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How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a key part of the decor of your home. A new handle can transform your home and bring your decor up-to-date. Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are signs it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will improve the look of your home and allow you to open and close them. They come in a wide variety of colors, finishes and styles that will complement your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a few simple steps. You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to loosen the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a slot or hole that can be used with a flathead screwdriver to push on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push 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. Make sure you align it properly and then test to see that the latch works properly before tightening the new set screws. Once you've replaced the knob, place the rod for latching over the door's hole 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 homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek look. This will match their other furniture. Some prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If upvc replacement door handles Repair My Windows And Doors have someone in your family who has mobility issues, you might prefer a lever style or rim lock that require less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control are key considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For instance, some can be operated with the arm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down over time. The replacement of the latch to accommodate a new handle can be a simple DIY job and it 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 an integral part of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same procedure to remove and replace. Getting the old latch out of place is fairly easy especially if the door handle has what is called a “magic button”. The button is located on the left side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you need to press to take the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle doesn't have this magic button you will need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a slot in which you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off. Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws holding the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store the screws that are shorter and have sharp tips in a secure location so that you can reuse them in the future. After the screws are removed, you are able to remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole, and then 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 the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate It is typical to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as a strike plate that is too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and ensure that your door stays shut. Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate's hole, this means that your door won't latch because the plate is too short. If the mark is above the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb. You might be able to screw the new strikeplate into place over the old one using the screws included with it, based on the door. However, you might need to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case make sure you don't be too rough with the chiseling process or you could damage the integrity of the doorjamb. You could also try installing a new strike plate, which provides the lock with a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It typically requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate into the door frame. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate and then drill and chisel out the wood to create space for the new one. This hard-to-find strike plate is specifically designed to work with antique rim locks, and it's made from sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws so you can select the appropriate hardware to suit your needs. Just remember that wood screws have a sharp tip, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.