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How To Get More Results From Your Replacement Door Handles
How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles in your home are an essential part of the design. A new handle can elevate your home and bring your decor up-to-date.

Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your house and allow you to open and shut them. They come in a variety of colors, finishes and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade, you can change them in just a few simple steps.

The first thing you have to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert an incredibly small screwdriver to remove the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole in which can be used with a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin called a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism, 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 to align it correctly and test to see that the latch functions properly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, you can place the rod that is attached to the latch over the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then thread in the screws on the latch plate and tighten them.

Some people opt for the smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware to give it modern, sleek design that matches other furnishings in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you may want to choose a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are the main issues that have led to the creation of innovative new handle designs like those that can be operated using the forearm of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down over time. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in huge differences in how it opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of knob you are using, the latch may be a part of the knob itself, or it might be an independent piece attached to the door itself. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and installing will apply. It's simple to take off the old latch, especially in the case of doors with a "magic" button. Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your handle doesn't have this magic button you will need to remove the cover plates placed 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 a slot in which you can put your screwdriver, while others just snap off.

Then, loosen the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. These are the screws with a sharp point and you'll need to keep these in a safe place to use them again in the next steps. After the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and 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 provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the other screw holes in the handle. Then, push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it with the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often caused by incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, for example an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or has moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb with time. This simple fix allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and keep your door closed.

To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole this indicates that your door won't latch because the plate isn't long enough. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

Depending on window handles , you may be able to simply attach the new strike plate in the door over the old one using the screws included with it. You may need to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be careful not to chisel too deeply or you could ruin the strength of your doorjamb.


Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and will require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of sturdy solid brass in an extremely thick. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws so you can select the appropriate hardware for your requirements. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed point, and machine screws have a blunter tip.