Door leaf

The leaf is the part of the door that moves when you open and close it: the part that hangs from the frame on hinges. A door can have a single leaf or two, as is the case with many communal entrances and villa entrances.

The leaf carries the lock, the cylinder, the escutcheon, the handle or knob and, on security doors, the steel sheeting. It has two faces and two edges: the lock edge, where the bolts come out, and the hinge edge, which also needs protecting.

When you look at a front door, check the thickness and weight of the leaf, whether you can see steel on the edge and whether it closes properly without rubbing. A dropped leaf puts strain on the lock and ends up causing problems. If you want to upgrade yours or replace it with a security door, see security doors.