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How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are an essential element of your home’s decor. A new handle can elevate your home’s decor and bring your decor up to date.

Over time, your doors’ knobs can start to feel stiff or even break. These are indications that it’s time to change them. This guide will help you pick the correct door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

Door handles add to the appearance of your home while also making it easier for people to open and close doors. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors and types to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs or need an upgrade, you can change them in just a few easy steps.

The first thing you need to find is the shaft or spindle through the knob’s attachment to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that you can use a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a thin slot, or hole, that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. When you press this pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push on the knob.

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

After replacing the knob, you can place the rod that is attached to the latch over the door’s hole. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are in alignment, then tighten the latch plate screws.

Some homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek look. This will match their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic look that is a good match for farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you may prefer a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles . Accessibility and control of infections have been key issues when it comes to developing new designs for handles. For instance some handles can be operated using a person’s arm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down as time passes. Changing out the old latch to fit the new handle is an easy DIY project and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the type of handle you use, the latch could be a separate part or an integral part of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will be used. It’s easy to remove the old latch, especially if you have doors with 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 pull the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.

If your handle doesn’t have this magic button you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have a slot in which you can put your screwdriver, while others just snap off.

The next step is to loosen the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp tip – you will be required to keep them in a safe location to use them again in the next steps. After these screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door’s hole and place it in a safe place.

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 hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin that is on the interior of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then push the exterior latch plate on and secure it with the provided screws.

Strike Plate

It is typical to replace a door handle when it is loose or doesn’t lock properly. This is often due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb with time. This simple fix allows you to replace your old strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and ensure that your door stays shut.

Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it’s the strike plate. Close the door, and then 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 likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.

You may be able simply to put the new strikeplate in the one you have already installed using the screws included with it, depending on the door you have. But, you may have to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel out some of the wood to ensure it’s snugly fitted. If this is the case, be careful not to chisel too hard or you’ll cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure hold on the doors and require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate into the frame of the door. You’ll need remove the previous strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to make room for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate is made from solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It’s made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes both wood screws and machine screws so you can pick the right hardware for your requirements. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.