How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an important element of your decor. A new handle will elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up-to-date.
As time passes, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff, or break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles enhance the look of your home while also making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a wide variety of colors, finishes and types to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can change them in just a few easy steps.
You must locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole through which allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, put the rod of the latch over the door's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up, then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them.
door handle repair near me opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic look, which pairs well with rustic-styled rooms. If you have family members with mobility limitations You might be interested in an rim lock or a lever knobs for doors, which require 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 key issues that have led to the development of innovative new handle designs including ones that can be operated using the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down over time. Changing out the old latch to make room for the new handle is an easy DIY project and will make a huge difference in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the kind 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 attached to the door. In any case, you'll follow the same process to remove and replace. It's easy to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of a door handle with a "magic" button. The tiny pressure-slot, which is located on the side knob, is what you will need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.
If your handle doesn't have this magical button the first step is to take off any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver in order to remove them off the handle. Some have a slot where you can insert your screwdriver, while others simply snap off.
Then, unscrew the machine screws that secure the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp point and you'll need to keep these in a safe location to use them again in the next steps. After the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and put it aside.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Insert 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 in the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism of the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, push the outside latch plate on and secure it using the provided screws.
Strike Plate
One of the most common reasons to replace the door handle is because it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, for example an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved up or down 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 keep your door closed.
To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole, this means that your door isn't latching because the plate is too short. If the mark is over the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.
Depending on your door You may be able to screw the new strike plate into the door over the old one, using the screws included with it. However, you may need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel a bit of the wood to ensure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too deeply or you could damage the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and require more force to open them. Typically it will require two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll have remove the old strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate was designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, so you'll have the right hardware for the job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed point, whereas machine screws are blunter.