How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an important element of your interior design. A new handle will bring your home's decor and interior modern.
Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you select the right door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors can enhance the look of your home and make it easier for you to open and close them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or require an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a couple of simple steps.
The first thing to do is locate the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a slot or hole that you can use 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 the spindle, or shaft, in your hand Remove the knob and replace it. Align it correctly and check whether the latch works before tightening the set screws.
After replacing the knob, place 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 then tighten the screws on the latch plate.
Some homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This will match the furniture they have. Others prefer a more rustic design which is great for rustic-styled rooms. If you have members of your household who have mobility issues You might want to consider choosing an rim lock or a lever knobs for doors, which require less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For example, some handle designs can be operated by a person's arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out over time. It is easy 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 have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be part of the knob or it could be an independent piece attached to the door. In either case, you will follow the same procedure for removing and replacing. The process of removing the old latch of its place is quite simple especially if the door handle has what's called a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pop the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle does not have this magical button the first step is to remove any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off of the handle. Some have a tiny slot in them where you can slide your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.
Then, unscrew the machine screws that attach the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp tip - you will have to store them in a safe location to reuse them in subsequent steps. After these screws are removed you can pull the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and place it in a safe place.
Now upvc replacement door handles Repair My Windows And Doors can start on the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto the handle and secure it using the screws provided.
Strike Plate
It is typical to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or shifted upwards or downwards on the doorjamb with time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which will provide greater security for your door and will keep it shut.
Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole, this indicates that your door won't latch because the plate is too short. 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 might be able to put the new strikeplate in the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, be cautious not to chisel too deeply or you could ruin the strength of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and require more force to open them. It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one.
This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with antique rim locks, and it's made from durable solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the right hardware for your job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed point, whereas machine screws are blunter.