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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles in your home are an essential element of your interior design. A new handle will bring your decor and space 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 the knobs. This guide will help you choose the best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to shut and open them. They come in a wide range of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to change them in just a few easy steps. The first thing you have to do is locate the shaft or spindle through the knob's attachment to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a slot or hole that you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and allows you to pull or push on the knob. After you have gained 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 verify that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws. After you've replaced the knob, put the rod of the latch over the hole in the door and interlock it 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 them. Some people prefer an brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary style. This can be matched with the furniture they have. Some prefer a rustic look that is perfect for farmhouse-style rooms. If you have members of your household with mobility limitations You may think about a rim lock or lever-style door knobs that require less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are two major issues that have led to the creation of innovative new handle designs, such as ones which can be operated by the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out over time. Changing out the old latch to accommodate a new handle can be an easy DIY project and will make a huge difference in how your door opens and closes. Depending on the type of handle you have depending on the type of handle you have, the latch may be a part of the knob or it could be an individual piece attached to the door. In any case, you'll follow the same steps to remove and replace. Getting the old latch out of its place is quite simple, especially if your door handle has what is known as a “magic button”. Located on the side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to take the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism. If your handle isn't equipped with 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 by using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have a small slot in them that you can put your screwdriver through, while others snap off. The next step is to unscrew the two machine screws holding the latch and inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws with a sharp point and you'll be required to keep them in a secure location to use them again in the next steps. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and set it aside. Now you can start on the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure the square pin on the interior 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 attach the latch's exterior plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate One of the most common reasons for replacing the door handle is that it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or shifted upwards or downwards on the doorjamb with time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer better security for your door and ensure it stays closed. To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or a similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is over the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb. It is possible to install the new strikeplate in place over the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, depending on the door you have. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to ensure it's snugly fitted. If this is the situation Be careful not to be too rough with the chiseling process or you'll damage the integrity of the doorjamb. Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on the doors and require more force to open them. It usually requires two larger screws to secure the strike plate to the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one. repairmywindowsanddoors -to-find strike plate was specifically designed to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes both wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your requirements. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip while machine screws are more blunt.