How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an important element of your design. A new handle can elevate your home's decor and bring your 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 select the best door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your house and allow you to open and close them. Full Record come in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to match your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or require an upgrade, you can replace them in a couple of easy steps.
The first thing to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a small hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to loosen the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole in which you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push on the knob.
After you have gained access to the shaft or spindle, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Align it correctly and check that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws.
Once you've replaced the knob, put the latch rod in position over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned, then tighten the latch plate screws.
Some people prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. It will complement their furniture. Others prefer a more rustic look that is a good match for spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are key issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles, such as ones that can be operated using a person's forearm.
Latch
The latch that keeps your door handle open will wear out due to age and use. It is simple to replace the latch on your door handle. This will result in a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you are using the latch may be a separate piece or a part of the knob. In either case, you'll need to follow the same process for removing and replacing. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of a door handle with a "magic" button. The tiny pressure-slot, which is located on the side knob, is what you will need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle.
If your handle doesn't come with this button, you will need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off.
The next step is to unscrew the two machine screws holding the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip You will have to store them in a secure location to reuse them in subsequent steps. After the screws have been removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
You can now begin installing 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 the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
It is typical to replace a door handle when it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning parts of the latching system, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will provide more security for your door and will keep it closed.
Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than your strike plate hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher than the strike plate hole, it's 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 existing one using the screws included with it, based on the door. It is possible that you will need to first drill holes and then chisel the wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, you must be cautious not to chisel too much or you may ruin the strength of your doorjamb.
Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. Typically, it requires two longer screws that secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll have remove the previous strike plate, 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 is made of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. This kit includes both wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to choose the right hardware to suit your requirements. Remember that wood screws have a pointed point, while machine screws are more blunt.