An Replacement Door Handles Success Story You'll Never Remember
How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are a key part of your home's decor. A new handle will elevate your home and bring your decor up-to-date.
Over time your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and even break. These are indicators that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you select the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your house and make it easier to open and shut them. They come in a wide range of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours are starting to begin to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be done in a few steps.
The first thing to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a slot or hole in which you can use the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press this pin, the latch mechanism releases and allows you to pull or push on the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands Remove the knob and replace it. Make sure you align it properly and verify that the latch functions correctly before tightening the new set screws.
After you've replaced the knob, hold the latch rod in position over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up then thread the screws for the latch plate and tighten the screws.
Some homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. This will match their furniture. Some people prefer a rustic design that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style 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 development of innovative new handle designs, such as ones that can be operated with the forearm of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds your door handle open can wear out from the wear and tear of use. It is simple to replace the latch on your door handle. This will result in huge differences in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of handle you choose the latch may be a separate piece or an integral part of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will apply. It's simple to take off the old latch, particularly if you have doors with a "magic" button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob is what you will need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle.
If your handle doesn't have this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. upvc replacement door handles Repair My Windows And Doors are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. Some have a small hole inside that you can slide your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.
Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws that secure the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp tip and you'll be required to keep them in a safe place to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and set it aside.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism of the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is that it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer more security for your door and keep it closed.
To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole this means that your door isn't latching because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate may have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.
Depending on your door, you may be able to simply screw the new strike plate in the door over the old one with the screws included with it. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too much or you may cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.
You can also consider installing a new box strike plate which gives the lock a much stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame. It is necessary remove the old strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate was specifically designed to work with rim locks from the past, and is made of robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, ensuring that you have the right equipment for your task. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip while machine screws are more blunt.