How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an important part of the interior design. A new handle will elevate your home's decor and bring your decor to the present. Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will improve the look of your home and make it easier to shut and open them. They are available 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 just a few steps. You must locate the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that you can use to press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push the knob. After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws. After replacing the knob, place the latch rod over the hole on the door. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws on the latch plate. Some people choose a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match the furniture they have. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/biggleswade-windowrepair/ prefer a rustic design that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have family members who are unable to move, you may be interested in a rim lock or lever knobs for doors that require less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections have been key issues in the creation of new designs for handles. For example, some handle designs can be operated by an arm. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out as time passes. The replacement of the latch to make room for a new handle can be an easy DIY task and will make a significant change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on the kind of knob you are using, the latch may be a part of the knob itself, or it could be an independent piece that is attached to the door. In any case, you'll follow the same steps to remove and replace. The process of removing the old latch of place is fairly easy especially if the door handle has what's known as a "magic button". This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob is what you need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle. If your handle does not have this magical button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off. Then, loosen the machine screws that secure the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store these screws with a pointed tip in a safe location so that you can reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole, and then set 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 interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism of the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto the handle and secure it using the provided screws. Strike Plate It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as a strike plate that's too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which can provide greater security for your door and will keep it shut. To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the latch bolt. 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 plate is too short. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into place over the existing one using the screws that come with it, based on the door. You may need to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to chisel too much or you may damage the strength of your doorjamb. You can also try installing a new box strike plate that will give the lock a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to create space for the new one. This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with antique rim locks and is made of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, ensuring that you have the correct hardware for your job. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip and machine screws have a blunter tip.