7 Simple Tips For Making A Statement With Your Replacement Door Handles How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are a crucial element of your home's decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior modern.

Over time your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff, or break. These are signs that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you pick the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to open and close them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to match your decor. If yours have started to show signs or need an upgrade, you can replace them in a few simple steps.

You need to locate the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is connected to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that you can use a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole that you can use to press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push on the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands, remove the old knob and replace it. Be sure to align it correctly and verify that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, place the rod for the latch into the hole on the door. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the latch plate screws.

Some people opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give it an elegant, modern look that complements other furniture in their homes. Some people prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have members of your household who are unable to move You may want to consider choosing an rim lock or a lever knobs for doors, which require less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have traditionally been the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered as well. Accessibility and infection control have been key issues in the development of new designs for handles. For window handles , some can be operated with the arm of a person.

Latch

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

Depending on what type of handle you use the latch may be a separate component or a component of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will be used. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of doors with a "magic" button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pop the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.

If your handle isn't equipped with this magical button the first step is to remove any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver in order to remove them off of the handle. Some have a tiny slot in them that you can slide your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off.

Then, unscrew the machine screws that secure the inner plate and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep the screws that are shorter and have a pointed tip in a safe location to be able to reuse them in the future. After these screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and place it in a safe place.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the 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, push the outside latch plate onto the handle and secure it with the screws supplied.


Strike Plate

One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is that it feels loose or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too small or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will provide better security and will keep your door 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, then try 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 higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

Depending on the door you have You may be able to screw the new strike plate in the door over the old one with the screws that come with it. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to ensure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too hard or you'll ruin the strength of your doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on the doors and require more force to open the doors. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the door frame. To do this, you'll have to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to create space for the new one.

This strike plate is made to work with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws so you can select the appropriate hardware to suit your requirements. Just remember that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.