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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an important element of your decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor and interior up to date. Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you choose the best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your house and make it easier for you to open and shut them. They come in a wide variety of finishes, colors, and types to match your decor. If yours are starting to appear worn or just need an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be completed in a couple of steps. The first thing to find is the spindle or shaft through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that keep the handle in place. Others have a thin slot or hole where you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. When you press this pin it opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob. Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands take the knob off and replace it. Be sure to align it correctly and verify that the latch functions correctly before tightening the new set screws. After replacing the knob, put the rod for latching over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned and then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten them. Some people prefer a brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. This will match their other furniture. upvc replacement door handles prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might want to choose the lever or rim lock that require less pressure to operate. Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control have been key issues in the creation of new handle designs. For example, some can be operated with an arm. Latch The latch that opens your door is prone to wear and tear due to the wear and tear of use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in a big difference in how it opens and closes. Depending on the kind of knob you are using the latch could be part of the knob or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling will be used. It's simple to take off the old latch, particularly when you have an entry handle that has a “magic” button. The tiny pressure-slot, which is located on the side knob is what you need to press in order to pull the latch out of the handle. If your handle does not have this button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a slot where you can place your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off. Then, loosen the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp point – you will be required to keep them in a secure location to reuse them in subsequent steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and set it aside. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws provided. Strike Plate It is typical to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb as time passes. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer greater security for your door and will keep it shut. Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the bolt that you are using to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this means that your door won't latch due to the fact that 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. Depending on the door, you may be able to simply attach the new strike plate in the existing one using the screws included with it. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the situation Be careful not to chisel out too much wood or you may ruin the integrity of the doorjamb. Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on doors and will require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two larger screws to secure the strike plate into the frame of the door. You'll need remove the previous strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to make room for the new one. This hard-to-find strike plate is designed to be used with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. It comes with both machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the correct hardware for your job. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip whereas machine screws are blunter.