How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are a key part of your home's decor. A new handle can elevate your home and bring your decor to the present.
Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff, or even break. These are signs it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors can enhance the look of your home and allow you to shut and open them. They come in a variety of colors, finishes, and types 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 just a few steps.
You must locate the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a slot or hole where you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. When you press this pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push on the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hand Remove the knob and replace it. Be sure to align it properly and test to see that the latch functions correctly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, put the rod for latching over the hole in the door and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them.
Some people prefer an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match their other furniture. Some people prefer a rustic style that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If upvc door handle have someone in your family with mobility issues, you may want to choose the lever or rim lock that 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 including 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. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you use the latch can be a separate part or a component of the knob. In either case, you'll need to follow the same process to remove and replace. It's easy to remove the old latch, especially when you have a door handle with a "magic" button. The button is located on the left side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't have this button, you'll have to take off the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. Some have a slot in which you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.
Then, remove the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep these shorter screws with sharp tips in a safe place in order to reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate as well as the 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 on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
One of the most common reasons to replace a door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as a striking plate that's either too small or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple project will allow you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and ensure that your door stays shut.
To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole, this means that your door won't latch due to the fact that the plate isn't long enough. If the mark is above the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
Depending on your door depending on the door, you might be able to simply install the new strike plate in place over the old one using the screws included with it. However, you may need to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too much or you may damage the strength of your doorjamb.
You could also try installing a new strike plate that will give the lock a more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate into the door frame. To do this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with an extremely thick. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws, so you can pick the right hardware to suit your needs. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.