Why We Do We Love Replacement Door Handles (And You Should Also!)

How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a crucial element of your home's decor. A new handle will elevate your space and bring your decor to the present. Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you select the best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles enhance the appearance of your home, while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to match your decor. If yours has begun to show signs or need an upgrade, you can replace them in a couple of simple steps. The first thing you have to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to loosen the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole in which can be used with a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. This pin releases the latch mechanism and lets you to pull or push the knob. Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands, remove the old knob and replace it. Check whether the latch works before tightening new set screws. After you've replaced the knob, put the rod of the latch over the hole in the door and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are lined up and then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them. Some prefer a smooth or brushed finish for their door hardware for an elegant, modern look that complements other furniture in their homes. Some prefer a rustic look that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have family members with mobility limitations, you may want to consider choosing a rim lock or lever style door knob that require 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 considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For instance certain handles handle designs can be operated by a person's arm. Latch The latch that holds the handle of your door open will wear down over time. The replacement of the latch to make room for the new handle is an easy DIY task and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on what type of handle you are using the latch may be a separate component or a part of the knob. In either case, you'll need to follow the same steps for removing and replacing. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly when you have a door handle with a “magic” button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle isn't equipped with this button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver, while others just snap off. Then, loosen the machine screws that attach the inner plate and latch to the door handle. It is important to keep the screws that are shorter and have sharp tips in a safe place so that you can reuse them later. After these screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin that is on the interior 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 outside latch plate onto the handle and secure it with the provided screws. Strike Plate It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or isn't locking properly. repairmywindowsanddoors is often due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, for example the strike plate being too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb with time. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and will keep your door shut. Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, 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 plate isn't long enough. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on the door depending on the door, you might be able to simply attach the new strike plate in place over the old one, using the screws included with it. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too hard or you'll ruin the integrity of your doorjamb. You can also consider installing a new box strike plate that will give the lock a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate in the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was designed to be used with antique rim locks and is made of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the correct equipment for your task. Make sure to note that wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.