How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an important part of the design. A new handle can bring your home's decor up-to-date. Over time your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you pick the correct door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to shut and open them. They are available in a wide variety of finishes, colors, and styles that will complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to change them in just a few simple steps. The first thing to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a small slot, or hole, that you can press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. This pin releases the latch mechanism, and lets you to pull or push the knob. After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure you align it properly and check to ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening your new set screws. After replacing the knob, place the rod for latching over the door's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws for the latch plate. Some people prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. It will complement their furniture. Some people prefer a rustic design that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family who has mobility issues, you may want to choose an rim or lever lock that require less pressure to operate. Other factors are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are two major issues that have led to the creation of innovative new handle designs, such as ones that can be operated using the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down as time passes. Switching out the old latch to make room for a new handle can be an easy DIY task and will make a significant difference in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on the type of handle you use the latch may be a separate piece or a component of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will be used. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/welwyngardencity-windowrepair/ of removing the old latch of its place is quite simple particularly if your door handle is equipped with what's known as a "magic button". It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle does not have this button the first step is to remove any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a slot in which you can place your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off. Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp tip - you will have to store them in a safe location to reuse them in later steps. After the screws have been removed, you can remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and put it aside. You can now begin working on the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure the square pin on the inside 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 attach the latch's exterior plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will provide better security for your door and will keep it closed. Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, and then try to latch it. If the mark is below your 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 may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. You may be able simply to screw the new strikeplate into place over the one you have already installed using the screws included with it, based on the door. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could ruin the strength of your doorjamb. Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on the doors and will require more force to open them. It usually requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate into the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to create space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with antique rim locks and it's constructed of sturdy solid brass in an extremely thick. This kit includes both wood screws as well as machine screws, so you can pick the right hardware for your needs. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip, whereas machine screws are blunter.