10 Factors To Know On Replacement Door Handles You Didn't Learn In The Classroom
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an essential element of your design. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior up to date.
Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff, or break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you pick the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
Door handles can enhance the look of your home while also 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 have started to show signs of wear or require an upgrade it is possible to change them in just a few easy steps.
The first thing you need to find is the shaft or spindle through the knob's attachment to the door. window handles have a tiny opening that you can use an screwdriver to take out the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a thin slot or hole that allows you to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft, in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Align it correctly and check that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the latch rod over the door's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are lined up, then thread in the screws for the latch plate and tighten the screws.
Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware to create modern, sleek design that complements other furniture in their homes. Some prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you may want to choose an rim or lever lock that requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have traditionally been the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered as well. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example some handles can be operated using a person's arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down as time passes. Changing out the old latch to make room for an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY project and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you have the latch could be part of the knob itself, or it might be an independent piece attached to the door. In either situation, the same procedure to remove and install will apply. Getting the old latch out of its place is quite simple especially if the door handle is equipped with what's known as a "magic button". This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle.
If your handle does not have this button, you'll have to take off the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have a slot where you can place your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.
The next step is to loosen the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp point and you'll need to keep these in a secure location to use them again in the next steps. Once the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside.
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 hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism of the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto the handle and secure it with the screws provided.
Strike Plate
One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is because it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example a strike plate that is too small or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb over time. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will give you better security and ensure that your door stays shut.
Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole, it means that the door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. 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 may be able simply to install the new strikeplate in place over the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, depending on your door. You may need to drill holes first, and then chisel some wood out to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the case make sure you don't be too rough with the chiseling process 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 typically requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to create space for the new one.
This hard-to find strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with an extremely thick. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with both wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for the job. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip while machine screws are more blunt.