How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a key element of your home's decor A new handle can 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 indicators that it's time to replace them 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 home and make it easier to open and shut them They are available in a variety of colors, finishes, and styles to match your decor If yours has begun to show signs or need an upgrade You can change them in just a few easy steps You must locate the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is connected to the door Some knobs have a tiny opening that you can access with a screwdriver for removal of the set screws that secure the handle Some have a thin slot or hole through which allows you to press an activated detent pin that is spring-activated using flathead When you press this pin it opens the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push on the knob After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one Check that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws After you've replaced the knob, place the rod for latching over the hole in the door and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob Ensure that the holes are aligned then tighten the screws on the latch plate Some people prefer a brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek look It will complement their other furniture Others prefer a more rustic look that is a good match for spaces that are reminiscent of farmhouse If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you may want to choose a lever style or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate Other factors are being considered more and more for the design of door handles Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations in the creation of new designs for handles For instance some handles can be operated with a person's arm Latch The latch that holds the door handle open will wear down as time passes It is easy to change the latch on your door handle This will make a big difference in how it opens and closes Depending on the type of knob you are using the latch could be part of the knob or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door itself In either case, you will follow the same procedure for removing and replacing https//wwwrepairmywindowsanddoorscouk/hornchurch-windowrepair/ of removing the old latch of its place is quite simple, especially if your door handle is equipped with what's known as a "magic button" Located on the side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is what you need to press to take the latch right out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism If your handle doesn't come with this button, you'll have to take off the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed with a screwdriver Some have slots where you can put your screwdriver, whereas others simply snap off Then, unscrew the machine screws that attach the inner plate and latch to the door handle These are the shorter screws with a sharp point and you'll have to store them in a safe location to use them again in the next steps Once these are off, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and set it aside You can now begin working on the new latch Insert the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware provided Make sure that the square pin on the inside of the latch is facing the mechanism for latching inside the handle and that it is lined up with the other screw chambers of the door handle Then fix the exterior latch plate using the screws provided Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly This is typically caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too short or has moved up or down on the doorjamb over time This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and keep your door closed To check if the problem 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 then try to latch it If the mark is lower than your strike plate hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door will not latch 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 It is possible to screw the new strikeplate into the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door It is possible that you will need to drill holes first, and then chisel the wood to ensure a secure fit If this is the situation, be careful to not cut too much wood or you'll damage the strength of the doorjamb You could also try installing a new strike plate, which gives the lock a much stronger grip on the door and requires more force to open it It usually requires two longer screws to fix the strike plate in the door frame You'll have remove the previous strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one This strike plate is made to work with antique rim locks, and it's constructed of robust solid brass with an extremely thick This kit includes wood screws and machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware for your requirements Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip while machine screws are more blunt