How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of your home's decor. A new handle will elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up to date.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles can enhance the appearance of your house while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to match your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of simple steps.
You need to locate the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is attached 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 slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push on the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands, remove the old knob and replace it. Align it correctly and check whether the latch works before tightening new set screws.
After replacing the knob, put the latch rod in position over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then tighten the latch plate screws.
Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This will match the furniture they have. Some people prefer a rustic design that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household who have mobility issues You might be interested in the rim lock or lever-style door knobs that require less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other factors are becoming more important as well. Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the development of new designs for handle handles including ones that can be operated using the forearm of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open may wear out over time. The replacement of the latch to make room for a new handle can be an easy DIY project and it will make a significant difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of handle you choose the latch can be a separate part or a component of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same steps for removing and replacing. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy, especially if your door handle has what is called a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you have to press to pop the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed with the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a slot in which you can put your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off.
Next, you will want to loosen the two machine screws that hold the latch and inner plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep these screws with an angled tip in a secure location so that you can reuse them later. After the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and put it aside.
You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the latch plate in 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 inside the handle and aligns with the other screw holes in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto the handle and secure it with the screws provided.
Strike Plate
It is typical to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, for example a strike plate that is too short or has moved up or downward on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer greater security for your door and will keep it shut.
To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate 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 upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
You may be able simply to screw the new strikeplate into the old one using the screws that come with it, depending on the door. However, you might need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If door handles is the case, be careful to not chisel out too much wood or you could damage the strength of the doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on the doors and require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the frame of the door. It is necessary remove the old strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This hard-to find strike plate is made of solid brass and has a thick, heavy-duty. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the correct equipment for your task. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip while machine screws are more blunt.