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How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles in your home are an essential element of your design. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior up-to-date.

Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the best door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to shut and open them. They are available in a range of colors, finishes, and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to appear worn or you just want to upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in a couple of steps.

You must locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that keep the handle in place. Repair My Windows And Doors have a slot or hole where you can use the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you pull or push the knob.

After you have ahold of the spindle or shaft, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it correctly and test to see that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, put the latch rod over the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then tighten the latch plate screws.

Some people opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware for modern, sleek design that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style which is great for spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you may prefer an rim or lever lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key considerations in the development of new handle designs. For example some handles handle designs can be operated by a person's arm.

Latch

The latch that keeps your door handle open is prone to wear and tear due to age and use. Changing out the old latch to fit an entirely 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 what type of handle you are using the latch can be a separate piece or an integral part of the knob. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling is applicable. It's easy to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of an entry handle that has a "magic" button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you have to press to pull the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.

If your handle doesn't have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver. Some have a small slot in them where you can insert your screwdriver into, while others snap off.

Then, unscrew the machine screws that secure the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep these shorter screws with an angled tip in a secure location so that you can reuse them in the future. After these screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and put it away.





Now you can start on the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism of the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, push the outside latch plate on and secure it with the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

One of the most common reasons to replace the door handle is that it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example a strike plate that is too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a new, longer one that can provide greater security and keep your door closed.

To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is above the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.

It is possible to install the new strikeplate in the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door you have. However, you may need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too much or you may cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb.

You can also consider installing a new strike plate that provides the lock with a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from durable solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes both wood screws as well as machine screws, so you can pick the right hardware for your requirements. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.