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How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles that you have in your home are an essential part of the design. A new handle will bring your home's decor and interior up to date.





Over time your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff and even break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help choose the best door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

Door handles add to the appearance of your house while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and types to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be completed in just a few steps.

You must locate the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is connected to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push on the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands take the knob off and replace it. Be sure to align it correctly and test to see that the latch works properly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, put the rod that is attached to the latch over the hole on the door. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then tighten the latch plate screws.

Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek look. This can be matched with their furniture. Some prefer a rustic design that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have a member of your family who has mobility issues, you might want to choose an rim or lever lock that require less pressure to operate.

Other aspects are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are the main issues that have led to the development of new designs for handle handles including ones that can be operated using the forearm of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out as time passes. Switching out the old latch to make room for a new handle can be an easy DIY task and it will make a significant change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of knob you are using, the latch may be a part of the knob or it could be an individual piece that is attached to the door itself. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and installing will apply. Removing the old latch of its place is quite simple especially if the door handle is equipped with what's called a "magic button". This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.

If your handle doesn't have this button, you'll have to take off the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed with a screwdriver. Some have a small hole in them that you can insert your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off.

Then, remove the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk is important to keep these screws with a pointed tip in a secure location in order to reuse them in the future. After the screws have been removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.

You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate with the provided screws.

Strike Plate

One of the most frequent reasons for replacing a door handle is because it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is often due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer more security for your door and keep it shut.

Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.

Depending on the door you have, you may be able to screw the new strike plate into the door over the old one using the screws included with it. But, you may have to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case Be careful not to cut too much wood or you may ruin the integrity of the doorjamb.

Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on doors and require more force to open them. Typically it will require two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll have remove the previous strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to make space for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and is made of robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the right equipment for your task. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.