12 Companies That Are Leading The Way In Replacement Door Handles
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles in your home are an essential part of the interior design. A new handle can bring your decor and space up-to-date.
Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you pick the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and make it easier to shut and open them. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs or need an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps.
The first thing to do is locate the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that can be used with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that keep the handle in place. Others have a thin slot or hole where you can use a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin called a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism, and lets you pull or push the knob.
Once you have access to the shaft or spindle, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Be sure to align it correctly and check to ensure that the latch is working properly before tightening your new set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the latch rod over the hole on the door. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up and then thread in the screws for the latch plate and tighten the screws.
Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to create a sleek, contemporary look that complements other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style which is great for farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have members of your household who are unable to move You may want to consider choosing a rim lock or lever knobs for doors that require less pressure to operate.
Other factors are being considered more and more for 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, such as ones that can be operated with the forearm of a person.
Latch
The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out as time passes. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you are using the latch may be a separate piece or a part of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will apply. The process of removing the old latch of place is fairly easy, especially if your door handle has what's known as a "magic button". This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob, is what you will need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle.
If your handle isn't equipped with this button, the first step is to remove any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the help of a screwdriver. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off.
The next step is to loosen the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a pointy tip - you will be required to keep them in a safe location to use them again in the next steps. Once these are off you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and put it away.
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 provided. Make sure the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then, secure the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle when it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and will keep your door shut.
To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate's hole, this means that your door isn't latching because the plate is too short. If the mark is over the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb.
Depending on your door You may be able to just attach the new strike plate into the existing one, using the screws that come with it. However, you may need to drill holes first, and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If door handle repairs is the case, you must be careful not to chisel too much or you may ruin the strength of your doorjamb.
Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on doors and will require more force to open the doors. Typically, it requires two longer screws that secure the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one.
This difficult-to-find strike plate was specifically designed to work with antique rim locks, and it's made from robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes both wood screws and machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware to suit your needs. Make sure to note that wood screws have a sharp tip, while the machine screws are more blunt.