How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are a key part of your home's decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor modern.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you pick the right replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles enhance the appearance of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade, you can replace them in a few simple steps.
You must locate the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to loosen the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a tiny slot, or hole, that you can use to press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and allows you to pull or push on the knob.
Once you have access to the shaft or spindle, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening your new set screws.
Once you've replaced the knob, put the rod for latching over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up and then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten the screws.
Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match their furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design which is great for rustic-styled rooms. If you have members of your household who are unable to move You might want to consider choosing an rim lock or a lever style door knob that require less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility have been key issues when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example, some handle designs can be operated by a person's arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open may wear out over time. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be a part of the knob itself, or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself. 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 if you have a door handle 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 pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If repairmywindowsanddoors does not have this magical button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver. Some have a small hole in them where you can put your screwdriver into, while others snap off.
Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws holding the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp tip - you will need to keep these in a safe place to use them again in the next steps. Once the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
Now you can start on the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which will provide better security for your door and ensure it stays shut.
Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is below your strike plate hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.
You may be able simply to put the new strikeplate in place over the one you have already installed by using the screws supplied with it, depending on your door. However, you might need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be careful to not chisel out too much wood or you'll damage the integrity of the doorjamb.
You can also try installing a new strike plate which gives the lock a much stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically it requires two long screws to secure the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with antique rim locks, and is made of robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. This kit includes wood screws as well as machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware for your requirements. Remember that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.