How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles for patio doors in your home are an important element of your design. A new handle will elevate your home 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 replace them. This guide will help you pick the right Replacement Door Handles door handle for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your home and make it easier for you to open and shut them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and types to complement your decor. If yours is beginning begin to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade, replacing them is relatively easy and can be accomplished in a couple of steps.

The first thing to find is the spindle or shaft through the knob's attachment to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a small 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 and the latch mechanism opens, it releases 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. Align it correctly and check that the latch functions properly before tightening the set screws.

After replacing the knob, hold the rod for latching over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the screws for the latch plate.

Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. It will complement their furniture. Some prefer a rustic style 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.

Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the creation of innovative new handle designs including ones which can be operated by the forearms of a person.

Latch

The latch that opens your door will wear out due to the wear and tear of use. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will make an enormous difference in the way it opens and closes.

Depending on the kind of knob you have, the latch may be a part of the knob itself or it could be an individual piece attached to the door itself. In either case, the same process to remove and install will be used. The process of removing the old latch of place is fairly easy, especially if your door handle is equipped with what's called a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pop the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your replacement window handle does not have this magic button the first step is to remove any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pry them off the locking window handle. Some have a slot where you can place your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off.

Next, you will want to remove the two machine screws that hold the latch and inner plate to the door handle. You will need to store the screws that are shorter and have a pointed tip in a safe location in order to reuse them in the future. Once these are off you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and set it aside.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, push the exterior latch plate onto the handle and secure it using the screws provided.

Strike Plate

It is common to replace a door handle because it is loose or does not lock properly. This is often due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like the strike plate being too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb with time. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will provide better security and ensure that your door stays shut.

To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material on the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate's hole, this indicates that your replacement door handles won't latch due to the fact that 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 the door, you may be able to attach the new strike plate into place over the old one, using the screws that come with it. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel out some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.

Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on the doors and will require more force to open the doors. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll have to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one.

This rare strike plate is made from solid brass and has a thick, heavy-duty. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit comes with wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to choose the right hardware to suit your needs. Make sure to note that wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.