Has Vertical Push/Pull Handle

A vertical push or pull handle occupies the exact area a smart lock escutcheon wants. There are three ways through this, and which one applies depends on five measurements taken from the existing door. Take those first; the product choice follows from them.

The five measurements

Handle centres - the distance between the two fixing points of the existing handle.
Handle offset - the distance from the door edge to the centreline of the handle.
Backset - door edge to the centre of the existing cylinder or spindle hole.
Door thickness - measured on the leaf.
Stile width - the width of the frame member, critical on aluminium doors.

The three pathways

Pathway	Approach	When it applies
1. Keep the handle	Fit a lock whose escutcheon is narrow enough to sit clear of the handle, or move to a slimline body	Handle offset leaves adequate clearance and the stile allows a narrow body
2. Replace the handle	Change to a handle set designed to work with a smart lock escutcheon	Existing handle cannot clear, but the door prep is otherwise workable
3. Separate the functions	Smart lock on the leaf, handle relocated or retained purely as a pull	Commercial and heavy leaves where the pull must stay for door weight

This is the door type most often ordered incorrectly, because the handle looks like it can simply stay where it is. The full measurement guide sets out each dimension with photographs before you commit to a product.

Common door contexts

Aluminium commercial entry doors with full-height ladder pulls
Residential pivot and oversized timber entry doors
Sliding stacker and bifold leaves that carry a vertical pull
Refurbishments where the existing handle is architectural and must remain

Related categories

Door with Narrow Frame · Regular Front Door · Scar and Adaptor Plates · Mortice Locks

Common questions

Can I keep my existing pull handle?
Sometimes. It depends on the handle offset from the door edge and the width of the lock escutcheon. Where there is 20 mm or more of clear space beside the handle, a slimline lock will often sit alongside it. Below that, the handle has to move.

What if the handle is fixed through the door?
Through-fixed handles leave holes that will be visible if the handle is removed or relocated. A scar plate covers them cleanly. Scar and adaptor plates.

Is this something I can work out from photos?
Photos help but do not replace the measurements. Send photos plus the five dimensions and the compatible options can be confirmed before ordering.

Guides and reference

Three pathways for push-pull doors · Ch 02 - Push and pull hardware · Scar plates for smart locks