7 Simple Secrets To Totally Making A Statement With Your Replacement Door Handles

How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a key part of your home's decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor up to date. Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles 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 that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning appear worn or just need an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be completed in just a few steps. The first thing you have to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put the screwdriver with a small diameter to release the set screws that hold the handle in place. Others have a thin slot or hole in which you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push on the knob. Once you have access to the shaft or spindle, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Make sure you align it correctly and test to see that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws. After replacing the knob, place the rod for latching over the door's hole and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned, then thread in the screws on the latch plate and tighten the screws. Some people choose a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design that is a good match for spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have family members who have mobility issues, you may be interested in an rim lock or a lever knobs for doors, which require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have traditionally been the primary consideration for door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration too. Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the development of innovative new handle designs like those that can be operated using the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that opens your door is prone to wear and tear due to age and use. It is easy 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 might be an independent piece attached to the door itself. In any case, you'll follow the same process to remove and replace. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy, especially if your door handle has what's called a “magic button”. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob, is what you have to press to remove the latch of the handle. If your handle doesn't come with this button, you will need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed with a screwdriver. Some have a small hole inside that you can put your screwdriver into, while others simply snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that secure the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip – you will need to keep these in a safe place to reuse them in later steps. After the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and put it aside. You can now begin working on the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin that is on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, push the outside latch plate onto and secure it using the provided screws. Strike Plate One of the most common reasons to replace the door handle is because it feels loose or doesn't lock properly. This is typically caused by malfunctioning parts of the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple fix allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and ensure that your door stays shut. To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below your strike plate hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate may have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb. You may be able simply to screw the new strikeplate into place over the one you have already installed by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door you have. However, you might need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too much or you may damage the strength of your doorjamb. Installing upvc replacement door handles -style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on doors and require more force to open the doors. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate to the door frame. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, ensuring that you have the correct hardware for the job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed point, and machine screws have a blunter tip.