How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of your home's decor. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up to date.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles can enhance the aesthetics of your home while also making it easier for people to open and close doors. They are available in a range of finishes, colors and types to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs or need an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps.
The first thing you have to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a thin slot, or hole, that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using a flathead. When you press this pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands Remove the knob and replace it. Make sure to align it properly and then verify that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.
Once you've replaced the knob, place the latch rod in position over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are lined up, then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them.
Some people prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. This will match their furniture. Some people prefer a rustic design that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might prefer the lever or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in 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 like those which can be operated by the forearms of a person.
Latch
The latch that keeps your door handle open can wear out from the wear and tear of use. The replacement of the latch to make room for an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY project and it can make a big difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on what kind of handle you choose the latch may be a separate component or an integral part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling will apply. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially when you have doors 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 door handles repair near me isn't equipped with this magical button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a tiny slot in them where you can put your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.
Then, unscrew the machine screws that attach the latch and the plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these screws with sharp tips in a secure location to be able to reuse them in the future. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and put it away.
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 the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto the handle and secure it using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
It is typical to replace a door handle because it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved up or downward on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which can provide more security for your door and keep it closed.
Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole, this means that your door isn't latching because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.
Depending on the door, you may be able to simply attach the new strike plate in the door over the old one, using the screws included with it. You may need to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too much or you may damage the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on the doors and require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate to the door frame. It is necessary to remove the old strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one.
This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and has an extremely thick. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with both wood screws and machine screws, so you'll have the correct hardware for the job. Make sure to note that wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.