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 modern.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are indicators that it's time to change them. This guide will help you select the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and make it easier for you to open and shut them. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes and styles that will complement your decor. If yours are starting to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be done in a few steps.
You must locate the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is connected to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to release the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole through which you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it properly and test to see that the latch is working properly before tightening your new set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned then thread the latch plate screws and tighten them.
Some homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek appearance. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you may want to choose an rim or lever lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other aspects are being taken into consideration too. Accessibility and control of infections are key issues that have led to the creation of new designs for handle handles including ones that can be operated with the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open is prone to wear and tear due to the wear and tear of use. The replacement of the latch to accommodate a new handle can be a simple DIY job and will make a huge difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you are using, the latch may be part of the knob itself or it could be an independent piece that is attached to the door. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and installing will be used. It's easy to remove the old latch, particularly if you have doors with a "magic" button. Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you need to press to pop the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't have this button the first step is to take off any cover plates that are positioned 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 tiny slot inside that you can put your screwdriver through, while others snap off.
Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws holding the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws with a sharp point - you will be required to keep them in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.
Now you can start on the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws supplied.
Strike door handle repairs of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is that it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is typically caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer more security for your door and will keep it closed.
Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole, this means that your door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
It is possible to install the new strikeplate in the one you have already installed using the screws included with it, based on the door you have. It is possible that you will need to drill holes first, and then chisel the wood to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the case, you must be cautious not to chisel too hard or you'll cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on doors and require more force to open them. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate into the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and has an extremely thick. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware for your requirements. Remember that wood screws have a pointed tip and machine screws have a blunter tip.