How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of your home's decor. A new handle can transform your home and bring your decor up to date.
Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and even break. These are indicators that it's time to change 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 home and make it easier to shut and open them. They come in a variety of finishes, colors and types to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps.
The first thing you have to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to loosen the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole that you can press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. When you press this pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
After you have gained access to the shaft or spindle, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it properly and then test to see that the latch is working correctly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, place the rod that is attached to the latch over the door's hole. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the latch plate screws.
Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to create a sleek, contemporary look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Some people prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have a member of your family who has mobility issues, you may want to choose a lever style or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have traditionally been the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are being taken into consideration too. Accessibility and control of infections have been key issues in the creation of new handle designs. For instance, some can be operated using an arm.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open can wear out from age and use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of knob you have the latch could be a part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself. In either case, the same process for removing and reinstalling will apply. Removing the old latch of its place is quite simple particularly if your door handle has what's known as a "magic button". It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you have to press to take the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If your handle does not have this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a slot where you can insert your screwdriver, while others just snap off.
door handles repairmywindowsanddoors is to unscrew the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip - you will need to keep these in a safe location to reuse them in later steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and put it aside.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Install 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 mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
It is common to replace a door handle when it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning parts of the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which will offer better security for your door and ensure it stays shut.
Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this means that your door isn't latching because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into place over the one you have already installed by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door you have. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel out some of the wood to ensure it's a good fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate into the door frame. You'll need remove the old strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and has a thick, heavy-duty. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit comes with wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your needs. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.