How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles of your home are an essential part of the interior design. A new handle can bring your home's decor up to date.

Over time, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff and even break. These are signs it's time to replace them. This guide will help choose the best door handle Replacement door handles for your home.

Door Knobs

Door replacement double glazing window handles add to the appearance of your home, while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes and styles to complement your decor. If yours has begun 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 connected to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can use a screwdriver to remove the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole in which can be used with the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob.

After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure to align it properly and then verify that the latch is working correctly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, put the rod for latching over the hole in the victorian scroll door handles and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned then tighten the latch plate screws.

Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware for a sleek, contemporary look that matches other furnishings in their homes. Some people prefer a rustic design that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household who are unable to move You might be interested in a rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate.

Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are two major issues that have led to the creation of innovative new handle designs including ones which can be operated by a person's forearm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down over time. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of handle you choose, the latch could be a separate piece or a part of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same procedure for removing and replacing. Removing the old latch of its place is quite simple particularly if your door handle for patio door has what's called a "magic button". This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob is what you will need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle.

If your handle does not have this button the first step is to take off any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with a screwdriver. Some have a tiny slot in them where you can insert your screwdriver into, while others snap off.

The next step is to loosen the two machine screws holding the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a pointy tip You will need to keep these in a secure location to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and put it aside.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using 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 is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

It is common to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too short or moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and keep your door closed.

Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is over the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.

Depending on the door you have You may be able to install the new strike plate into the door over the old one, using the screws that come with it. You may have to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be careful to not cut too much wood or you'll damage the strength of the doorjamb.

You can also consider installing a new strike plate that provides the lock with a more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically it requires two long screws that secure the strike plate to the upvc door handle replacement frame. To do this, you'll have to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of sturdy solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. This kit comes with wood screws as well as machine screws, so you can select the appropriate hardware for your needs. Just remember that the wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.