Replacement Door Handles Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an important part of the design. A new handle will bring your decor and space up to date.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are indications that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and allow you to shut and open them. They come in a wide range of finishes, colors and types to match your decor. If yours is beginning begin to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be done in just a few steps.
The first thing you have to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that you can access with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that keep the handle in place. Some have a tiny slot, or hole, that you can use to press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push on the knob.
Once you have access to the spindle or shaft, remove the old 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 your new set screws.
Once you've replaced the knob, put the rod of the latch over the door's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk that the holes are lined up then thread the latch plate screws and tighten them.
Some people opt for the smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware to create an elegant, modern look that matches other furnishings in their homes. Some prefer a rustic design that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have a member of your family who has mobility issues, you may prefer an rim or lever lock that require 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 two major issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles, such as ones which can be operated by the forearm of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down as time passes. Changing out the old latch to make room for a new handle can be an easy DIY task and will make a significant difference in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you are using the latch can be a separate component or a component of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same process for removing and replacing. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially in the case of an entry handle that has a "magic" button. The tiny pressure-slot, which is located on the side knob, is what you will have to press to pull the latch out of the handle.
If your handle isn't equipped with this magic button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed with the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a slot in which you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off.
Then, remove the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a pointy tip and you'll need to keep these in a secure location to reuse them in later steps. After the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and put it aside.
Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on the inside of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then push the exterior latch plate on and secure it with the provided screws.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will provide better security and will keep your door shut.
To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is lower than 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 plate hole, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.
Depending on the door depending on the door, you might be able to just install the new strike plate in place over the old one using the screws that come with it. But, you may have to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too hard or you'll ruin the integrity of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a more secure hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate into the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make room for the new one.
This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with antique rim locks and it's constructed of robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for the job. Make sure to note that wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.