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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an important element of your decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor modern. Over time, your door knobs may become stiff or even break. These are indicators that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help choose the correct door handle replacement for your home. window handles repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk on your doors can enhance the appearance of your home and make it easier for you to shut and open them. They come in a variety of colors, finishes, and types to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can replace them in a couple of easy steps. You'll need to find the spindle, or shaft, through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a small hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to remove the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole that you can use a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. When you press this pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and allows you to pull or push the knob. After you have gained access to the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure you align it properly and test to see that the latch is working properly before tightening your new set screws. Once you've replaced the knob, hold the latch rod in position 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 prefer the smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware to give it a sleek, contemporary look that matches other furnishings in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style, which pairs well with rustic-styled rooms. If you have family members with mobility limitations, you may be interested in a rim lock or lever-style door knobs that require less pressure to operate. Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key considerations in the development of new handle designs. For example, some handle designs can be operated by an arm. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down as time passes. The replacement of the latch to make room for the new handle is an easy DIY task and it will make a significant difference in how your door opens and closes. Depending on the kind of knob you are using, the latch may be part of the knob itself, or it could be an independent piece that is attached to the door. In either case, the same process for removing and reinstalling will apply. It's easy to remove the old latch, particularly when you have an entry handle that has a “magic” button. This tiny pressure-slot, found on the side knob is what you have to press to pull the latch out of the handle. If your handle does not have this button, you will need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off of the handle. Some have a small hole in them where you can put your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that hold the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store these shorter screws with an angled tip in a safe place in order to reuse them in the future. Once the screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and set it aside. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it with 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 lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws supplied. Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle if it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually due to malfunctioning components of the latching mechanism, like the strike plate being too short or moved up or down 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 ensure that your door stays shut. To determine if the issue is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the bolt that is used to latch. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is higher than the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on your door, you may be able to just screw the new strike plate in the existing one using the screws that come with it. But, you may have to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to ensure it's snugly fitted. If this is the case, be careful not to chisel too much or you may damage the integrity of your doorjamb. You can also consider installing a new box strike plate that will give the lock a stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate into the door frame. You'll have remove the previous strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to make space for the new one. This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and it's constructed of sturdy solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes both wood screws as well as machine screws so you can pick the right hardware for your needs. Be aware that the wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.