How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an important element of your decor. A new handle will bring your decor and space up-to-date.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are indications that it's time to change them. This guide will help you choose the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will improve the look of your home and make it easier to open and close them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors and types to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to change them in just a few simple steps.
The first thing you need to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to remove the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole in which you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and allows you to pull or push on the knob.
Once you have access to the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening new set screws.
Once you've replaced the knob, place the rod of the latch over the door's hole and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then thread the latch plate screws and tighten the screws.
Some people choose a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. It will complement their other furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household who have mobility issues You may want to consider choosing the rim lock or lever knobs for doors that require less pressure to operate.
Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. door handles repair near me and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the creation of new designs for handle handles including ones which can be operated by a person's forearm.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open will wear out due to age and use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you have, the latch may be a part of the knob itself or it could be an individual piece that is attached to the door itself. In either scenario, the same procedure to remove and install will be used. The process of 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 small 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 does not 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 using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a small hole in them that you can put your screwdriver through, while others snap off.
Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep these shorter screws with an angled tip in a safe place so that you can reuse them in the future. After the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.
Now you can begin installing 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 in the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is because it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by misaligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and keep your door closed.
To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole it means that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
Depending on your door depending on the door, you might be able to just screw the new strike plate in the door over the old one using the screws that come with it. You may need to first drill holes and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be careful to not cut too much wood or you may ruin the strength of the 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 them. Typically it will require two longer screws that secure the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one.
This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from durable solid brass in an extremely thick. This kit includes both wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to choose the right hardware to suit your requirements. Just remember that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.