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How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are an essential element of your home's decor. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up to date. As time passes, your doors' knobs can start to feel stiff or even break. These are signs it's time to replace them. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors can enhance the look of your home and make it easier to open and close them. They are available in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to match your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a couple of easy steps. The first thing you need to find is the spindle or shaft through the knob's attachment to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can put a narrow screwdriver into to remove the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a small slot, or hole, that you can press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. This pin lets go of the latch mechanism, and lets you pull or push the knob. After you have gained access to the shaft or spindle take the knob off of the door and replace it with the new one. Be sure to align it properly and then check to ensure that the latch works correctly before tightening the new set screws. After replacing the knob, you can place the rod that is attached to the latch over the hole on the door. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure that the holes are in alignment, then tighten the screws for the latch plate. Some prefer the smooth or brushed finish on their door hardware for modern, sleek design 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 members of your household who have mobility issues You may think about an rim lock or a lever style door knob that require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have been the most important factor in door handle design, other factors are increasingly being considered as well. Accessibility and control of infections are key considerations in the creation of new handle designs. For instance certain handles handle designs can be operated by a person's arm. Latch The latch that opens your door will wear out due to age and use. Switching out the old latch to fit a new handle can be a simple DIY job and can make a big change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on the type of handle you are using, the latch could be a separate part or a component of the knob. In either case, you will follow the same process for removing and replacing. Getting door handles out of its place is quite simple especially if the door handle has what is called a “magic button”. Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is the one you need to press to take the latch out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle doesn't have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pull them off the handle. Some have a slot in which you can put your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off. Then, loosen the machine screws that attach the inner plate and latch to the door handle. These are the screws with a pointy tip You will need to keep these in a safe location to reuse them in later steps. After the screws are removed, you can take the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole and set it aside. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Install the latch plate into the door hole and secure it with the hardware supplied. Make sure the square pin on the interior of the latch is pointing towards the latching mechanism inside the handle, and that it lines up with the other screw chambers of the door handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws supplied. Strike Plate One of the most frequent reasons for replacing the door handle is because it feels loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by misaligned parts in the latching system, for example a striking plate that's either too short or has moved upwards or downward on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple project will allow you to replace your old strike plate with a new, longer one that will give you better security and ensure that your door stays shut. To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply some lipstick or 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 the strike plate's hole, it indicates that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is above or below the strikeplate hole the strikeplate has likely been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. Depending on the door You may be able to screw the new strike plate in the door over the old one, using the screws included with it. However, you might need to pre-drill holes and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case, be careful not to chisel too hard or you'll damage the strength of your doorjamb. Installing a brand new box-style strike plate will give the lock a stronger hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. It typically requires two longer screws to secure the strike plate into the frame of the door. To do this, you'll have to remove the existing strike plate, then drill and chisel away the wood to create space for the new one. This difficult-to-find strike plate was made to work with antique rim locks, and it's made from robust solid brass with a heavy duty thickness. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, so you'll have the correct equipment for your task. Keep in mind that wood screws have a pointed tip whereas machine screws are blunter.