. They consist of two spouts, a door square and two pointed screws.

We often forget about them because we don't see them anymore, but they're part of our interiors. Thanks to this element, you'll be able to highlight your decor.

Our range of levers offers a wide choice of materials and finishes. Our levers will make all the difference.

You can find our range of levers here .

A door lever handle is a component used to open or close a door using a lock system. A lever handle can be fitted to either a backplate or a rose. The assembly consists of two spouts, a door square and two pointed screws.

We often forget about them because we don't see them anymore, but they're part of our interiors. Thanks to this element, you'll be able to highlight your decor.

Our range of lever handles offers a wide choice of materials and finishes. Our lever handles will make all the difference.

You'll find our range of door levers here .

A furniture knob is an important element for opening and closing a piece of furniture. These days, furniture knobs are designed to suit all types of interior. From the simple brass ball, through the wooden knob to the teddy bear, you'll find what you're looking for.

The furniture knob is screw-fastened to the back of the drawer or door.

You'll find our range right here.

These knobs are usually placed on the outside only of main doors, and serve to pull them towards you when you close them. There are many exceptions, placed on both sides of a door or on glass doors, or as revolving door knobs on locks adapted to their size.

 

Our range of fixed door knobs: here .

Reserved for old-fashioned locks, known as surface-mounted locks. They allow these knobs to be used without bumping into the edge of the door. They can be used on new doors, but only if fitted with horizontal locks.

 

Our range of revolving door knobs: here.

A door stop is a device for controlling the opening of your door. Removable or fixed, the door stop is a finishing touch for your interiors.

There are two types of stop:

floor stops: these stops are either removable or fixed. They can be placed wherever you wish. Caution: do not fix stops in the floor if you have underfloor heating.

 

Wall stops: these are placed on the wall and should be 1 cm larger than the depth of your handle.

 

Our teams have selected stops with a contemporary design and a multitude of finishes. Our range of bumpers can be found here.

A European cylinder is Y-shaped. Known for its security, sturdiness and ease of replacement, it is widely used in France.

Most often installed on entrance doors, you'll also find them on cellar or garage doors. Its narrow key slot prevents any attempt at forced entry.

Don't panic, we've got the rosettes you need. All our handles have the right European barrel rosette for your chosen model.

A carré de porte is a metal rod that fits into the lock of your door. It also connects the two door handles or knobs.

Depending on the handle, the square is either slotted, drilled or slatted. Nowadays, most squares are slotted, with a pointed screw inserted into the slot.

The world of doors is constantly evolving, and so is the square. It can come in many thicknesses. In France, the standard is 7mm, but we still find 6mm and are discovering 8mm.

A hinge is an assembly of two metal parts. One is fixed, the other movable. Hinges allow the door to open and close.

The importance of hinges is such that if you want to put a finish on one side and another on the other, you need to know the direction of your hinges.

To do this, position yourself on the side you wish to finish and check whether the hinges are on the left or right.

The allen key is the key used to tighten the needle screws to secure the handle to the square.

Our handle pairs are supplied with allen keys adapted to the size of the needle screw.

A locking/unlocking unit is the bolt you place on your door's lock. It locks your door, usually the toilet or bathroom.

Composed of two parts: locking and unlocking. It consists of the same elements as a handle: a 6mm square and a needle screw on the locking side.

At La Quincaillerie, every pair of handles comes with a lock. They're sure to suit your interior and your décor. You'll find our entire selection here.

A soap dispenser is a container that holds liquid soap. Whether in the kitchen, toilet or bathroom, the soap dish is an essential part of your daily routine.

 

Here you'll find our free-standing soap dispensers and here our wall-mounted soap dispensers.

 

Centre distance is a technical term used in architecture. The center-to-center distance is the distance between two points, two columns or two axes in the same assembly.

 

A ventilation grille is the essential element for finalizing the junction between a ventilation duct and a room. A ventilation grille cleans the air in the room in which it is installed.

Whether it's for extraction, ventilation or suction, a ventilation grille is a visible element, and its aesthetics are important. That's why La Quincaillerie has selected practical ventilation grilles with a contemporary design. In wood or stainless steel, to be fixed or magnetized, you'll find our grilles here.

Brass is a material composed in part of zinc and copper. The proportion of copper and zinc varies according to production. Easy to handle, brass is resistant to damp conditions. It is considered a noble material and is therefore used in the production of many objects.

When used to produce handles and knobs, brass is either polished, varnished or finished. Our products have been selected for their high resistance and timeless appearance.

Our brass selection is right here.

Polished brass is obtained by polishing the product. After polishing, the product will be "bright gold". Once removed from its hermetically sealed packaging, in contact with air and humidity, the product will develop a patina over time, until it achieves a slightly antique effect.

P-V-D is a process for depositing thin layers of coatings by vapour deposition on a metallized part. P-V-D, or Physical Vapor Deposition, makes it possible to obtain several different shades.

Used in industry, this process extends from faucets to watches. More resistant and of better quality, P-V-D can be adapted directly to stainless steel. On the other hand, a longer process is required for its application to brass.

No more scratches or rust in damp areas, P-V-D is long-lasting. Ideal for high-traffic public areas.

A grommet is a round, square or rectangular element to be installed on a piece of furniture. A grommet allows you to bring all your cables together for a neat, organized look.

Different sizes are available to suit your needs. You can find our selection here.

On the wall or on a door, a coat hook is an element that will allow you to hang whatever you want. Be careful not to install a coat hook on a hollow door.

The size of the hook will depend on what you're going to hang on it. What's more, some are designed to resist humidity, while others are not.

All our coat hooks are listed here page.

