The Reasons To Focus On Making Improvements To Replacement Door Handles
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles of your home are an important element of your interior design. A new handle will elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up to date.
As time passes, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff, or break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you select the correct 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 variety of colors, finishes and types to match your decor. If yours are starting to appear worn or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be done in a few steps.
The first thing you have to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that you can press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. This pin lets go of the latch mechanism and lets you to pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hand take the knob off and replace it. Align it correctly and check that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Secure it by securing it to the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the screws for the latch plate.
Some people opt for a smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware to give it a sleek, contemporary look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with rustic-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style or rim lock that require less pressure to operate.
Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Accessibility 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 the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open will wear down over time. Switching out the old latch to accommodate a new handle can be a simple DIY job and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of handle you choose, the latch could be a separate part or a component of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing is applicable. Removing the old latch of place is fairly easy especially if the door handle is equipped with what's known as a "magic button". It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If upvc door handle doesn't come with this button, you'll have to take off the cover plates that are 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 place your screwdriver, while others just snap off.
Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws that secure the latch and inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp point You will have to store them in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism in the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto and secure it with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is often due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like a strike plate that's too short or moved up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will give you better security and will keep your door shut.
To check if the problem is caused by 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 it means that the door isn't latching because the plate is too short. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
It is possible to put the new strikeplate in the old one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the situation, be careful to not cut too much wood or you'll damage the strength of the doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on the doors and will require more force to open the doors. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one.
This strike plate is specifically designed to work with antique rim locks and it's made from durable solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with both wood screws and machine screws, so you'll have the right hardware for the job. Make sure to note that wood screws have a pointy tip, while the machine ones are more blunt.