Why Nobody Cares About Replacement Door Handles
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an essential part of the interior design. A new handle will elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up to date.
Over time, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff or even break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your house and allow you to open and close them. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning begin to show signs of wear or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be done in a few steps.
You need to locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert an incredibly small screwdriver to loosen the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a tiny slot, or hole, that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using a flathead. When you press this pin it opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft, in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Check that the latch functions properly before tightening the set screws.
After replacing door handle repairs , place the latch rod over the hole on the door. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then tighten the screws for the latch plate.
Some people opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give it an elegant, modern look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Some prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might want to choose a lever style or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key considerations in the development of new handle designs. For instance, some handle designs can be operated by an arm.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open will wear out due to the wear and tear of use. The replacement of the latch to fit a new handle can be an easy DIY task and it can make a big difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you have the latch could be a part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece attached to the door. In either case, the same process to remove and install will be used. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple, especially if your door handle has what is called a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to pop the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't have this button, you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver in order to remove them off of the handle. Some have a small slot in them that you can insert your screwdriver into, while others snap off.
The next step is to unscrew the two machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. It is important to keep the screws that are shorter and have an angled tip in a secure location to be able to reuse them later. After the screws have been removed, you can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.
You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism of the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like a strike plate that's too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb over time. This simple fix allows you to replace your old strike plate with a new, larger one that can provide greater security and ensure that your door stays shut.
To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher than the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.
Depending on the door you have, you may be able to install the new strike plate in place over the old one with the screws that come with it. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too much or you may cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate to the door frame. You'll need remove the previous strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to make room for the new one.
This hard-to-find strike plate is designed to be used with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of durable solid brass in an extremely thick. This kit includes both wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to select the appropriate hardware to suit your needs. Just remember that wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.