The little details: how to pick a proper door stop

In spite of being one of the most commonly-used home accessories, door stops often go unnoticed. It is, however, necessary for homeowners to pay attention because the right doors stop will save you quite a lot of headaches … and cash for that matter.

The idea of a door stop is to prevent the constant slamming of door handles against walls and by extension – the peel-off of plaster and paint as well as damage to interior doors. And if you have glass doors installed, it’s absolutely mandatory for you to have a door stop. Otherwise, it might come down to you changing the entire door. This is what you need to know before you pick a door stopper.

What type of door stoppers are there?

Floor Mount Door Stops: If you don’t want to drill holes in the walls, then the floor stop might be just the right thing. They are reliable and durable, but are visible when the door is shut. They are very suitable if there’s a constant draft in your home, because you could opt for a magnetic floor stop, which prevents the door from slamming shut. As an alternative to the floor stop, you might consider the buffer (concave wall mount), which is fixed to the wall. Bear in mind that these door stops are fixed where the door handle makes contact with the wall. Such buffer stops ought not be mounted toward the end of the door handle because the constant bashing of the tip of the handle will result in both the handle and the door lock coming loose.

Door handle stop: This type of door stop is a quick and easy fix, but is quite visible at all times. Door handle stops are mostly made of silicone and are fixed as a ring on the door’s handle. They act as a buffer between the handle and the wall, but unlike the buffer stops we mentioned above, these are fixed on the handle and don’t require any drilling. Another advantage is the price, which is considerably lower than all other stops on our list.

Classic door stop: If, on the other hand, you don’t want to drill holes anywhere, the classic door stop is also an option – and a good one at that. You could just grab one of those and put it anywhere you want. But besides that, the classic door stops are a decorative accessory, which might be aesthetically pleasing, so take a minute to think about that. Another option is the wedge-style door stop, which is put underneath the door, preventing the door from slamming shut. These are a great option since they don’t allow slamming into the wall or closing. Not least of all, wedge-style door stops are ideal for baby proofing.

Spring door stop: Spring door stops are not among the most common around here. Basically, these are just a spring with a rubber tip mounted on the wall. When the door is opened and hits the rubber tip, the spring consumes the kinetic energy, protecting both the wall and the door.

Which door stop is right for you?

Choosing the best door stop depends on the door itself, its position and the interior of the room.

• If you have decorative sills, spring door stops are out of the picture.
• Buffers (concave wall mounts) should not be used if the door handle is curved, since that would mean the door stop should be mounted towards the end of the handle. As we mentioned above, this will result in both the handle and lock coming loose. And if they do, you’ll end up having to cover the extra cost of changing them, which is no small expense.
• If your floor is tiles or hardwood, be cautious if you opt for a classic door stop. It is likely it will slide on the floor, allowing the door to slam the wall.

As you see, there are quite a few options for you there. But whatever door stop you choose, look for one that fits the handles and the hinges of the door. That way the door stop will be less of an eyesore, while doing what it’s supposed to. The other option is to go for a classic door stop, which is in itself a decorative accessory. Last piece of advice, think of the right door stops when you’re choosing your interior doors!