It's Time To Forget Replacement Door Handles: 10 Reasons That You No Longer Need It

How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are an essential element of your home's decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor up to date. Over time, your door knobs may become stiff, or even break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the right door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and make it easier to open and shut them. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and types to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in a couple of steps. The first thing to do is locate the shaft or spindle through the knob's attachment to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that can be used with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole that you can use to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and allows you to pull or push on 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 functions properly before tightening the set screws. After replacing the knob, place the rod for the latch into the hole on the door. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then tighten the latch plate screws. Some people choose a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match their furniture. Some prefer a rustic style that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might prefer the lever or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are the main issues that have led to the creation of new designs for handle handles, such as ones which can be operated by the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that keeps your door handle open will wear out due to age and use. 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 type of handle you have the latch could be part of the knob or it could be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself. In either case, the same process to remove and install will apply. The process of removing the old latch of place is fairly easy particularly if your door handle has what is called a “magic button”. The button is located on the left side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and out 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. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have a small slot in them where you can put your screwdriver into, while others simply snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep these screws with sharp tips in a safe location to be able to reuse them later. Once these are off, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door 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 supplied. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it lines 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 not uncommon to replace a door handle when it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to misaligned parts in the latching system, for example the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which will offer greater security for your door and will keep it closed. Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the bolt that you are using to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate hole, it means that the door isn't latching because the plate isn't long enough. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb. Depending on window handles www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk , you may be able to just install the new strike plate in place over the old one, using the screws included with it. You may have to first drill holes and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too much or you may cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb. You can also consider 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 larger screws to anchor the strike plate to the door frame. It is necessary remove the old strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to create space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was specifically designed to work with antique rim locks, and it's made from sturdy solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your needs. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.