How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles of your home are an important part of the decor. A new handle can transform your space and bring your decor up-to-date.
Over time your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you choose the best door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles add to the appearance of your home while also making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to appear worn or simply require an upgrade, replacing them is relatively easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps.
The first thing you have to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to remove the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole in which can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. This pin releases the latch mechanism, and lets you to pull or push the knob.
Once you have access to the shaft or spindle, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure whether the latch works before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, hold the latch rod in position over the hole in the door and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them.
Some people prefer a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match their other furniture. Some prefer a rustic design that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have family members with mobility limitations, you may be interested in the rim lock or 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. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For example some handles can be operated using a person's arm.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open will wear out due to the wear and tear of use. Switching out the old latch to make room for an entirely new handle can be a simple DIY job and will make a significant change in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself, or it could be an individual piece attached to the door. In either case, you will follow the same steps for removing and replacing. It's simple to take off the old latch, particularly if you have an entry handle that has a "magic" button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob is what you need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle.
If your handle doesn't have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.
The next step is to remove the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep these shorter screws with sharp tips in a safe location in order to reuse them in the future. Once door handle repair near me repairmywindowsanddoors are removed, you can remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is that it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, for example a strike plate that's too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which will offer more security for your door and will keep it shut.
To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate hole it indicates that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.
You might be able to put the new strikeplate in the old one using the screws included with it, based on the door. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too hard or you'll damage the strength of your doorjamb.
You could also try installing a new strike plate which gives the lock a much stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate in the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make room for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with a thick, heavy-duty. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the correct hardware for your job. Be aware that the wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.