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How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are a key part of your home's decor. A new handle will elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up-to-date.

As time passes, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to change them. This guide will help you select the correct door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will improve the look of your home and make it easier to open and shut them. They are available in a wide range of colors, finishes and styles to complement your decor. If yours are starting to appear worn or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps.

You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a tiny slot, or hole, that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using a flathead. This pin releases the latch mechanism and lets you to pull or push the knob.

After you have ahold of the spindle or shaft, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening the new set screws.

After you've replaced the knob, put the rod for latching over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned then thread the screws for the latch plate and tighten them.

Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek look. This will match their furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household with mobility limitations You might think about the rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have been the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are increasingly being considered too. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example, some can be operated with a person's arm.

Latch

The latch that opens your door can wear out from age and use. Changing out the old latch to accommodate the new handle is an easy DIY project and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on what kind of handle you choose the latch can be a separate component or a component of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same steps to remove and replace. The process of removing the old latch of its place is quite simple, especially if your door handle has what's known as a "magic button". The button is located on the left side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you have to press to take the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.

If your handle does not have this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a small slot in them where you can slide your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.

The next step is to unscrew the two machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip - you will have to store them in a safe location to use them again in the next steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and set it aside.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then, push upvc door handles onto the handle and secure it using the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

It is typical to replace a door handle when it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which can provide more security for your door and keep it closed.

Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole, it means that the door isn't latching because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

You may be able simply to screw the new strikeplate into the old one by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door you have. 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 situation, be careful to not chisel out too much wood or you may ruin the integrity of the doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on doors and will require more force to open them. It usually requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate in the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.

This strike plate is designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and is made of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. This kit comes with wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to choose the right hardware to suit your requirements. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip while machine screws are more blunt.