How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles of your home are an important part of the design. A new handle will elevate your space and bring your decor up to date.

Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are signs that it's time to replace them. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will improve the look of your home door handle repair near me and allow you to shut and open them. They come in a wide range of colors, finishes and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively easy and can be accomplished in a few steps.

You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is connected to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole through which allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. This pin lets go of 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 verify that the latch works properly before tightening your new set screws.

After replacing the knob, put the rod for the latch into the door handles repair near me's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned and then thread in the screws for the latch plate and tighten the screws.

Some prefer the smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware for an elegant, modern look that complements 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 the lever or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics are traditionally the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are becoming more important as well. Accessibility and infection control have been major considerations when it comes to developing new designs for handles. For example certain handles can be operated with a person's arm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down as time passes. Switching out the old latch to fit a new handle can be a simple DIY job and it will make a huge change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the type of knob you have the latch could be a part of the knob or it could be an individual piece attached to the door itself. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will be used. Removing the old latch of place is fairly easy especially if the door handle has what's called a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to take the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.

If your handle doesn't have this button, you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using the help of a screwdriver. Some have a slot in which you can place your screwdriver, whereas others just snap off.

Then, remove the machine screws that hold the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. It is important to keep these shorter screws with sharp tips in a safe place in order to reuse them in the future. Once the screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and set it aside.

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

Strike Plate

It is typical to replace a door handle repair plate handle when it feels loose, or isn't locking properly. This is often due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, for example an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will provide more security for your door and Double glazed door Handle repair ensure it stays shut.

Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate is likely to have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

You might be able to put the new strikeplate in the old one using the screws included with it, based on the door. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to ensure it's a good fit. If this is the case, be careful to not chisel out too much wood or you may ruin the integrity of the doorjamb.

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

This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and has an extremely thick. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the right hardware for your job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip whereas machine screws are blunter.