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Faster, More Accurate Door
Closer Installations Also Boost Profits
By Sean Artz
Marketing Manager
LCN Closer Division
Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies Princeton, Illinois
New ways of installing and adjusting door closers
can also lead the way to higher profits. Since the
purchase price of a door closer is but a small fraction
of its total cost, the surest way to improve profits
on closers is to reduce some of the related costs.
Prime targets include installation, callbacks and
replacements. Here are some ways for locksmiths
who install door closers to keep these costs in
line.
Faster, Error-Free Installation
One of the biggest time-wasters
and causes of error is locating the closer cylinder
and arms in relation to the doors and frames. Most
of these problems begin when the installer looks
at the instruction sheet and tries to figure out
exactly where to begin measuring to establish the
proper location. Errors in choosing the right starting
point are often compounded by inaccurate measurements.
Eliminating the need for on-site dimensioning with
a tape measure and pencil will help ensure fast,
error-free installation. To achieve this goal, LCN
has developed full-size self-adhesive templates
that establish the relationship of the closer mounting
holes to the hinge and door. Guesswork and chances
for error are reduced because the installer simply
applies the template to the door and drills the
holes for mounting the closer and the arm. Using
this approach ensures 100% mounting location accuracy
and prevents improper closer orientation, as well
as arm and body misalignment that causes wear and
premature failure. An alternative, for cases where
directly applied templates are not yet available,
is to make a hard template or jig to provide definite
hole locations, particularly on large jobs.
Due to a lack of training, some people may fail
to follow the installation instructions, assuming
they know how to install the closer. This is not
a recommended practice, since successful operation
of the closer depends on an accurate installation
per the manufacturer;'s instructions. Failure to
follow instructions can severely degrade closer
performance and potentially cause a hazardous situation.
An extra minute or two spent to improve accuracy
at this point can provide you with added years of
closer life.
Faster Fasteners Help Speed
Installation
Another problem arises out of
attempts to save time by using off-the-shelf self-drilling,
self-tapping screws to attach door closers and other
hardware instead of using the screws provided with
the closer's fastener pack. Although this seems
quicker because it eliminates the need to drill
and tap, the replacements are not designed for door
closer applications. The forces they must withstand
during repeated closer operation are much greater
than they encounter in their normal uses, such as
mounting drywall to a steel stud. The screws may
break, but even worse, if the closer must be removed
and replaced, the holes cannot be re-used. Not only
does the resulting call-back eat into profits, but
using the improper screws generally voids the manufacturer's
warranty. As a result, a small apparent savings
up front can often result in a bigger loss down
the road. The locksmith who installed the closer
could even end up providing a free replacement.
To gauge the true impact of the tradeoff, divide
the cost of an apparently minor loss by your profit
margin to see how much you have to sell to replace
it.
To help eliminate this problem and reduce installation
time, LCN has now engineered a custom self-tapping
screw for its products. Only these screws should
be used, since they have been tested and found strong
enough for the application. Use of other fasteners
will void the warranty and may lead to other problems
if the replacements look the same but are of a different
grade and strength. The custom self-tapping screws
supplied by the closer manufacturer eliminate the
need to tap and the related possibility of door
damage.
Even the tool used to install the fasteners can
affect installation results. Cordless drills and
drivers have become almost universal because of
their convenience and portability. However, they
come in all sizes and price ranges, and not all
are suited for this job. To effectively install
the self-tapping screws that come with some closers,
a driver with a minimum speed of 1,800 rpm is recommended
to handle the job in aluminum or hollow metal doors.
Not only will the more powerful driver do the job
more effectively but it will probably last longer
as well.
Don't Overlook Adjustment
Proper adjustment is as critical
as installation accuracy. The closer manufacturer's
instruction sheet should be followed closely, of
course. To make the job easier and also reduce stocking
requirements, the latest 1460 and 4040 closers from
LCN now feature a wider range of adjustment, from
sizes 1 to 6 in a single closer. Various types of
dials on the end of the closer body make it easy
and fast to adjust the spring power to match the
door conditions before mounting the closer body.
In timed side-by-side tests at an independent facility,
LCN found that a combination of features such as
self-adhesive templates and instruction sheets,
custom self-tapping screws and the use of wider
sizing ranges cut installation times from about
25 minutes for a conventional closer to approximately
12 minutes. The above ideas are just a few of the
ways to keep little things from adding up to subtract
from your bottom line. Focus on products and methods
that cut installation time without giving up accuracy.
Make sure the job is done right the first time so
you don't get shortchanged by shortcuts. Reduce
or eliminate these trouble sources, and you'll see
improvements in profits as well as greater customer
satisfaction that leads to more repeat business.
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