A magnetic door stop is a set of two pieces of hardware. One piece attaches to the bottom inside corner of a door, while the other piece is fixed to the adjacent wall. When these two pieces come in contact, the magnetic door stop may then be able to hold a door open and protect the wall from damage at the same time. Door stops are often available in a variety of finishes, styles and price ranges to suit an individual’s specific needs.
Door stops are generally easy to install. First, a relatively small, usually rounded magnet can be affixed to the bottom corner of the door on the side toward which it opens. A second magnet may then be placed on the wall where the bottom corner of the door would connect when opened. This second magnet is typically a type of knob that sticks out roughly 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) from the wall.
Once both pieces of hardware have been successfully installed, the two pieces should “catch” when the door is open. This is because the two magnets have opposite, attractive forces strong enough to hold a door open. A magnetic door stop is, however, usually weak enough that a simple tug on the door should separate the magnets, which allows the door to close when necessary.
There are many instances in which a person might need to keep a door open. A magnetic door stop can come in handy on a breezy day, when windows are kept open. Without the door stop, the wind might cause the door to slam shut repeatedly. When a person walks between rooms frequently, for instance when moving items or cleaning, a door stop could come in handy.
Another potentially gainful benefit of a magnetic door stop is that it protects both the door and the nearby wall from gradual deterioration. Without a door stop, a door corner that comes in contact with the wall time after time can slowly chip away paint, molding, and wood. The door stop acts as a buffer; it is much cheaper to replace a worn door stop than it is to repair or replace a door or wall.
There may be many styles to choose from when purchasing a magnetic door stop. Some models are fairly basic and inexpensive. For individuals who put great care into choosing and matching the hardware in a room, different finishes and designs may be available at a slightly higher cost. Many people prefer the magnetic door stop to unattractive rubber or wood wedges and noisy, spring-loaded door stops.