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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an essential part of the 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 are available in a wide range of finishes, colors, and styles 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 just a few steps. The first thing to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to remove the set screws holding the handle in place. Others have a thin slot or hole in which you can use a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. This pin releases the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob. After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure it is aligned correctly and ensure that the latch functions properly before tightening new set screws. After replacing the knob, you can place the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are lined up, then thread in the latch plate screws and tighten the screws. Some people opt for a smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware to create a sleek, contemporary look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. 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 might want to choose a lever style or rim lock that require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics are traditionally the most important factor in door handle design, other factors are being taken into consideration as well. Infection control and accessibility have been key issues in the creation of new handle designs. For instance, some handle designs can be operated by the arm of a person. Latch The latch that keeps your door handle open can wear out from the wear and tear of use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will result in a big difference in how it opens and closes. Depending on the type of handle you have the latch could be part of the knob or it could be an independent piece attached to the door. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and installing will be used. It's simple to take off the old latch, especially when you have doors with a “magic” button. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob, is what you will need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle. If your handle isn't equipped with this magic button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have slots where you can put your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off. Then, unscrew the machine screws that hold the inner plate and latch to the door handle. It is important to keep these shorter screws with an angled tip in a safe location to be able to reuse them in the future. Once these are off, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and place it in a safe place. You can now begin working on the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the other screw holes in the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate One of the most frequent reasons for replacing a door handle is because it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to misaligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which can provide more security for your door and keep it closed. Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this means that your door isn't latching because the plate is too short. If upvc replacement door handles is higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate may have been moved up or downward on the doorjamb. It is possible to put the new strikeplate in the old one using the screws included with it, depending on your door. However, you may need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to cut too hard or you'll damage the integrity of your doorjamb. You can also consider installing a new box strike plate which gives the lock a much more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically, it requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one. This strike plate is specifically designed to work with antique rim locks, and is made of durable solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the correct equipment for your task. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp tip, while the machine screws are more blunt.