20 Truths About Replacement Door Handles: Busted
How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of the decor of your home. A new handle can elevate your home and bring your decor up to date.
Over time, your door knobs may become stiff, or even break. These are indicators that it's time to change them. This guide will help you select the right replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your home and allow you to shut and open them. They come in a wide variety of finishes, colors and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning appear worn or just need an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps.
You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that keep the handle in place. Some have a small slot, or hole, that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using a flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism, and lets you pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle or shaft, in your hand Remove the knob and replace it. Align it correctly and check that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws.
After replacing the knob, hold 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 that the holes are lined up then thread the screws on the latch plate and tighten the screws.
Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. It will complement their furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you may want to choose the lever or rim lock that require less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have traditionally been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration too. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For instance certain handles handle designs can be operated by an arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open may wear out over time. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will make an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself, or it could be an individual piece attached to the door. In either case, you'll need to follow the same steps for removing and replacing. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy, especially if your door handle is equipped with what's called 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 out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If your handle isn't equipped with this magical 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 a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a slot where you can insert your screwdriver, while others just snap off.
The next step is to loosen the two machine screws holding the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp tip You will be required to keep them in a secure location to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once these are off you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and set it aside.
Now you can begin installing the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which can provide greater security for your door and will keep it closed.
To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this indicates that your door isn't latching because the plate isn't long enough. If door handles repairmywindowsanddoors is over 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 install the new strikeplate in place over the old one by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door you have. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too deeply or you could cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.
You can also try installing a new strike plate that will give the lock a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically it requires two long screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to create space for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from durable solid brass in an extremely thick. It comes with both wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the right equipment for your task. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.