20 Fun Facts About Replacement Door Handles

How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles of your home are an important part of the design. A new handle will bring your decor and space up to date.

Over time, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff, or break. These are indications 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 also making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a wide range of finishes, colors and types to match your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade, you can replace them in a couple of simple steps.

You must locate the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole that you can press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push the knob.

After you have gained access to the shaft or spindle take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Check whether the latch works before tightening the set screws.

After replacing the knob, place the rod that is attached to the latch over the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Make sure door handles repair near me are lined up then thread the screws on the latch plate and tighten the screws.

Some people prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek look. It will complement their furniture. Some prefer a rustic design that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have family members with mobility limitations You might want to consider choosing an rim lock or a lever style door knob, which require less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have traditionally been the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration as well. Accessibility and control of infections are key considerations in the creation of new designs for handles. For example certain handles can be operated with a person's arm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down over time. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes.

Depending on the type of handle you have the latch could be part of the knob itself, or it could be an individual piece attached to the door. In either case, you will follow the same process for removing and replacing. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple especially if the door handle has what's called a "magic button". This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob is what you have to press to pull the latch out of the handle.

If your handle doesn't have this button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver, while others simply snap off.

Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store these shorter screws with a pointed tip in a secure location to be able to reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate and the 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 using the hardware provided. Make sure the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto the handle and secure it using the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is that it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which will provide more security for your door and will keep it closed.

Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.

You may be able simply to put the new strikeplate in place over the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door. You may need to drill holes first, and then chisel some wood out to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case make sure you don't chisel out too much wood or you could damage the integrity of the doorjamb.

You can also try installing a new strike plate which provides the lock with a more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate to the door frame. You'll need remove the old strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.

This strike plate is designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and is made of robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws so you can pick the right hardware to suit your requirements. Just remember that wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.