How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of your home's decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior modern.
Over time your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you select the right replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles enhance the aesthetics of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to match your decor. If yours are starting to begin to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in a few steps.
You must locate the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a thin slot, or hole, that you can press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using a 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 Remove the knob and replace it. Make sure to align it correctly and test to see that the latch works 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. 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 on the latch plate.
Some people choose an brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. It will complement their furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you might want to choose an rim or lever lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles like those that can be operated with a person's forearm.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open is prone to wear and tear due to the wear and tear of use. It is simple to replace the latch on your door handle. This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be a part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece attached to the door. In any case, you'll follow the same steps for removing and replacing. The process of removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple, especially if your door handle is equipped with what's called a "magic button". This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob is what you will need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle.
If your handle isn't equipped with this button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have slots where you can put your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off.
Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You will need to store the screws that are shorter and have a pointed tip in a safe place to be able to reuse them later. After the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
Then you can begin to install the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto and secure it with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
It is typical to replace a door handle because it feels loose, or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching mechanism, such as a strike plate that is too small or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb with time. door handle repair 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 a lipstick or another marking material on the bolt that you are using to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole, it means that the door won't latch due to the fact that the plate is too short. 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 install the new strikeplate in the old one using the screws included with it, based on your door. But, you may have to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel some of the wood to ensure it's a good fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could ruin the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with antique rim locks, and is made of sturdy solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the correct equipment for your task. Make sure to note that wood screws have a sharp tip, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.