How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an essential part of the design. A new handle can elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up-to-date.
Over time, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff, or break. These are indicators that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and make it easier to shut and open them. They come in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can change them in just a few easy steps.
You need to locate the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that you can use to press a spring-activated detent pin with flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism and lets you to pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure whether the latch works before tightening the set screws.
After replacing the knob, put 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 the holes are lined up then thread the screws for the latch plate and tighten them.
Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware for a sleek, contemporary look that matches other furnishings in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic design which is great for rustic-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you may prefer a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control have been major considerations in the creation of new handle designs. For instance certain handles handle designs can be operated by an arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out as time passes. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you have the latch could be part of the knob or it could be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and installing is applicable. Removing the old latch of place is fairly easy particularly if your door handle has what's known as a "magic button". The button is located on the left side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't come with this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed by using a screwdriver in order to remove them off of the handle. Some have a slot in which you can insert your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off.
Then, remove the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. It is important to keep these screws with sharp tips in a safe location in order to reuse them later. Once the screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away.
Then you can begin to install the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
One of the most common reasons to replace the door handle is that it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is often caused by misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will provide better security and will keep your door shut.
Apply upvc replacement door handles or another marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't 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 the door, you may be able to just screw the new strike plate into place over the old one with the screws included with it. But, you may have to drill holes first, and then chisel out some of the wood to ensure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, be careful to not cut too much wood or you may ruin the strength of the doorjamb.
You could also try installing a new strike plate which will give the lock a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate in the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one.
This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit comes with wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to select the appropriate hardware for your needs. Remember that wood screws have a pointed point, while machine screws are more blunt.