A clean-out plate is a plate that surrounds a door handle to prevent the door from getting dirty. It can be oval or rectangular.

Widely used when doors are hollow, the cleanliness plate also holds handles in place.

In order to provide you with the best possible advice, we recommend that you measure the centre-to-centre distance. This center distance is the distance between the handle top and the key/locking hole.

The recessed handle is a hollow handle that fits into the door. They are mainly used for sliding doors.

Round, oval or rectangular, all shapes are available. On the other hand, if your door is already drilled, you'll need to take careful measurements to find what you're looking for.

Our selection of bowl handles can be found here.

A window handle is an element positioned on the window. The window handle opens and closes your windows.

The most important thing to know when changing your window handle is the distance between the two screws on the underside of the plate.

There are two types of window handles:

• L-type handle that inherits its shape from the letter L. Recommended for large windows, tilt-and-turn windows and classic windows. You'll find our selection here.
• T-type handle inheriting its name from the letter T. Smaller, it fits only on small, single-opening windows. Our range is here.

A furniture handle is simply a bar. Nowadays, furniture handles are designed to be more than just pull bars.

The furniture handle is fixed by two screws at the ends, the distance between the two screws is commonly called the distance between axes, which is either 32mm or a multiple thereof.

The hardware store has selected a wide range of furniture handles for you.

A door handle is an element that opens or closes a door using a lock system. A door handle can be fitted to either a backplate or a rose. The assembly consists of two spouts, a door square and two pointed screws.

We often forget about them because we don't see them anymore, but they're part of our interiors. Thanks to this element, you'll be able to highlight your decor.

Our range of door handles offers a wide choice of materials and finishes. Our door handles will make all the difference.

You'll find our range of door handles here .

An edge handle is slim, discreet and sturdy. Most often made of metal, the edge handle is a thin metal plate installed on the back or side of the door.

It blends into the background thanks to its very thin profile. The slice handle is the furniture handle par excellence for those seeking discretion.

They come in many sizes, materials and finishes. You'll find our range of edge handles here.

The recessed handle, also known as a pan handle, is a hollow handle that can be inserted into the door. The recessed handle is mainly used for sliding doors.

Round, oval or rectangular, all shapes are available. On the other hand, if your door is already drilled, you'll need to take careful measurements to find what you're looking for.

Our selection of recessed handles can be found here.

Porcelain is a material created from clay and several minerals. Once all these minerals have been brought together, the process continues in the kiln at a temperature of 1,200°. This alloy gives it a white, opaque color. It can also be colored, but the process requires a second kiln run.

Porcelain, unlike ceramic, is stronger and more durable. These products are recommended for high-traffic areas, wet areas such as your bathroom, or hot rooms such as your kitchen.

Our entire range of porcelain products can be found here.

A galandage door is a track-mounted door that slides on a track. This door separates two rooms. Once open, it disappears into the wall.

Please note that you'll need sliding door handles that don't protrude beyond the wall, so that they disappear perfectly into the wall. In addition, you have the option of installing simple sliding or locking door handles for greater privacy.

A coat rack is a storage object that is generally used to hang several items of clothing at once, such as coats, jackets, scarves, hats and umbrellas. Unlike a coat hook, which is an individual hook or small rod usually fixed to the wall, it is used to hang a single object, such as a coat, jacket or bag.

A towel rack is a support for hanging towels.

Our towel rails are resistant to wet zones. Made from brass, our towel rails come in a range of finishes and designs. They'll make all the difference in your bathroom.

Here you'll find our full range of towel rails.

This is a charming term. Much prettier and meaningful than "pull handle". We carry some beautiful ones, often drawn by architects or designers based on a door handle model. Their lengths vary up to two meters and more. They are half-measure products, often made on demand. We do not stock them.

The return spring is a small plastic or metal washer. Developed with the advent of mortise locks, it allows the handle to be pulled up.

Each spring has a direction which depends on the direction of the hinges on your door.

Square, round or oval, the lever-handle rosette is the part on which the handle is mounted. It hides the handle's entry hole in the door. Most of the time, it contains a spring.

Our selection of rosettes for crutch staves can be found right here.

A system for opening and closing doors. Existing for decades, it is constantly evolving and differs from country to country. As a result, there are many different types of lock.

A surface-mounted lock is a type of lock that is fixed to the outer surface of a door rather than built into the thickness of the door.

Surface-mounted locks are available in a variety of sizes, styles and security levels to suit different needs.

A mortise lock is a type of lock that is built into the thickness of the door.

Mortise locks are available in different types, such as cylinder mortise locks, mortise deadbolts, deadbolt mortise locks and multipoint mortise locks. They can also be used in combination with other types of locking for added security.

A targette is a small, flat bolt mounted on a plate and operated by a knob to close a door or window from the inside. One part of the bolt is attached to the door, the other to the wall.

Make sure your door is flush with the wall.

You'll find our range of bolts here.

A pull is a handle for doors without locks, or for swinging or sliding doors. It is shaped like a bar, with two holes at the ends for fixing to the door. A tie-rod can be mounted on one or both sides by means of a binding screw.

 

Our range of tie rods is right here.

The needle screw is a screw hollowed out to accommodate an Allen key. This small screw is very important for holding your handles in place. It is inserted into the slot provided in the square to prevent your handles from falling out.

Zamak is the result of an alloy of metals. It mainly contains zinc with touches of copper, aluminum and magnesium. Robust and durable, zamak is a perfect metal for creating handles or coat hooks.

Zamak is the result of an alloy of metals. It contains mostly zinc, with touches of copper, aluminum and magnesium. Robust and durable, zamak is the perfect metal for handles and coat hooks.