Doorstop Facts for Kids

A rubber doorstop

A doorstop is a simple but very useful tool. It's designed to help with doors in two main ways. It can either hold a door open, or it can stop a door from hitting a wall. These handy devices prevent damage to walls and doors. They also help keep rooms airy or private, depending on how they are used.

What is a Doorstop?
- Keeping Doors Open
- Protecting Walls
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What is a Doorstop?

A doorstop is any object or device that controls the movement of a door. Think of it as a helpful guard for your doors and walls! Without doorstops, doors might swing open too wide and crash into walls. They might also close unexpectedly, which can be annoying or even a bit unsafe.

Keeping Doors Open

One common use for a doorstop is to keep a door from closing. This is useful when you want fresh air to flow through a room. It's also great when you're carrying things and need the door to stay open.

There are a few ways these doorstops work:

Attached to the door: Some doorstops are built right onto the door itself. They might be a small lever or a foot-operated device that you push down to hold the door in place.
Wedge doorstops: These are often shaped like a wedge. You simply slide them under the bottom edge of the door. The friction and the angle of the wedge hold the door firmly open. They are usually made of rubber, wood, or plastic.
Heavy doorstops: Sometimes, a heavy object is placed in front of a door to keep it from closing. These can be decorative items made of metal, concrete, or even a simple brick!

Protecting Walls

The other main job of a doorstop is to protect walls from damage. When a door swings open quickly, its handle or edge can hit the wall. Over time, this can leave marks, dents, or even holes in the wall.

Doorstops that protect walls can be placed in different spots:

On the wall: These are often small, rubber bumpers or pads stuck directly onto the wall where the door handle would hit.
On the floor: Some doorstops are small posts or domes fixed to the floor. They stop the door before it reaches the wall.
On the door: Less common, but some doorstops are attached to the door itself. They might be a small rubber tip that cushions the impact with the wall.

Doorstops come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. They can be simple and practical, or decorative and stylish. No matter their look, they all serve the important purpose of making our homes and buildings safer and more functional.