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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles of your home are an important part of the 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 and even break. These are indicators that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help you choose the correct door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to open and shut them. They come in a variety of colors, finishes and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or simply require an upgrade replacing them is simple and can be completed in just a few steps. The first thing you have to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is affixed to the door. Some have a tiny hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws holding the handle in place. upvc door handles have a thin slot or hole that you can use the flathead screwdriver on a spring-activated nut, known as a detent. When you press the pin it opens the latch mechanism and allows you to pull or push on the knob. Once you have the spindle or shaft in your hands take the knob off and replace it. Be sure to align it correctly and test to see that the latch functions properly before tightening your new set screws. After replacing the knob, place the rod of the latch over the door's hole and interlock it with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws for the latch plate. Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware to create a sleek, contemporary look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style, which pairs well with spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you may want to choose the lever or rim lock that require less pressure to operate. Other factors are being taken into consideration more and more in the design of door handles. Accessibility and infection control have been key issues in the creation of new designs for handles. For example some handles handle designs can be operated by an arm. Latch The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down as time passes. Switching out the old latch to fit an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY task and can make a big difference in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on what type of handle you use the latch can be a separate part or an integral part of the knob. In either scenario, the same procedure for removing and reinstalling will be used. It's easy to remove the old latch, particularly when you have a door handle with a “magic” button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you will need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle. If your handle does not come with this button, you will need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed using a screwdriver in order to remove them off of the handle. Some have a slot in which you can place your screwdriver, whereas others just snap off. Then, loosen the machine screws that attach the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. You will need to store the screws that are shorter and have an angled tip in a safe place to be able to reuse them later. Once these are off you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and place it in a safe place. You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the inside of the latch into the hole in the door and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers inside the door handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws supplied. Strike Plate One of the most common reasons for replacing the door handle is that it feels loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to misaligned parts in the latching mechanism, such as the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time. This simple project will allow you to replace your old strike plate with a new, longer one that can provide greater security and will keep your door shut. Apply a lipstick or another marking material on the latch bolt to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is located 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 higher or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on the door you have depending on the door, you might be able to simply install the new strike plate into the existing one using 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 careful not to cut too hard or you'll ruin the integrity of your doorjamb. Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on doors and require more force to open them. Typically it will require two longer screws that anchor the strike plate to the door frame. It is necessary remove the old strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with antique rim locks and it's made from durable solid brass in a heavy duty thickness. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws so you can pick the right hardware to suit your requirements. Be aware that the wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.