How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles of your home are an essential element of your decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor modern.

Over time, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff and even break. These are indicators that 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 look of your home, while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a range of colors, finishes, and styles to complement your decor. If yours are starting to appear worn or just need an upgrade, replacing them is relatively easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps.

The first thing to find is the shaft or spindle through the knob's attachment to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to remove the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a tiny slot or hole through which allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. This pin lets go of the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hand take the knob off and replace it. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure whether the latch works before tightening new set screws.

After replacing the knob, hold the rod for latching over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws for the latch plate.

Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware to give it an elegant, modern look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Some prefer a rustic design that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style or rim lock that require less pressure to operate.

Other aspects are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are key issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles like those that can be operated with the forearm of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds the handle of your door open may wear out over time. Changing out the old latch to fit a new handle can be an easy DIY task and it will make a significant difference in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of handle you have the latch could be part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece attached to the Double Glazed Door Handles Replacement. In any case, you'll follow the same procedure for removing and replacing. It's simple to take off the old latch, especially when you have an entry handle that has a "magic" button. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob, is the one you'll need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.

If your handle doesn't come with this button, you'll have to take off the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have a tiny slot in them where you can put your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.

Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle lock repair handle. These are the screws with a sharp tip You will need to keep these in a safe place to reuse them in later steps. Once these are off you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the double glazing door handle repairs's hole and place it in a safe place.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door lock handle repair hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism of the handle and is aligned with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.

Strike Plate

One of the most common reasons for replacing the door handle is because it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, such as an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and ensure that your door stays shut.

Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is higher than the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.

You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into the old one using the screws that come with it, based on the door you have. You may have to first drill holes and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to chisel too hard or you'll damage the integrity of your doorjamb.

Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure hold on the doors and require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate to the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to create space for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate was designed to be used with antique rim locks, and it's made from sturdy solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and double glazed Door handles replacement wood screws, ensuring that you have the correct hardware for the job. Just remember that the wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.