The Intermediate Guide To Replacement Door Handles

How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are a crucial part of your home's decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor modern.

Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and 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

Door handles can enhance the look of your home, while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They are available in a range of finishes, colors and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning begin to show signs of wear or you just want to upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be completed in just a few steps.

You must locate the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole through which allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. This pin lets go of the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands, remove the old knob and replace it. Make sure to align it properly and check to ensure that the latch is working correctly before tightening the new set screws.

After replacing the knob, place the rod for latching over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the screws on the latch plate.

Some people choose an brushed or smooth metal finish for their double glazed door handle hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This will match their furniture. Some people prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have someone in your family who has mobility issues, you may want to choose a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics have traditionally been the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are becoming more important as well. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations in the development of new designs for handles. For example some handles for patio doors can be operated using an arm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down over time. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.

Depending on what type of handle you use, the latch could be a separate component or a component of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will apply. It's easy to remove the old latch, especially when you have an entry double glazing handle that has a "magic" button. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you have to press to pull the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your handle doesn't have this magical button the first step is to take off any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. Some have a slot in which you can put your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.

Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws holding the latch and inner plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these shorter screws with a pointed tip in a secure location in order to reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

It is not uncommon to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as a striking plate that's either too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will provide better security for your door and ensure it stays closed.

To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below your strike plate hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the upvc door handle replacement won't latch. If the mark is higher than the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.

Depending on your door You may be able to simply attach the new strike plate into place over the old one using the screws that come with it. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel the wood to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the situation make sure you don't chisel out too much wood or you could damage the integrity of the doorjamb.

You can also try installing a new box strike plate which gives the lock a much stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate was designed to be used with antique rim locks and is made of durable solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, ensuring that you have the right equipment for your task. Be aware that the wood screws have a pointy tip, while the machine screws are more blunt.