How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles of your home are an essential element of your decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior modern.
As time passes, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff and even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you select the best door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles enhance the aesthetics 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 match your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of easy steps.
The first thing you have to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that keep the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism, and lets you to pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of 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 that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws.
After replacing the knob, hold 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 in alignment, then tighten the screws for the latch plate.
Some people prefer an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This will match the furniture they have. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have family members with mobility limitations You might be interested in a rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which 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 two major issues that have led to the development of new and innovative designs for handles including ones that can be operated with the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down as time passes. The replacement of the latch to make room for the new handle is a simple DIY job and will make a huge difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on what type of handle you are using the latch can be a separate part or an integral part of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and reinstalling will apply. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially in the case of an entry handle that has a "magic" button. The button is located on the left side of the knob, this small 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 does not have this button, you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. Some have a small slot in them where you can slide your screwdriver into, while others simply snap off.
Next, you will want to remove the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a pointy tip - you will have to store them in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. After the screws have been removed, you can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and put 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 using the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate on and secure it using the provided screws.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons to replace a door handle is because it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by misaligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved up or downward on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and keep your door closed.
To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, this indicates that your door isn't latching because the plate is too short. If the mark is higher than the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into the existing one using the screws that come with it, depending on the door. You may need to drill holes first and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too hard or you'll cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and will require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the door frame. To do 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 hard-to find strike plate is made from solid brass and has a thick, heavy-duty. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, ensuring that you have the correct hardware for the job. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed point, whereas machine screws are blunter.