"Do you speak door?" The most important points during the first door consultation

• Insider language from door professionals,

• the most important aspects and stumbling blocks in a consultation,

• and also provides input for our quiz: "The most common misconceptions about (interior) doors." Why don't you join in?

Hinge, leaf, latch, rosette - doesn't that sound like the fashion industry or pet supplies? Wrong: because these are technical terms from the world of room and flat doors. Some people might need a door interpreter.

The "Door in dialogue" helps to break down(language)barriers between door professionals and other trades and customers. After all, we experience it ourselves time and time again: the initial consultation often determines whether the "chemistry" is right. Clear, understandable and friendly language shows: Someone here works competently and close to people and their needs.

He joined GARANT as an apprentice at the age of 19 and as a "total door layman", says Michael Ritter (34) himself. Today, the industrial clerk is responsible for digital customer profiles, at the interface between supply and demand: "I look after our merchandise management system, the automatic ordering system and the quotation software for joiners."

In your experience, what are common misunderstandings when it comes to interior doors?

Michal Ritter (MR): "We use our own language. What we call a "hinge", for example, is known to the layman as a hinge. Then, in technical jargon, we also use the word "handle set" for the door handle. The "rosette" is the cover over the door lock. You will also hear us talk about the "latch" or "lock latch". This is the part of the lock that "snaps" when the door falls into the strike plate... and there are a few more insider terms."

The right dimensions are crucial.

What are the most important criteria that play a role in the initial consultation?

MR: "Saving energy is a must! Glass doors are not necessarily the first choice... Wooden doors with glass inserts, for example, are a beautiful design effect with good energy performance.

The exact dimensions of the door are important: unfortunately, there is sometimes a problem with the initial contact. We have strict industry standards in Germany. This means that the wall openings are standardised. It's quicker to find a suitable door solution within these standard specifications. Of course, we are also happy to build customised formats on request. But this is more expensive and takes longer because these doors are customised.

Unfortunately, we often find that the dimensions are not correct. The correct ones are then only supplied later.

The subject of "handles" is also important. The consultant also finds out whether there are children in the house. If so, a rounded shape is good to protect children's heads."

MR: "Our sales staff here at GARANT receive up to 50 calls a week from door customers looking for initial advice. They contact us directly via our website, by phone or by e-mail. Our aim in dialogue: We want to guide the customer to the specialist dealer, set up the enquiry more clearly and clarify it in advance.

By asking the initial questions, we support the advice from the specialist retailer.Everyone benefits from this .

In my circle of friends, I am often asked what is important when choosing entrance doors for rooms or flats. I then advise them to use this short checklist

• What type of surface? What colour do I want?
• Exact dimensions? Wall opening? How big is the hole? Height times width!
• Energy values? Which specifications are binding?
• Edges? On the door and frame - round or square?
• Glass, e.g. as a light cut-out?
• Locks: Bathroom: emergency release? Flat entrance: profile cylinder lock?
• Costs? What do I want/can I spend?"

Tip for the first door phone call

MR: "My tip for your first phone call about doors: take a look at the next best door in your neighbourhood. If you don't work with doors on a daily basis, you need something to look at, touch and understand... Then you'll quickly get the "aha" effect.

I don't make the decision for a flat entrance door or for the doors in my new house on instinct. Experience has shown that ordering on the Internet also harbours many stumbling blocks. You need a specialist who can guide the customer through the huge range to the right solution with a great deal of expertise."

So, you now speak "door". Take part in our quiz and test your door knowledge. We will ask you 5 questions and give you several possible answers. At least one of them must be correct. Let's go! You can only win...