Ironmongery spec tiers and London 2026 pricing
Ironmongery (door hardware: handles, hinges, locks, cylinders, latches, escutcheons, door closers, kick plates) varies dramatically in cost and quality across London projects. Tier 1: Value spec (Yale, Carlisle Brass, Eurospec basic) — typical 3-bed London renovation: handles £20–£60/door, hinges £15–£40/door, mortice lock £25–£80, escutcheons £10–£30, total per door £80–£250 supplied. Installation labour adds £80–£150/door. Per-door total £200–£400. Tier 2: Mid-spec (Croft Architectural, Eurospec premium, Heritage Brass) — handles £80–£200/door, hinges £40–£100/door, multi-point lock £150–£300, cylinders Sold Secure 1-star £60–£120, escutcheons £25–£60, total per door £350–£550 supplied. With install £400–£800/door. Tier 3: Premium spec (Allgood, Frank Allart, Banham Security, Joseph Giles, Olivari) — handles £180–£600/door (solid brass, bronze or stainless steel), hinges £80–£250/door, Banham SD-2 multi-point lock £350–£600, Sold Secure Diamond cylinder £150–£250, escutcheons and roses £80–£250, kick plates £80–£200, total per door £700–£1,200 supplied. With install £800–£1,500/door. Tier 4: Bespoke and heritage (Olde English Doors, M&P London, bespoke architectural ironmongery for prime central London projects) — £1,500–£3,500+ per door supplied.
What you pay for at each tier — quality differences
Tier 1 vs Tier 2 vs Tier 3 — what changes. Material: Tier 1 zinc-die-cast with chrome or nickel plate (plate wears in 3–5 years; underlying zinc shows through); Tier 2 solid brass with PVD coating or live finish; Tier 3 solid brass, bronze, stainless steel or sterling silver-plated brass with hand-finishing. Hinge weight: Tier 1 thin-section steel hinge rated to 30kg door weight; Tier 2 medium-section brass hinge rated to 60kg; Tier 3 heavy-section bronze or stainless steel hinge rated to 100–200kg (allows heavier doors and longer service life). Lock specification: Tier 1 single-point mortice lock to BS 3621; Tier 2 multi-point lock with anti-jemmy hooks; Tier 3 multi-point lock to PAS 24 with anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-drill cylinder protection. Finish durability: Tier 1 chrome plate 3–5 years before pitting; Tier 2 PVD coating 10–15 years; Tier 3 solid material with live finish (oxidises naturally) — increases in beauty rather than deterioration. Tactile experience: Tier 1 lightweight, hollow feel when handle is pulled; Tier 2 weighty, solid feel; Tier 3 substantial weight, precise action, silent operation. Banham observation: clients investing in Tier 3 ironmongery routinely report that 'feeling the door close' was an unexpected daily pleasure they had not anticipated. Resale value: estate agents report Tier 3 ironmongery routinely cited in property listings of prime homes as a quality signifier — adds 1–2% to perceived property value in prime postcodes.
Ironmongery for different door types in a London renovation
Specification varies by door type. Front door: Tier 3 mandatory — Banham, Frank Allart, Allgood; multi-point lock with Sold Secure Diamond cylinder; pull handle or letter plate; matched ironmongery throughout. Front door total ironmongery £600–£1,500 typically. Internal door (bedroom, study, bathroom): Tier 2 or Tier 3 depending on project tier. Standard solid brass lever handle with concealed hinge, latch and rose. £200–£800/door. Sliding door (closet, pantry, internal Crittall sliding): track system £180–£500; pull handle £40–£150; soft-close mechanism £60–£200. Total £300–£800. Bifold door: handle and locking mechanism is supplied with the door (Reynaers, Schuco hardware integrated); no separate ironmongery needed. Wardrobe and joinery doors: push-to-open mechanism (Blum, Hettich) £20–£80/door + recessed pulls or integral lipping detail. Pantry, larder and boot room door: Tier 2 or 3 brass or bronze; statement handle (Joseph Giles industrial pulls, Allgood Mode levers) £150–£500. Pivot door (premium front door): bespoke pull handle £400–£1,200; Fritsjurgens pivot mechanism £1,200–£2,400; lock case integrated. Heritage timber sash window: brass pulls, fitches, sash locks (Banham, Croft); £40–£120 per window for a heritage matched set; £25–£60 per window for value spec.
Ironmongery budgeting and where to economise vs invest
On a London renovation budget, ironmongery is one of the easiest places to overspend or under-spend without consequence. Builderr's recommendation framework: Invest (Tier 3): Front door (£800–£1,500); master bedroom and en-suite (£400–£800/door); ground floor reception room doors visible to guests (£500–£800/door). These are the daily-touched, guest-visible doors where quality is immediately felt. Mid-spec (Tier 2): Family bathroom (£400–£600); kitchen and utility (£300–£500); second-floor bedrooms and bathrooms (£300–£500). Daily use, but less guest-visible. Economise (Tier 1 or Tier 2 lower): Loft conversion bedroom doors not visible from the main living area (£200–£400); cellar and utility-only doors (£150–£300); built-in wardrobe doors with concealed hardware. Whole-house budget framework: 10-door London renovation budget £4,500–£8,500 for ironmongery mix (Tier 3 on 4 doors, Tier 2 on 6 doors); 15-door whole-house renovation £6,500–£14,000 mix; 20-door 5-bed Wandsworth or Hackney whole-house renovation £8,500–£22,000 mix. Builderr's project managers include a defined ironmongery schedule (handle-by-handle spec, finish, supplier, room) during the architect's joinery package phase — typically week 8–12 of design — to allow time for special-order or bespoke items (16–20 week lead times for Frank Allart custom finishes).
