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How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles in your home are an essential part of the design. A new handle can bring your decor and space up-to-date.

As time passes, your doors’ knobs can start to feel stiff, or break. These are indicators that it’s time to replace them. This guide will help you choose the right door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors can enhance the look of your home and allow you to open and close them. They come in a wide variety of finishes, colors and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning to appear worn or you just want to upgrade replacing them is simple and can be done in just a few steps.

The first thing you need to find is the shaft or spindle 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. Others have a thin slot or hole in which you can use the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push on the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Make sure you align it properly and verify that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws.

After you’ve replaced the knob, place the rod for latching over the door’s hole and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten the screws.

Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary style. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have members of your household with mobility limitations You may think about the rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate.

Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles . Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the development of new designs for handle handles including ones that can be operated with a person’s forearm.

Latch

The latch that keeps your door handle open is prone to wear and tear due to age and use. Switching out the old latch to make room for an entirely new handle can be a simple DIY job and it will make a significant difference in how your door opens and closes.

Depending on the type of handle you use the latch can be a separate component or an integral part of the knob. In any case, you’ll follow the same procedure for removing and replacing. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple particularly if your door handle has what is called a “magic button”. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob is what you will need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.

If your handle does not have this magical button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that sit 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 slot where you can place your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.

The next step is to remove 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 and you’ll need to keep these in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the door’s hole and place it in a safe place.

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 on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, push the outside latch plate on and secure it with the provided screws.

Strike Plate

One of the most frequent reasons to replace a door handle is because it feels loose or doesn’t lock properly. This is typically caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example a strike plate that is too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which will provide more security for your door and will keep it closed.

To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some 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 located below the strike plate’s hole, it means that the door won’t latch due to the fact that the plate isn’t long enough. If the mark is over the strike hole on the plate, it’s likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.

You might be able to install the new strikeplate in place over the old one using the screws included with it, depending 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 case make sure you don’t be too rough with the chiseling process or you may ruin the strength of the doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. You’ll have to remove the old strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one.

This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and has a thick, heavy-duty. It’s made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws so you can select the appropriate hardware for your requirements. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.