How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are an essential part of the decor of your home. A new handle will bring your home's decor up to date.

As time passes, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff, or break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the best door handle Replacement Door Handles for your home.

Door Knobs

Door handles enhance the look of your house while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They come in a wide range of colors, finishes and types to match your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps.

You need to locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is attached 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 through which you can use to press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands Remove the knob and replace it. Make sure to align it properly and test to see that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.

Once you've replaced the knob, put the latch rod in position over the patio door handle replacement's hole and sash lock door handles it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then tighten the screws on the latch plate.

Some people prefer an brushed or smooth 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 works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have family members who have mobility issues You might be interested in an rim lock or a lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other aspects are becoming more important too. Infection control and accessibility have been key issues when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example certain handles can be operated with the arm of a person.

Latch

The latch that opens your door will wear out due to the wear and tear of use. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of handle you choose the latch can be a separate piece or a part of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same procedure for removing and replacing. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially when you have doors with a "magic" button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob is what you need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle.

If your window handle upvc doesn't have this magical button the first step is to take off any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can put your screwdriver, whereas others just snap off.

Then, unscrew the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp tip - you will have to store them in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. After these screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and put it away.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws provided.

Strike Plate

One of the most common reasons for replacing a door handle is because it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, for example a strike plate that is too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which will provide greater security for your door and ensure it stays closed.

To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material on the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate hole it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is higher than the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.

You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into place over the old one using the screws included with it, depending on your door. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to ensure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be careful to not be too rough with the chiseling process or you may ruin the strength of the doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on doors and will require more force to open them. Typically it will require two longer screws that anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll have remove the previous strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of durable solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the right hardware for the job. Make sure to note that wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.