How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are an essential element of your home's decor. A new handle can transform your home and bring your decor to the present.

Over time your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff, or break. These are signs it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you select the right replacement door handle for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your home door handle repair near me (gammelgaard-andersson-2.technetbloggers.de) and make it easier for you to open and shut them. They are available in a wide range of finishes, colors, and styles that will complement your decor. If yours have started to show signs or need an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of simple steps.

You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can use a screwdriver to remove the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole through which you can use to press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. When you press this pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push the knob.

After you have gained access to the shaft or spindle, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure you align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening the new set screws.

After you've replaced the knob, put the rod of the latch over the repair door handle's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned then thread the screws for the latch plate and tighten them.

Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This will match their furniture. Some prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might want to choose an rim or lever lock that 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 development of new and innovative designs for handles like those that can be operated using the forearms of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds your door handle open can wear out from age and use. The replacement of the latch to accommodate the new handle is a simple DIY job and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the type of handle you have the latch could be a part of the knob itself, or it could be an independent piece attached to the door lock handle repair itself. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and installing is applicable. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple particularly if your door handle is equipped with what's called a "magic button". This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob is the one you'll have to press to remove the latch of the handle.

If your handle does not have this button the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have a slot in which you can put your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.

Next, you will want to remove the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep the screws that are shorter and have a pointed tip in a safe place in order to reuse them in the future. After the screws are removed, you are able to 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 inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, such as a striking plate that's either too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb with time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will give you better security and keep your door closed.

Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door handle repairs, 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 above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.

It is possible to screw the new strikeplate into place over the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door. You may have to drill holes first and then chisel the wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case make sure you don't cut too much wood or you may ruin the integrity of the doorjamb.

Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger hold on the doors and require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate into the door frame. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the right hardware for the job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointy tip, while the machine screws are more blunt.