How to Replace Door Handles

Door handles are an essential part of the decor of your home. A new handle will elevate your space and bring your decor up to date.

As time passes, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff, or break. These are indicators that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the appropriate replacement door handle for your home.

upvc door locks and handles Knobs

The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your home and allow you to open and close them. They come in a variety of colors, finishes, and styles to match your decor. If yours have started to show signs or need an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of simple steps.

You need to locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with a screwdriver to remove the set screws that keep the handle for double glazed window in place. Some have a small slot or hole where can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. The pin opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob.

Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands Remove the knob and replace it. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws.

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

Some homeowners opt for a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. It will complement their furniture. Others prefer a more rustic style that is a good match for rustic-styled rooms. If you have family members who are unable to move, you may think about the rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate.

Other aspects are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are two major issues that have led to the creation of new designs for handle handles including ones that can be operated using a person's forearm.

Latch

The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out over time. The replacement of the latch to fit an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY project and will make a significant change in the way your door opens and closes.

Depending on the type of handle you use, the latch could be a separate component or a part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and installing is applicable. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy particularly if your upvc door locks and handles handle has what is known as a "magic button". Located on the side of the knob, this small pressure-slot is what you have to press to pop the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism.

If your handle does not have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have a small hole in them where you can put your screwdriver through, while others snap off.

Then, loosen the machine screws that secure the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. You will need to store these screws with sharp tips in a safe location in order to reuse them in the future. After the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and set it aside.

You can now begin installing the new latch. Insert the latch plate into the upvc door handle hole and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers in the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws.

Strike Plate

It is not uncommon to replace a patio door handle with lock handle if it is loose or isn't window locking handles properly. This is often caused by malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb over time. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will provide better security and keep your door closed.

To determine if the issue is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material on the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb.

You may be able simply to put the new strikeplate in place over the one you have already installed using the screws that come with it, depending on the door you have. You may have to first drill holes and then chisel a bit of wood to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too much or you may ruin the strength of your doorjamb.

You can also consider installing a new strike plate which will give the lock a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. Typically it will require two longer screws that anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make space for the new one.

This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from durable solid brass in the heavy duty thickness. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws so you can choose the right hardware for your requirements. Remember that wood screws have a pointed tip, while machine screws are more blunt.