Sweeps? Plates? Sound like regular household items, right? In the world of doors and locks, though, these two things have entirely different meanings. So nope, sweep isn’t something you do with a broom, and a plate isn’t something you eat off of.

Sweeps

Pemko and National Guard products both offer the two different types of sweeps: Brush sweeps and solid sweeps.

A brush is exactly what it sounds like—a brush that lines the bottom of the door and seals the edge. In some cases the brush seals the edges of the door to prevent pests from coming into the building. It also offers some assistance in the way of weather protection. If your facility is looking for a bigger boost in weather protection, solid sweeps might be the answer for you. They are typically made of vinyl and provide increased weather protection from water and wind.

Door Bottoms

An alternative to a sweep is a “door bottom,” installed on the bottom of the door. If a door bottom is installed on a residential door, it’s secured with screws on one side. If the door bottom is being installed on a commercial door, it’s secured with screws on both. A door bottom also forms a seal along the bottom of the door that works the same way a sweep does, also providing increased weather protection from water and wind. It can also be adjusted up and down in cases where the door has been undercut.

Plates

A plate, on the other hand, is protective hardware for your door. A metal plate is placed at the bottom of the door to protect it from damage from rolling carts, shoe scuffs, or any other random item that might come into contact with the door, damaging it. Typically only used on non-latching doors, a plate can also be used to cover holes from old hardware, or to offer some cosmetic consistency in buildings, using night latches or door pulls.

Are you looking for some protective hardware for your door but unsure where to start? Give us a call, and LockNet will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.