How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an essential part of the decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior modern.
Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff, or even break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you pick the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and allow you to open and close them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and types to match your decor. If yours are starting to appear worn or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be done in a few steps.
You need to locate the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that secure the handle. Others have a thin slot or hole where can be used with the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. When you press this pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure you align it correctly and check to ensure that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, place the latch rod over the door's hole. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws for the latch plate.
Repair My Windows And Doors choose a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary style. This can be matched with the furniture they have. Others prefer a more rustic look which is great for rustic-styled rooms. If you have members of your household who are unable to move You may want to consider choosing an rim lock or a lever style door knob, which require less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are the main issues that have led to the development of innovative new handle designs including ones that can be operated using the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out as time passes. Switching out the old latch to fit an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY project and it will make a significant difference in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of knob you have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be part of the knob or it could be an individual piece attached to the door. In any case, you'll follow the same steps to remove and replace. It's easy to remove the old latch, especially if you have an entry handle that has a "magic" button. The button is located on the left side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you have to press to take the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle isn't equipped with this button the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off of the handle. Some have slots where you can place your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off.
Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep these screws with an angled tip in a secure location to be able to reuse them in the future. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it with the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin that is on the interior of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle when it feels loose, or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will give you better security and will keep your door shut.
Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate hole it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate may have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.
Depending on the door You may be able to simply install the new strike plate into the existing one, using the screws that come with it. You may have to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case make sure you don't be too rough with the chiseling process or you could damage the strength of the doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger hold on the doors and require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate is made from solid brass and has an extremely thick. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, which means you'll have the right hardware for your job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip whereas machine screws are blunter.