Flush Pulls

A dummy handle is a non-functional door lever or knob that is decorative only, it does not operate a latch or lock. Dummy handles are used on doors that don't require a latch (such as double doors where one door is fixed, wardrobe doors that slide or swing without a latch, or decorative cabinet doors). They give the door the appearance of a complete handle set without the mechanical function.

A passage handle set includes two lever handles connected by a spindle that operate a latch, allowing the door to be opened from either side without a lock. Passage sets are used on internal doors where privacy is not required: hallways, living areas, home offices, and children's bedrooms. They are the most commonly used internal door handle set in Australian homes.

A privacy handle set includes a locking mechanism that can be engaged from inside the room, typically a simple push-button or turn-snib and can be unlocked from outside in an emergency using a small pin or coin. Privacy handles are used on bathroom, toilet, and bedroom doors where privacy is required but a keyed lock is not necessary.

Sliding doors require a specific type of handle, typically a recessed flush pull, a finger pull, or a surface-mounted sliding door pull. Because a sliding door doesn't have a hinge pivot point, standard lever handle sets don't apply. Flush pulls sit recessed in the door surface and are ideal for cavity (pocket) sliding doors. Edge pulls are mounted on the leading edge of the door for easy gripping.

An entrance handle set is a door handle set designed specifically for the front or entry door of a home. It includes a keyed cylinder lock integrated into the handle or separate lockset, providing external security. Entrance sets are available in a range of styles from contemporary to traditional and must be rated for external use, exposed to the elements, with weather-resistant finishes.

A flush pull is a recessed door pull that sits flat within the door face rather than projecting from it, usually fitted into a routed cutout. Because nothing sticks out past the surface of the door, it's the standard choice for sliding and pocket doors, where a protruding handle would catch on the door frame or an adjacent door as it slides past.

A flush pull is the door hardware itself, the recessed handle you grip to slide the door. A jamb is the door frame, the fixed vertical and horizontal members the door sits within, and "flush jamb" generally describes a frame detail finished level with the surrounding wall rather than a piece of door hardware. The two terms describe different parts of a door opening.

A concealed flush pull is a flush pull designed to sit almost invisibly within the door face when not in use, often with a spring-loaded or magnetic mechanism that releases a small edge or lip to grip only when pressed. It's chosen for a minimalist look on cavity sliding doors where even a standard flush pull's recess is considered too visually prominent.

Most flush pulls require a routed recess cut into the door face to sit properly flush, which is usually done before the door is hung or by a qualified installer on an existing door. A small number of flush pull styles are designed to mount into a pre-existing cutout on doors manufactured for that purpose. Either way, it's more involved than a standard lever handle, which typically only needs a drilled spindle hole.

Flush pull sizes and recess depths vary by manufacturer and by door thickness, so the door's actual thickness and the pull's specified cutout dimensions both need to be checked before ordering, rather than assuming a standard size fits every door. A door that's too thin for a given pull's recess depth will need a shallower model.

They're most common on sliding and pocket doors, but they're also used on some hinged doors, particularly minimalist joinery or pantry doors, where a designer wants no visible handle projecting from the surface. For handles used on other sliding door types, including edge pulls and barn-door hardware, see sliding door handles.