How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an important element of your decor. A new handle will elevate your home and bring your decor up-to-date.
Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff or even break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles enhance the look of your house while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a range of finishes, colors and types to complement your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps.
The first thing to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that can be used with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole that can be used with the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press this pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push on the knob.
After you have gained access to the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it properly and verify that the latch is working correctly before tightening the new set screws.
After you've replaced the knob, place the rod of the latch over the hole in the door and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are lined up and then thread in the screws on the latch plate and tighten them.
Some people prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary style. It will complement the furniture they have. Some people prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If door handles repair near me repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk have a member of your family who has mobility issues, you may prefer a lever style or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics are traditionally the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration too. Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the development of new and innovative designs for handles like those that can be operated using the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open will wear down as time passes. It is simple to replace the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes.
Depending on what type of handle you use the latch can be a separate component or a component of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same process for removing and replacing. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy particularly if your door handle is equipped with what's known as a "magic button". This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle.
If your handle does not have this magic button you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pull them off of the handle. Some have a tiny slot in them where you can put your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.
Next, you will want to loosen the two machine screws that secure the latch and inner plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep these shorter screws with a pointed tip in a secure location so that you can reuse them in the future. After the screws have been removed, you are able to remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware provided. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
It is common to replace a door handle because it is loose or does not lock properly. This is usually caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will provide more security for your door and will keep it shut.
To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate's hole, this means that your door isn't latching because the plate is too short. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.
Depending on the door, you may be able to install the new strike plate in the door over the old one with the screws that come with it. However, you might need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel out some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the situation, be careful to not chisel out too much wood or you'll damage the strength of the doorjamb.
You could also try installing a new box strike plate which provides the lock with a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate to the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with an extremely thick. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for the job. Just remember that the wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.