How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are an essential part of your home's decor. A new handle can elevate your home and bring your decor up to date.
Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your home and make it easier to open and shut them. They are available in a wide range 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 simple and can be done 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 put the screwdriver with a small diameter to remove the set screws that hold the handle in place. Others have a thin slot or hole that can be used with a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press this pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob.
Once you have access to the shaft or spindle, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws.
After replacing the knob, put 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 lined up and then thread in the screws on the latch plate and tighten them.
Some people prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek look. It will complement the furniture they have. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with rustic-styled rooms. 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 are traditionally the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are being taken into consideration as well. Infection control and accessibility have been major considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For instance, some can be operated with a person's arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open may wear out over time. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in huge differences in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the kind of knob you are using depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling is applicable. The process of removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple particularly if your door handle is equipped with what's called a "magic button". It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you need to press to pop the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle isn't equipped with this button the first step is to take off any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have slots where you can put your screwdriver, while others simply snap off.
Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp point You will need to keep these in a secure location to reuse them in later steps. After the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and set it aside.
Now you can begin installing the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or isn't locking properly. just click the following website is often caused by malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, such as a strike plate that's too short or moved upwards or downwards 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 closed.
To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door, then try 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 above or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.
Depending on the door you have depending on the door, you might be able to install the new strike plate in place over the old one, using the screws that come with it. You may have to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the situation, be careful to not be too rough with the chiseling process or you could damage the integrity of the doorjamb.
You could also try installing a new box strike plate, which provides the lock with a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically it requires two long screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. It is necessary remove the previous strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and has an extremely thick. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the right hardware for the job. Remember that wood screws have a pointed tip and machine screws have a blunter tip.