How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an important part of the interior design. A new handle can bring your decor and space up to date.
Over time, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff, or break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles enhance the appearance of your house 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 is beginning to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of simple steps.
You must locate the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a tiny slot or hole that you can use to press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands take the knob off and replace it. Make sure you align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch is working properly before tightening your new set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the latch plate screws.
Some homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with their furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you may prefer an rim or lever lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations in the development of new handle designs. For example certain handles can be operated using the arm of a person.
Latch
The latch that opens your door can wear out from age and use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you use, the latch could be a separate component or a part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure to remove and install will apply. It's easy to remove the old latch, especially if you have an entry handle that has a "magic" button. Located on the side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If your handle does not have this magic button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have a small slot in them where you can insert your screwdriver into, while others simply snap off.
Then, unscrew the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. These are the screws with a sharp tip 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 can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.
Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin that is on the interior of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the provided screws.
Strike Plate
One of the most common reasons to replace the door handle is that it feels loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, for example the strike plate being too short or moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will provide greater security for your door and ensure it stays shut.
Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole, this means that your door won't latch due to the fact that the plate isn't long enough. If the mark is over the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.
You may be able simply to screw the new strikeplate into the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door. It is possible that you will need to drill holes first, and then chisel some wood out to ensure a perfect fit. If door handle repairs is the case, be careful not to cut too deeply or you could damage the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll need remove the previous strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This strike plate is designed to be used with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws, so you can select the appropriate hardware for your needs. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp tip, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.