How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a crucial part of the decor of your home. A new handle can transform your space and bring your decor up-to-date. Over time, your door knobs may become stiff, or even break. These are indicators 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 look of your house while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They are available in a wide range of finishes, colors and styles that will complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade, you can replace them in a couple of easy steps. The first thing you need to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a small hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to remove the set screws that hold the knob in place. Others have a thin slot or hole that can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. This pin lets go of the latch mechanism and lets you to pull or push the knob. Once you have the spindle or shaft, in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Make sure you align it correctly and verify that the latch is working correctly before tightening the new set screws. After replacing the knob, put the latch rod over the door's hole. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned and then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them. Some people opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware to create modern, sleek design that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style that is a good match for rustic-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you may want to choose an rim or lever lock that requires less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered too. Accessibility and infection control are key considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For example some handles can be operated using a person's arm. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down over time. Switching out the old latch to fit a new handle can be a simple DIY job and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on the kind of handle you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself or it could be an individual piece attached to the door itself. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling will apply. It's simple to take off the old latch, especially when you have a door handle with a "magic" button. The tiny pressure-slot, which is located on the side knob, is what you will need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle. If your handle does not have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using the help of a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can place your screwdriver. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/wandsworth-windowrepair/ snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep the screws that are shorter and have an angled tip in a safe location in order to reuse them in the future. After the screws have been removed, you can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and put it aside. You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the screws provided. Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle if it is loose or does not lock properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like the strike plate being too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb with time. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer greater security for your door and will keep it closed. 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 below the strike plate hole it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate is likely to have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. You may be able simply to screw the new strikeplate into the existing one using the screws that come with it, depending on the door. However, you may need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel out some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the situation make sure you don't be too rough with the chiseling process or you'll damage the strength of the doorjamb. You could also try installing a new strike plate which provides the lock with a more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate into the door frame. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make room for the new one. This strike plate is designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the right equipment for your task. Just remember that the wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.