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How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a key element of your home's decor. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior 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 best door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles add to the appearance of your house while making it easier for people to open and shut doors. They come in a wide variety of finishes, colors, and styles that will complement your decor. If yours have started to show signs of wear or requires an upgrade You can change them in just a few easy steps. You'll need to find the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is inserted to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert a narrow screwdriver into to release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a small slot, or hole, that you can press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and allows you to 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. Make sure to align it properly and verify that the latch is working properly before tightening your new set screws. Once you've replaced the knob, hold the rod of the latch over the door's hole and lock it in place with the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are in alignment, then tighten the screws on the latch plate. Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for their door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek appearance. This will match their furniture. Some prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have family members who have mobility issues You may want to consider choosing an rim lock or a lever style door knob, which require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have traditionally been the most important factor in door handle design, other factors are increasingly being considered as well. Infection control and accessibility have been major considerations in the development of new handle designs. For instance, some can be operated with the arm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the door handle open can wear down over time. Switching out door handles to accommodate the new handle is an easy DIY project and it will make a significant change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on what type of handle you are using, the latch could be a separate component or a component of the knob. In either case, you'll need to follow the same process for removing and replacing. It's simple to remove the old latch, particularly if you have a door handle with a “magic” button. Located on the side of the knob, this little pressure-slot is what you need to press to pull the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle does not 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 with the aid of a screwdriver. Some have a tiny slot inside that you can insert your screwdriver into, while others snap off. Then, remove the machine screws that hold the plate's inner and latch to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp point – you will be required to keep them in a secure 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 place it in a safe place. You can now begin working on the new latch. Insert the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the provided hardware. Make sure that the square pin on the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the other screw holes in the handle. Then attach the latch's exterior plate using the screws provided. Strike Plate It is not uncommon to replace a door handle when it feels loose, or doesn't lock properly. This is often caused by misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like an unbalanced strike plate that is too small or shifted up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This project allows you to replace your old strikeplate with a longer one, which can provide greater security for your door and will keep it closed. Apply a lipstick or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to determine if it's the strike plate. Close the door, then try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door won't latch. If the mark is over the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb. You may be able simply to install the new strikeplate in place over the existing one by using the screws supplied with it, based on the door. But, you may have to drill holes prior to drilling and then chisel a bit of the wood to make sure it's a snug fit. If this is the situation Be careful not to cut too much wood or you could damage the integrity of the doorjamb. Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on doors and will require more force to open the doors. Typically it will require two longer screws that anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll have remove the previous strike plate before drilling and chiseling the wood to create space for the new one. This rare strike plate is made of solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It's made to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws and machine screws, so you can choose the right hardware for your needs. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed point, and machine screws have a blunter tip.