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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an important element of your interior design. A new handle can bring your decor and space up to date. Over time the knobs on your door could become stiff, or even break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help you select the correct door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors can enhance the appearance of your home and make it easier for you to open and close them. They come in a wide range of colors, finishes and styles that will complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or require an upgrade You can replace them in a few easy steps. You need to locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is connected to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to release the set screws holding the knob in place. Some have a tiny slot, or hole, that allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin 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 spindle or shaft, take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening new set screws. After replacing 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 aligned then tighten the screws on the latch plate. Some people opt for the smooth or brushed finish for their door hardware to give it an elegant, modern look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic style that is a good match for farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have a member of your family with mobility issues, you might want to choose an rim or lever lock that requires less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being looked at more and more when it comes to the design of door handles. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations in the development of new handle designs. For example, some can be operated with an arm. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open may wear out over time. Changing out the old latch to fit an entirely new handle can be a simple DIY job and will make a huge change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on what type of handle you are using, the latch could be a separate part or a part of the knob. In either situation, the same procedure to remove and install will apply. Removing the old latch of its place is quite simple, especially if your door handle has what is called a “magic button”. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you have to press to take the latch out of the handle and out of the latching mechanism. If your handle isn't equipped with this magical button the first step is to take off any cover plates that sit over the latch plate. They are typically rectangular or circular and can be removed with a screwdriver. Some have a small hole in them that you can slide your screwdriver into, while others snap off. Next, you will want to loosen the two machine screws holding the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. You'll need to keep the screws that are shorter and have an angled tip in a secure location to be able to reuse them later. Once the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and place it in a safe place. You can now begin working on the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it using the hardware supplied. 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, push the exterior latch plate on and secure it with the provided screws. Strike Plate It is not uncommon to replace a door handle because it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is often due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you replace your old strikeplate with an extended one, which will offer better security for your door and keep it closed. Apply some lipstick or other marking material on the bolt that you are using 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 hole it means that the door won't latch due to the fact that the strike plate is too small. If window handles is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate is likely to have been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on the door You may be able to just screw the new strike plate into the existing one, using the screws included with it. You may have to drill holes first, and then chisel some wood out to ensure a secure fit. If this is the case, be careful to not cut too much wood or you may ruin the strength of the doorjamb. You could also try installing a new strike plate which 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. To do this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel the wood to make room for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate is made of solid brass and comes with an extremely thick. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for the job. Make sure to note that the wood screws have a sharp edge, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.