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How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a crucial part of the decor of your home. A new handle will bring your decor and space up to date. Over time your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and even break. These are indications that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you choose the best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your home and allow you to open and close them. They are available in a range of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours has begun to show signs of wear or require an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a couple of simple steps. The first thing you have to do is locate the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with an screwdriver to take out the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a slot or hole in which can be used with the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated nut, 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 ahold of the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws. Once you've replaced the knob, put the rod of the latch 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 homeowners opt for a brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a sleek and contemporary look. This can be matched with their other furniture. Others prefer a more rustic look, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have members of your household who have mobility issues You might be interested in the rim lock or lever-style door knobs that require less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control have been key issues when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example certain handles can be operated with the arm of a person. Latch The latch that holds your door handle open can wear out from the wear and tear of use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes. Depending on the kind of handle you choose the latch can be a separate part or a part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and installing will apply. Removing the old latch of its place is quite simple especially if the door handle has what is called a “magic button”. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you need to press in order to pop the latch out of the handle. If your handle isn't equipped with this magic button the first step is to remove any cover plates that are positioned over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed with a screwdriver. upvc door handles have a small slot in them where you can slide your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off. The next step is to loosen the two machine screws that secure the latch and inner plate to the door handle. You will need to store these shorter screws with an angled tip in a safe place so that you can reuse them later. After the screws have been removed, you are able to remove the latch plate as well as the mechanism from the hole and set it aside. Now you can begin installing 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 on interior of the latch faces the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the other screw holes in the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate on and secure it using the provided screws. Strike Plate One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is because it feels loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as a striking plate that's either too small or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb over time. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and keep your door closed. To determine if the issue is caused by 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 below the strike plate's hole, it means that the door won't latch because the plate isn't long enough. If the mark is higher than the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb. Depending on the door, you may be able to just install the new strike plate in the door over the old one with the screws that come with it. However, you may need to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the situation, be careful to not cut too much wood or you'll damage the integrity of the doorjamb. You can also try installing a new strike plate, which provides the lock with a stronger hold on the door and requires more force to open it. It usually requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate in the frame of the door. To do this, you'll need to remove the current strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to create space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with a heavy-duty thickness. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit comes with wood screws and machine screws, allowing you to pick the right hardware for your needs. Remember that wood screws have a pointed point, and machine screws have a blunter tip.