How to Replace Door Handles The door handles of your home are an essential part of the decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor and interior up to date. Over time, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff, or break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you select the right replacement door handle for your home. Door Knobs Door handles add to the appearance of your home, while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a wide range of colors, finishes and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning to appear worn or just need an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in a couple of steps. You must locate 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 loosen the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a slot or hole in which you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. The pin opens 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. Be sure to align it properly and then test to see that the latch works properly before tightening your new set screws. After replacing the knob, put 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 for the latch plate. Some prefer the smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware for modern, sleek design that complements other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic look that is a good match for rustic-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family with mobility issues, you might prefer an rim or lever lock that requires less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key considerations in the creation of new handle designs. For example certain handles handle designs can be operated by the arm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out over time. Changing out the old latch to accommodate an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY project and will make a significant difference in how your door opens and closes. Depending on the kind of knob you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself or it could be an independent piece attached to the door itself. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling will apply. It's simple to take off the old latch, particularly if you have a door handle with a "magic" button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this tiny 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 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 using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a small hole in them that you can insert your screwdriver into, while others simply snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that attach the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store the screws that are shorter and have an angled tip in a secure location so that you can reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and put it aside. Now you can begin installing the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate It is typical to replace a door handle because it is loose or does not lock properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb with time. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that can provide greater security and ensure that your door stays shut. To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole it means that the door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/hemelhempstead-windowrepair/ have depending on the door, you might be able to simply attach the new strike plate in place over the old one with the screws that come with it. You may need to first drill holes and then chisel the wood to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case Be careful not to cut too much wood or you'll damage the integrity of the doorjamb. You could also try installing a new box strike plate, which gives the lock a much stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate into the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one. This rare strike plate is made from solid brass and has a thick, heavy-duty. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, which means you'll have the right hardware for your job. Remember that wood screws have a pointed point, while machine screws are more blunt.