20 Trailblazers Lead The Way In Replacement Door Handles
How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of the decor of your home. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up to date.
Over time your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff and even break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you select the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to shut and open them. They are available in a wide range of finishes, colors and types to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of simple steps.
You need to locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to release the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a slot or hole where can be used with the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Check whether the latch works before tightening the new set screws.
After you've replaced the knob, hold the rod of the latch over the hole in the door and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up then thread the screws on the latch plate and tighten them.
Some prefer the smooth or brushed finish for their door hardware for an elegant, modern look that matches other furnishings in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic look that is a good match for rustic-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might want to choose the lever or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate.
Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles . Accessibility and infection control have been major considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For instance certain handles can be operated using the arm of a person.
Latch
The latch that opens your door is prone to wear and tear due to age and use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you are using depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be a part of the knob or it could be an individual piece that is attached to the door. In either situation, the same procedure to remove and install is applicable. It's easy to remove the old latch, especially if you have a door handle with a "magic" button. Located on the side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.
If your handle does not have this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have slots where you can place your screwdriver, whereas others just snap off.
Next, you will want to remove the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You will need to store these shorter screws with an angled tip in a safe place so that you can reuse them later. After these screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and put it away.
You can now begin installing 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 the square pin on the inside of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate on and secure it with the screws provided.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it is loose or does not lock properly. This is often due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple fix allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and keep your door closed.
To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below your strike plate hole, it means 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 up or downward on the doorjamb.
You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into place over the existing one using the screws that come with it, depending on your door. However, you may need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel out some of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the situation, be careful to not cut too much wood or you may ruin the strength of the doorjamb.
You can also consider installing a new strike plate, which gives the lock a much stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame. To do 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 rim locks from the past, and is made of sturdy solid brass in an extremely thick. This kit includes both wood screws as well as machine screws so you can pick the right hardware for your requirements. Just remember that wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.