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How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles in your home are an essential part of the design. A new handle can bring your decor and space up-to-date.

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

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your home and allow you to open and close them. They come in a variety of colors, finishes and styles to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps.

You'll need to find the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert an incredibly small screwdriver to loosen the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a tiny slot or hole that you can press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. When you press this pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands take the knob off and replace it. Make sure you align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch is working 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 that the holes are aligned and then thread in the screws for the latch plate and tighten them.

Some people prefer a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. It will complement the furniture they have. Others prefer a more rustic look that is a good match for rustic-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might want to choose a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

While replacement handles for sliding patio doors have traditionally been the primary consideration for door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered too. Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles like those that can be operated with the forearm of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds your door handle open will wear out due to the wear and tear of use. Changing out the old latch to accommodate an entirely new handle can be a simple DIY job and it will make a significant difference in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of handle you choose the latch may be a separate piece or a component of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same steps to remove and replace. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple particularly if your door handle has what's called a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you need to press to take the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.

If your handle isn't equipped with this magical button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.

The next step is to remove the two machine screws holding the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You will need to store these shorter screws with sharp tips in a safe location in order to reuse them in the future. After the screws have been removed, you can take the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism of the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the screws provided.

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 often caused by incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or shifted upwards or downwards on the doorjamb with time. This simple project will allow you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that will give you better security and ensure that your door stays shut.

To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, this means that your door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate may have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

Depending on your door, you may be able to simply screw the new strike plate into the existing one using the screws included with it. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too much or you may ruin the integrity of your doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on doors and require more force to open them. It usually requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to create space for the new one.

This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and has an extremely thick. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws as well as machine screws so you can choose the right hardware to suit your needs. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.