20 Myths About Replacement Door Handles: Busted

How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles of your home are an important part of the design. A new handle can elevate your home and bring your decor to the present.

Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff or even break. These are signs it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you pick the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to open and close them. They come in a wide range of finishes, colors and styles that will complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a few simple steps.

You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws holding the knob in place. Others have a thin slot or hole in which 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.

Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands, remove the old knob and replace it. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws.

After replacing the knob, place the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then thread in the screws for the latch plate and tighten them.

Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with their furniture. Some prefer a rustic design that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household who are unable to move You might want to consider choosing a rim lock or lever style door knob that require less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration as well. Infection control and accessibility are the main issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles like those that can be operated using the forearms of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds your door handle open is prone to wear and tear due to the wear and tear of use. Switching out the old latch to make room for an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY task and will make a huge difference in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on what kind of handle you choose the latch may be a separate component or a part of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same procedure for removing and replacing. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple particularly if your door handle has what is called 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 pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your handle doesn't come with this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pull them off of the handle. Some have a small hole inside that you can insert your screwdriver into, while others snap off.

Then, loosen the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp tip and you'll be required to keep them in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and place it in a safe place.

Now you can begin installing the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws provided.

Strike Plate

It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, for example the strike plate being 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 new, larger one that will provide better security and will keep your door shut.

Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

You might be able to put the new strikeplate in the one you have already installed using the screws included with it, based on your door. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to ensure it's a good fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to chisel too hard or you'll cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb.

window handles  can also try installing a new strike plate that will give the lock a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate in the door frame. You'll have remove the previous strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your requirements. Make sure to note that wood screws have a sharp tip, while the machine ones are more blunt.