Door closers for Victorian door

[ilikecobwebs]

My very elderly mother-in-law's flat is in a 1860's three-storey town house. The front door opens into a small vestibule, which is the "common" area used by the other two flat-owners above her, as well as herself. It's one of those big gothic type doors with studs on the front. Now, the problem is that the other owners have an annoying habit of leaving this front door permanently open; the individual flat entrances are just past the vestibule, so there is a security risk. There was a door-closer on the big door (once upon a time) but no-one knows what happened to it. We are trying to help get a replacement door-closer fitted, but (a) have had no help or interest whatsoever from the other flat-owners and (b) no help from tradespeople whom we have approached. Can someone advise what type of door-closer would suit this kind of heavy door? It has to be done, my m-i-l is getting brassed off with having to keep going out to the hall and shutting the door......it lets all the cold air into her flat and it's a fire and theft risk. We're trying to solve the problem and are not getting anywhere.

 

[Feltwell]

I would have thought any decent commercial-quality door closer would do.

This one for example is rated up to 120kg, which would be a very heavy door indeed.

http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/...RONE_AR9200_POWER_Euro_Style_Fire_Door_Closer

If you wanted to get someone to supply & fit, I would have thought that a locksmith may be willing to do it? They fit all sorts of door furniture for security purposes.

 

[ilikecobwebs]

Thanks for that. For some reason my husband hadnt thought about finding a locksmith....probably associating it too much with "keys" and "locks" rather than doorclosers. Will get on and make some enquiries today.

 

[Penners]

Presumably your MiL would like the closing mechanism to be as unobtrusive as possible. If this is the case, then the weight of the door becomes critical - in other words, how heavy is "heavy"?

Here's one type of spring-loaded hinge which is pretty easy on the eye. It suits doors up to 60kg. http://tinyurl.com/ylkdwsg

Or you can have a device which uses a spring set into the door frame. But I'm not sure whether it's more or less powerful than the above one. http://tinyurl.com/yj4k3d7

Alternatively, simple rising butt hinges might do the job, although in my (limited) experience, their efficacy can depend very much on the accuracy with which the door is hung. If the frame is not completely vertical, then the door can have a bias to swing open or closed, and this can either help or hinder a rising butt hinge arrangement. http://tinyurl.com/ykqqx3n.

If the door is very heavy, then you probably have little choice but to fit a lever-type closer, like the one that Feltwell has illustrated.

 

[middi]

If the door is of " gothic revival" style then the most appropriate door closer to suit is a big wooden or wrought iron internal lock with a key the size of a shovel that needs a wheel barrow not an handbag to carry it around.

Apart from the suggestions already made perhaps a cheaper and a more effective alternative would be to attach a notice on the door to read:-

...." shut the effing door on the way in or out".....

 

[Penners]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

A practical solution from Middi, as always!

 

[ilikecobwebs]

Again I am grateful for your suggestions and have noted all. Must admit if it was my flat, I'd go for the notice.... suits my character....unfortunately mother-in-law would not approve, but I'd l-o-o-ove to see the look on the face of the old bat that lives above her.