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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles in your home are an essential part of the interior design. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up to date. Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to change them. This guide will help choose the best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles can enhance the appearance of your house while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors and styles to match your decor. If yours are starting to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in just a few steps. The first thing you have to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that you can access with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a tiny slot or hole through which you can use to press a spring-activated detent pin with flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you pull or push the knob. After you have gained access to the spindle or shaft, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening the new set screws. Once you've replaced the knob, place the rod of the latch over the door's hole and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then tighten the screws on the latch plate. Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a sleek and contemporary style. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style or rim lock that require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have traditionally been the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are becoming more important as well. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example, some can be operated with the arm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down as time passes. 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 what type of handle you use the latch can be a separate component or a part of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same steps for removing and replacing. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy especially if the door handle is equipped with what's called a “magic button”. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob is the one you'll need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle. If your handle does not come with this button, you'll need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a small slot inside that you can put your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that attach the latch and the plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these screws with a pointed tip in a safe location in order to reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and keep your door closed. 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 and attempt to latch it. If the mark is lower than your strike plate hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into place over the old one by using the screws supplied with it, based on your door. However, you may need to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case Be careful not to be too rough with the chiseling process or you could damage the strength of the doorjamb. You could also try installing a new box strike plate, which gives the lock a much more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically it requires two long screws that secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one. This hard-to-find strike plate is designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and it's made from robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. This kit includes both wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your needs. Be aware that the wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.