The 3 Greatest Moments In Replacement Door Handles History
How to Replace Door Handles
Door handles are a key element of your home's decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor modern.
Over time, your knobs for your doors can begin to feel stiff and even break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the best door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors will improve the appearance of your house and make it easier to shut and open them. repairmywindowsanddoors are available in a variety of finishes, colors and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs or need an upgrade, you can change them in just a few easy steps.
The first thing you have to do is locate the spindle or shaft through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can use a screwdriver to remove the set screws that keep the handle in place. Some have a small slot or hole through which you can press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. When you press this pin it opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws.
After replacing the knob, place the rod of the latch over the door's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned then thread the screws for the latch plate and tighten the screws.
Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with the furniture they have. Some people prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you may want to choose the lever or rim lock that require less pressure to operate.
Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control have been key issues when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example certain handles can be operated with the arm of a person.
Latch
The latch that keeps your door handle open will wear out due to age and use. It is simple to replace the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes.
Depending on what kind of handle you choose the latch can be a separate part or an integral part of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same procedure to remove and replace. The process of removing the old latch of its place is quite simple particularly if your door handle has what's known as a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle doesn't come with this button, you will need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver in order to remove them off of the handle. Some have slots where you can put your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off.
The next step is to remove the two machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store the screws that are shorter and have a pointed tip in a safe place so that you can reuse them in the future. After the screws have been removed, you can take the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and put it aside.
You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that 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 attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
One of the most common reasons for replacing a door handle is because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is typically caused by misaligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb over time. This project lets you replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which can provide greater security for your door and keep it shut.
To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this means that your door won't latch because the plate is too short. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb.
Depending on the door you have, you may be able to install the new strike plate in place over the old one using the screws that come with it. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel some wood out to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too deeply or you could damage the strength of your doorjamb.
You can also consider installing a new box strike plate that will give the lock a more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate in the frame of the door. You'll have to remove the old strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to make room for the new one.
This strike plate is made to work with antique rim locks, and is made of robust solid brass with an extremely thick. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for your job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip, whereas machine screws are blunter.