How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a key element of your home's decor. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up-to-date. Over time, your door knobs may become stiff or even break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you select the best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles enhance the look of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a wide variety of finishes, colors, and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning begin to show signs of wear or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively easy and can be accomplished in a couple of steps. You'll need to find the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to release the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as 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 hand take the knob off and replace it. Align it correctly and check whether the latch works before tightening the new set screws. After you've replaced the knob, hold the rod of the latch over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are lined up and then thread in the screws on the latch plate and tighten them. Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic look, which pairs well with farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might want to choose the lever or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have been the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are becoming more important too. Infection control and accessibility are two major issues that have led to the development of new and innovative designs for handles including ones which can be operated by the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down as time passes. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes. Depending on what https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/folkestone-windowrepair/ of handle you use the latch can be a separate component or a component of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same steps for removing and replacing. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially if you have doors with a "magic" button. Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you have to press to pop the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle doesn't have this magic button the first step is to remove any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver in order to remove them off the handle. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver, while others simply snap off. Then, unscrew the machine screws that attach the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp point and you'll be required to keep them in a safe location to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and set it aside. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin that is on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto and secure it using the screws provided. Strike Plate It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too small or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a longer, new one that will give you better security and keep your door closed. Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, this means that your door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb. You may be able simply to put the new strikeplate in place over the one you have already installed by using the screws supplied with it, depending on your door. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit 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. Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger hold on the doors and require more force to open them. Typically it will require two longer screws that anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with antique rim locks, and it's made from durable solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to choose the right hardware for your needs. Remember that wood screws have a pointed point, whereas machine screws are blunter.