20 Resources To Make You More Efficient At Replacement Door Handles

How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are an essential part of your home's decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor and interior up to date.

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

Door Knobs

Door handles enhance the aesthetics of your home while also making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a wide range of finishes, colors, and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps.

You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can use an screwdriver to take out the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole through which allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands, remove the old knob and replace it. Be sure to align it correctly and test to see that the latch is working properly before tightening your new set screws.

After replacing the knob, put the latch rod over the hole on the door. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned, 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 matches other furnishings in their homes. Some prefer a rustic design that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you may want to choose an rim or lever lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are key issues that have led to the creation of new designs for handle handles like those that can be operated with the forearms of a person.

Latch

The latch that keeps your door handle open will wear out due to the wear and tear of use. It is simple to replace the latch on your door handle. This will make an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of knob you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece attached to the door itself. In either case, you'll need to follow the same steps to remove and replace. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of a door handle with a "magic" button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob is the one you'll need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.

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

Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip - you will be required to keep them in a secure 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.

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

Strike Plate

It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it feels loose, or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will provide better security and will keep your door shut.

Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole this indicates 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 is likely to have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

Depending on your door You may be able to install the new strike plate into place over the old one, using the screws included with it. You may need to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could damage 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. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the door frame. To do this, you'll have to take off the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel away the wood to create space for the new one.

This hard-to find strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with a heavy-duty thickness. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to select the appropriate hardware for your needs. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.