5 Laws That'll Help The Replacement Door Handles Industry

How to Replace Door Handles

The door handles of your home are an essential element of your interior design. A new handle will elevate your space and bring your decor up to date.

Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace them. This guide will help choose the correct door handle replacement for your home.

Door Knobs

The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and allow you to open and shut them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and types to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to begin to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be done in a few steps.

You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a small hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to loosen the set screws holding the knob in place. Others have a thin slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism and allows you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle, or shaft, in your hand, remove the old knob and replace it. Be sure to align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws.

Once you've replaced the knob, put the rod of the latch over the hole in the door and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are aligned then tighten the screws for the latch plate.

Some prefer a smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware to give it an elegant, modern look that complements other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style that is a good match for farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you may prefer a lever style or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.

While aesthetics are traditionally the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are being taken into consideration as well. Accessibility and control of infections are the main issues that have led to the creation of new and innovative designs for handles, such as ones which can be operated by the forearm of a person.

Latch

The latch that holds the handle of your door open will wear down as time passes. 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 kind of handle you choose, the latch could be a separate piece or a part of the knob. In either case, the same process for removing and installing will be used. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of doors with a "magic" button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you have to press to remove the latch of the handle.

If your handle doesn't have this magic button the first step is to take off any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have slots where you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off.

Next, you will want to remove the two machine screws that hold the latch and inner plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a pointy tip - you will need to keep these in a secure location to reuse them in later steps. After the screws have been removed, you can remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.

Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware provided. Make  upvc door handles  that the square pin in the interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied.

Strike Plate

It is typical to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, for example a strike plate that is too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will provide better security and will keep your door shut.

Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate's hole, this indicates that your door won't latch due to the fact that the plate is too short. If the mark is higher than the strike plate hole, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb.

You might be able to install the new strikeplate in place over the existing one using the screws that come with it, depending on your door. But, you may have to pre-drill holes and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, be careful to not chisel out too much wood or you may ruin the strength of the doorjamb.

You can also consider installing a new strike plate which provides the lock with a more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to take off the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one.

This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, ensuring that you have the correct hardware for the job. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.