How To Install A Kick Down Door Stop

The term "door stop" is used to refer to two different types of hardware. It may refer to devices designed to stop a door from hitting a wall, or to devices used to stop a door from closing. A kick-down door stop is really a door holder. It stops the door from closing and holds it open until it is manually released. While these units appear fairly simple, there are a few tricks to successfully installing a kick-down door stop, starting with selecting the right model for the job.

Step 1

Choose the right kick-down door stop for the job. These devices are chosen based on their "projection" length, which represents the length of the kick-down portion. Most stops have a projection of either four or five inches, though larger units are also available. Purchase a 4-inch stop if your door has less than one inch of clearance underneath. If there is more than one inch of clearance between your door and the floor, use a 5-inch unit.

Step 2

Install kick-down door stops on the push side (the side where you have to push the door to open it). Use the template that comes with the stop to place it in the correct location on the door.

Step 3

Determine the correct placement for the stop. If you do not have a template or installation instructions, set the stop about eight inches away from the lock side of the door. Place the stop about 1.5 inches above the bottom of the door. The measurements for these types of stops are rarely precise because placement is greatly impacted by job-site conditions. Final placement is often a matter of trial and error.

Step 4

Open the door to about where it will be held open (usually 90 degrees). Hold the stop in place at the location you chose in Step 3. Check to see if the rubber shoe at the base sits flat on the floor. It should not be tilted to either end, but should be completely flat and tight to the floor. If it doesn't fit flat, move the stop up or down on the door, until the shoe fits tight to the floor. Mark the screw locations on the door using a pencil.

Step 5

Pre-drill holes for the screws, then fasten the stop to the door. Make sure not to drill all the way through the the other face of the door. Test the stop to make sure it is holding the door open as desired.

Step 6

Keep a few extra shoes for your stop on hand. These rubber devices wear out very quickly, especially when users drag the stop across the floor instead of raising it out of the way. These shoes screw on and off by hand, making them easy to replace.