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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles of your home are an essential part of the decor. A new handle can transform your space and bring your decor to the present. Over time your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and even 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. Door Knobs The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to open and close them. They are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps. The first thing you need to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that secure the handle. Some have a small slot or hole in which you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and lets you pull or push on the knob. Once you have access to the shaft or spindle take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Be sure to align it correctly and verify that the latch functions correctly before tightening the new set screws. After replacing the knob, put the rod for latching over the hole in the door and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are lined up then thread the screws for the latch plate and tighten them. Some people choose an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a sleek and contemporary appearance. This will match their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic design, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have one of your family members with mobility issues, you may prefer an rim or lever lock, which requires less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections are key considerations when it comes to developing new designs for handles. For instance, some can be operated with an arm. Latch The latch that opens your door is prone to wear and tear due to age and use. The replacement of the latch to fit the new handle is an easy DIY task and can make a big difference in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on the kind of knob you are using the latch could be part of the knob itself or it could be an individual piece that is attached to the door. In any case, you'll follow the same steps to remove and replace. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially in the case of an entry handle that has a “magic” button. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob, is what you need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle. If your handle isn't equipped with this button, the first step is to take off any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have slots where you can place your screwdriver, while others simply snap off. Then, unscrew the machine screws that hold the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. You'll need to keep the screws that are shorter and have sharp tips in a secure location in order to reuse them in the future. Once the screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and put it away. You can now begin installing the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it with the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism of the handle and is aligned with the other screw holes in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the provided screws. Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle if it is loose or does not lock properly. This is usually due to misaligned parts in the latching system, for example the strike plate being too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with a more substantial one, which can provide better security for your door and will keep it closed. To check if the problem 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 below the strike plate's hole, this indicates that your door won't latch because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate may have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on the door you have, you may be able to attach the new strike plate in the existing one using the screws included with it. However, you may need to drill holes first, and then chisel out some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case, you must be careful not to chisel too hard or you'll cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb. Installing a new box-style strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger grip on doors and will require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. It is necessary to remove the old strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was designed to be used with rim locks from the past, and it's made from sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. repairmywindowsanddoors comes with both wood screws and machine screws, ensuring that you have the right hardware for the job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip and machine screws have a blunter tip.