How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles in your home are an essential part of the design. A new handle can bring your home's decor modern.

As time passes, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff and even break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the right replacement door handle for your home.

Door Knobs

Door handles can enhance the aesthetics of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to complement your decor. If yours are starting to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be completed in a couple of 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 tiny opening that you can use a screwdriver to remove the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism, and lets you pull or push the knob.

After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws.

After replacing the knob, place the rod that is attached to the latch over the door's hole. Lock it in place using the rod system 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 prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware for modern, sleek design that matches other furnishings in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic look, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might prefer the lever or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have traditionally been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered as well. Accessibility and control of infections are key considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For example certain handles handle designs can be operated by an arm.

Latch

The latch that holds the repair door handle handle open may wear out as time passes. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in huge differences in how it opens and closes.

Depending on the type of knob you are using the latch could be part of the knob itself or it could be an independent piece attached to the door itself. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling will be used. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of doors with a "magic" button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is the one you need to press to take the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your handle does not 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 slots where you can put your screwdriver, while others simply snap off.

Then, unscrew the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door lock handle repair handle. It is important to keep these shorter screws with an angled tip in a secure location to be able to reuse them in the future. After the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and put it aside.

You can now begin working on the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism of the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.

Strike Plate

It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like a strike plate that's too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and ensure that your door stays shut.

To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a 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's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.

It is possible to install the new strikeplate in the one you have already installed using the screws that come with it, based on the door handles repair near me you have. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too much or you may damage the integrity of your doorjamb.

You could also try installing a new box strike plate which provides the lock with a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate to the frame of the upvc door handle repair near me door handle repairs near me (updated blog post). To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate is made from solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws, so you can select the appropriate hardware to suit your needs. Remember that wood screws have a pointed tip, and upvc door handle repairs near me machine screws have a blunter tip.