5 Laws That Will Help Those In Replacement Door Handles Industry
How to Replace Door Handles
The door handles that you have in your home are an important element of your decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor up to date.
Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff, or break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you pick the correct door handle replacement for your home.
Door Knobs
The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your house and make it easier to shut and open them. They come in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or require an upgrade, you can replace them in a few easy steps.
The first thing to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a small opening that can be used with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that hold the handle in place. Others have a thin slot or hole that you can use a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin called a detent. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push the knob.
Once you have the spindle, or shaft, in your hand take the knob off and replace it. Align it correctly and check that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws.
After replacing the knob, place the latch rod over the hole on the door. 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 homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. It will complement their furniture. Some people prefer a rustic style that works well with farmhouse-style rooms. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you may prefer the lever or rim lock, which requires less pressure to operate.
While aesthetics have traditionally been the primary consideration for door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered as well. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For instance some handles can be operated using a person's arm.
Latch
The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down over time. Switching out the old latch to fit a new handle can be an easy DIY task and will make a huge difference in how your door opens and closes.
Depending on the type of handle you are using, the latch could be a separate piece or a component of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same procedure to remove and replace. door handle repair near me Repair My Windows And Doors of removing the old latch of the way is relatively simple especially if the door handle has what is called a "magic button". This tiny pressure-slot, found 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 you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed with the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a small slot in them that you can slide your screwdriver through, while others snap off.
The next step is to remove the two machine screws that secure the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these shorter screws with an angled tip in a safe place in order to reuse them in the future. After these screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and set it aside.
Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the hardware provided. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it with the screws supplied.
Strike Plate
It is typical to replace a door handle if it is loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb with time. This simple fix allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and keep your door closed.
Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have 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 existing one with 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 deeply or you could ruin the strength of your doorjamb.
You can also try installing a new strike plate that gives the lock a much more secure grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It typically requires two longer screws to anchor the strike plate in the frame of the door. To do this, you'll have to take off the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to make room for the new one.
This strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's made from sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, which means you'll have the correct equipment for your task. Be aware that wood screws have a pointy edge, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.