How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles of your home are an important element of your interior design. A new handle will bring your home's decor up-to-date.
As time passes, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff, or break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you select the best door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and make it easier for you to shut and open them. They are available in a range of finishes, colors, and types to complement your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can change them in just a few easy steps.
You must locate the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws holding the knob in place. Others have a thin slot or hole where you can use the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. This pin releases the latch mechanism, and lets you pull or push the knob.
After you have ahold of the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Be sure to align it correctly and verify that the latch works properly before tightening your new set screws.
After replacing the knob, you can place the latch rod over the door's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up and then thread in the screws on the latch plate and tighten them.
Some people choose a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This can be matched with their furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with rustic-styled rooms. If you have family members who are unable to move You may want to consider choosing a rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered too. Accessibility and control of infections have been key issues when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example some handles can be operated using the arm of a person.
Latch
The latch that keeps your door handle open can wear out from age and use. It is easy to change the latch on your door handle. This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes.
Depending on what type of handle you use, the latch could be a separate part or an integral part of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same process to remove and replace. The process of removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple especially if the door handle is equipped with what's called a "magic button". The button is located on the left side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is the one you need to press to pop the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism.
If your handle isn't equipped with this magical button the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a small slot in them that you can put your screwdriver, whereas others snap off.
door handle repairs near me www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk is to loosen the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these screws with an angled tip in a secure location so that you can reuse them later. After the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism from the hole and set it aside.
You can now begin working on the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin on the inside of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often caused by incorrectly aligned parts in the latching mechanism, like the strike plate being 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 can provide better security for your door and will keep it closed.
Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it means that the door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. 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 attach the new strike plate in the door over the old one, using the screws that come with it. It is possible that you will need to drill holes first and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, you must be cautious not to chisel too hard or you'll cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb.
You can also consider installing a new strike plate that gives the lock a much stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to fix the strike plate into the frame of the door. 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 hard-to find strike plate is made of solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It's specifically designed to be used with antique rim locks. This kit comes with wood screws as well as machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware to suit your requirements. Be aware that wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.