How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an important part of the interior design. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up to date.
Over time, your door knobs may become stiff, or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles add to the aesthetics of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of simple steps.
You need to locate the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. This pin releases the latch mechanism and lets 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 check to ensure that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, put the latch rod in position over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned and then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten the screws.
Some people prefer a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek look. This can be matched with their furniture. Some people prefer a rustic design that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household who are unable to move, you may think about an rim lock or a lever-style door knobs, 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 considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For instance certain handles handle designs can be operated by the arm of a person.
Latch
The latch that opens your door is prone to wear and tear due to age and use. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be part of the knob or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself. 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 doors with a "magic" button. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob, is the one you'll have to press to pop the latch out of the handle.
If your handle doesn't 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 by using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a small hole inside that you can put your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off.
Then, unscrew the machine screws that secure the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a pointy tip You will need to keep these in a safe location to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and put it aside.
You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
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 usually due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, for example an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and ensure that your door 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 lower than the strike plate hole it indicates that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is over the strike plate hole, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
Depending on your door You may be able to attach the new strike plate into the existing one, using the screws that come with it. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to ensure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too deeply or you could damage the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger hold on the doors and will require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one.
This strike plate is specifically designed to work with rim locks from the past, and is made of sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware for your requirements. Be aware that wood screws have a sharp tip, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.