Wrapping up my summer road trip through Guatemala, here are a few Fixed-it Friday photos – and a question.
Although not door-related, this sign situation seemed odd to me. Why replace the old signs with the new, and leave the old ones in place? Any ideas?
When I worked for a distributor many moons ago, we supplied toilet partitions and other Division 10 items. I liked detailing toilet partitions…the rules were comforting and I was pretty good at math. I remember my manager cautioning me about specs that called for ceiling-hung toilet partitions and trying to talk architects out of using them. That application is one of those things that seems like a good idea but is difficult to successfully execute. I was reminded of the Good Old Days in an airport bathroom last week, when I saw this fix for ceiling-hung toilet partitions (the silver paint is a nice touch):
And here’s the question. Another bathroom, this time a McDonalds (a very fancy McDonalds!). I noticed that the door pull was mounted near the edge of the plate instead of in the center, which is typical in my experience. What is the reason for mounting the pull near the edge?
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Open the door more?
Diiferent crew removes the old sign!!
I would think putting the handle on the edge of the door would give more clearance for the physically challenged.
The sign is a perfect example of “Not my department!”
The pull??? I’m not sure. It may be SLIGHTLY easier to open.
The pull may be mounted near the edge if it is back to back mounting with a push bar on the other side.
Why do bathroom stalls in America always have these huge gaps around the edges of the doors? I went to Denmark and their stalls are floor to almost the ceiling with overlapping edges so there are no gaps. It’s a good design — I like my privacy! I’ve heard the excuse of letting security/staff check the stalls for drug users, but in the EU they solve this with a couple of UV bulbs and occupancy indicator slide bolts. Is the price difference really so substantial that American bathrooms need 1/2″ gaps?
Good question! When I was on vacation a kid (about 10 or 11) came into the bathroom looking for an available stall and put her eye right up to the crack to check the one I was in!
– Lori
The offset handles facilitate a padlock on double entry doors by requiring less shackle. It was miss-specified for this application.
Yeah, and in general, the closer to the edge, the more leverage, and thus easier to open. Looks terrible though.
Good deal on factory seconds.
Maybe the signs are a union issue! 🙂
The sign installer was contracted to install the new sign only. Extra to remove the old sign!
There may have been no reinforcement for the pull to be placed in the customary area. Three threads are required to properly fasten the plate to the door. Additionally the bolts and grommets drilled through the door, not being flush with the door skin on the opposite side, caused a “hump” in the push plate. By mounting the pull closer to the edge of the door there could be more material to fasten to and would miss the push plate altogether! Not very pretty but that’s all I could come up with!
I once asked a Frenchman why every road repair crew I saw seemed like it had five guys watching two guys work. It was all about division of labor and they take it very seriously.
As for the pull, not only is it mounted off center on the plate but the plate is mounted AT the edge of the door. Do they have ADA type rules? You know what Archimedes said. Though that closer probably does not offer much resistance.
Pic #1: The old sign was not taken down because, as others have said “not my job” and/or they weren’t getting paid to take the sign down–only to put the new one up.
Pic #2: So then is it still hung from the ceiling as well?
Pic #3: I have a few ideas: The install is used to working with hollow core doors and knew there would be blocking to mount it to near the edge, but not far in; poor installer education; it was originally a wider plate and the distributor cut it and rounded it down to a smaller size but the holes for the pull had already been drilled? As you can tell all of mine go on the theory of install malfunction.
It costs more to remove old signs or they’re historic. For the pull, possibly to have a lower operating force without adjusting the closer.
Sign removal was not in their contract!!
Off set handle is likely just A lonley door, looking for attention.
Look, now it’s picture is on the internet! The other doors are envious…
Rotate 180°. Could have been a standard pull/plate sut in half and redrilled, radiused and fastened.
As someone once said to me, “I was told to install it, not make sure it works correctly”.
Maybe the cost of removing and re-digging a hole with cement in cost more than just putting the new sign in front.
Or, maybe, as the song goes, “Nobody told that I shouldn’t paint the baby, I shouldn’t paint the baby, I shouldn’t paint the baby, so I did.”
I think I’m in a weird mood today ;’p
Lori,
It’s Guatemala, so all bet’s are off. I loved Tikal; hope you had a great trip.
1. At least there was a sign.
2. For the toilet partition, silver/gray wood stain is so trendy right now.
3. For the door, do you think the stile/blocking was too narrow for the typical location?
Hi Lisa –
I loved Tikal!
1) Yes – you’re right!
2) The airport restroom is on trend!
3) I guess it possible, but many doors are not blocked/reinforced for door pulls so they are often thru-bolted.
– Lori
Toilet partition repair illustrates a key point of good design. Do not design to fight gravity as you will lose.