Watch Out: What Replacement Door Handles Is Taking Over And What You Can Do About It
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles of your home are an essential element of your decor. A new handle can elevate your home's decor and bring your decor up to date.
Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the look of your home and allow you to open and close them. They are available in a wide range of finishes, colors and types to match your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or require an upgrade it is possible to change them in just a few simple steps.
The first thing you have to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that can be used with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot, or hole, that allows you to press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
After you have gained access to the shaft or spindle remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws.
After replacing the knob, place the latch rod in position over the door's hole and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the latch plate screws.
Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic style that is a good match for spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have someone in your family who has mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style 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 control of infections are key issues that have led to the development of innovative new handle designs, such as ones that can be operated using the forearm of a person.
Latch
The latch that keeps your door handle open can wear out from the wear and tear of use. Changing out the old latch to make room for the new handle is an easy DIY project and it can make a big difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on what type of handle you use, the latch could be a separate piece or an integral part of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same steps to remove and replace. The process of removing the old latch of its place is quite simple especially if the door handle has what's called a "magic button". The tiny pressure-slot, which is located on the side knob, is what you will have to press to remove the latch of the handle.
If your handle does not have this magic 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 using a screwdriver in order to remove them off of the handle. Some have a tiny slot inside that you can insert your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off.
Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. It is important to keep 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 take 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 latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin that is on the interior of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto and secure it with the screws supplied.
Strike upvc door handle is typical to replace a door handle if it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to misaligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as a striking plate that's either too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb with time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which can provide greater security for your door and will keep it shut.
To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this means that your door won't latch because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
It is possible to put the new strikeplate in place over the one you have already installed using the screws that come with it, based on the door. But, you may have to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to ensure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.
You can also try installing a new strike plate which provides the lock with a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one.
This strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from durable solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes both wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your requirements. Be aware that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.