How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are a crucial part of your home's decor. A new handle can transform your space and bring your decor up-to-date.
Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff, or break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles add to the look of your home, while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a few easy steps.
You must locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is connected to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. When you press this pin, the latch mechanism releases and allows you to pull or push on the knob.
Once window handles have access to the spindle or shaft, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it properly and then test to see that the latch functions properly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the latch rod over the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws on the latch plate.
Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. It will complement their other furniture. Some people prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you may want to choose a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics are traditionally the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered as well. Infection control and accessibility are two major issues that have led to the creation of new designs for handle handles including ones that can be operated with the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down as time passes. The replacement of the latch to accommodate the new handle is an easy DIY task and will make a significant change in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you use the latch may be a separate component or a part of the knob. In either case, you'll need to follow the same steps to remove and replace. It's simple to take off 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 what you need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.
If your handle doesn't come with this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a slot where you can place your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off.
The next step is to remove the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these shorter screws with an angled tip in a secure location to be able to reuse them later. After these screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and is aligned with the other screw holes in the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like a strike plate that's too short or moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will provide better security and keep your door closed.
Apply a 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 located below the strike plate's 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.
You may be able simply to install the new strikeplate in place over the old one using the screws included with it, based on your door. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel the wood to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the case make sure you don't be too rough with the chiseling process or you'll damage the strength 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. Typically it requires two long screws that secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate and 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 an extremely thick. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware to suit your needs. Just remember that wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.