Replacement Door Handles: A Simple Definition

How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are a key part of the decor of your home. 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 signs that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you choose the appropriate replacement door handle for your home door handle repair near me.

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Door handles add to the aesthetics of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be completed in just a few steps.

The first thing to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some have a small hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a slot or hole that can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. This pin lets go of the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hand take the knob off and replace it. Make sure you align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, you can place the rod for the latch into 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 for the latch plate.

Some people prefer an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic style, which pairs well with farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have a member of your family who has mobility issues, you might 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. Accessibility and infection control have been major considerations in the creation of new handle designs. For example certain handles can be operated with the arm of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds the handle of your door handles repair near me open will wear down as time passes. Changing out the old latch to accommodate the new handle is an easy DIY project and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on what type of handle you use the latch may be a separate part or a part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure to remove and install is applicable. Removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple especially if the door handle has what is known as a "magic button". It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is the one 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 magic button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that are positioned 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 inside that you can slide your screwdriver through, while others snap off.

Then, loosen the machine screws that secure the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep the screws that are shorter and have sharp tips in a secure location to be able to reuse them later. After these screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and put it away.

You can now begin installing the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing 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

One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is that it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like a strike plate that's too short or moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that can provide greater security and keep your door closed.

Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.

It is possible to install the new strikeplate in the old one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door. It is possible that you will need to first drill holes and then chisel the wood to ensure a secure 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 style box strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and will require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate into the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make room for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and is made of robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for your job. Make sure to note that wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.