How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an important element of your interior design. A new handle can elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up to date.
Over time your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff and even break. These are indicators that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you select the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and make it easier to shut and open them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to match your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a few simple steps.
You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to release the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole through which you can press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. When you press this pin it opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push on the knob.
Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Be sure to align it correctly and test to see that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.
After you've replaced the knob, hold the rod for latching over the door's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up then thread the screws on the latch plate and tighten them.
Some people prefer an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. This will match their other furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you might prefer the lever or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have been the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration as well. Accessibility and infection control are key considerations in the creation of new designs for handles. For instance certain handles handle designs can be operated by the arm of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down over time. Switching out the old latch to accommodate the new handle is an easy DIY task and will make a huge difference in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of knob you have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be a part of the knob itself or it could be an individual piece that is attached to the door itself. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will apply. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple especially if the door handle is equipped with what's known as a "magic button". It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't have this button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with a screwdriver. Some have a slot where you can insert your screwdriver, while others just snap off.
Then, remove the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip - you will need to keep these in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and put 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 using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism of the handle and aligns with the other screw holes in the handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is that it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved up or downward on the doorjamb over time. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will provide better security and keep your door closed.
To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If door handle repair near me is below the strike plate's hole, this means that your door won't latch because the plate isn't long enough. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
Depending on the door, you may be able to just install the new strike plate into place over the old one using the screws that come with it. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case, be careful not to chisel too much or you may ruin the strength of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a stronger hold on the doors and require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate into the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one.
This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with a heavy-duty thickness. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the correct hardware for your job. Remember that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.