15 Reasons You Must Love Replacement Door Handles

How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are a key part of your home's decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor up to date.

Over time, your door knobs may become stiff, or even break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the best door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

Door handles enhance the aesthetics of your house while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They come in a variety of colors, finishes and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning show signs of wear or just need an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be completed in a few steps.

The first thing to do is locate the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that you can press a spring-activated detent pin with flathead. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and allows you to pull or push the knob.

Once you have access to the spindle or shaft, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening the set screws.

After replacing the knob, put the latch rod over the door's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned then thread the screws on the latch plate and tighten the screws.

Some people opt for the smooth or brushed finish for their door hardware to give it an elegant, modern look that matches other furnishings in their homes. Some prefer a rustic look that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style or rim lock that require less pressure to operate.

Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control have been key issues when it comes to developing new handle designs. For instance certain handles can be operated with an arm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out over time. Switching out the old latch to make room for an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY project and will make a huge change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on what type of handle you are using the latch can be a separate piece or an integral part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling is applicable. It's easy to remove the old latch, especially in the case of an entry handle that has a "magic" button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to take the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your handle does not have this button the first step is to take off any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver in order to remove them off the handle. Some have a slot where you can place your screwdriver, while others just snap off.

Next, you will want to remove the two machine screws holding the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp tip - you will need to keep these in a secure location to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto the handle and secure it using the provided screws.

Strike Plate

It is typical to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which can provide more security for your door and will keep it shut.

To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.

Depending on the door, you may be able to just install the new strike plate in the existing one using the screws included with it. You may need to drill holes first and then chisel the wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to chisel too deeply or you could damage the strength of your doorjamb.

You can also try installing a new box strike plate, which provides the lock with a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it.  upvc door handles Repair My Windows And Doors  requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate into the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one.

This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with a heavy-duty thickness. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. It comes with both wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the right hardware for your job. Be aware that wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.