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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles in your home are an important part of the design. A new handle can bring your home's decor and interior modern. Over time, your door knobs may become stiff, or even break. These are indications that it's time to change them. This guide will help you select the appropriate replacement door handle for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will enhance the look of your home and allow you to open and shut them. They are available in a range of finishes, colors and types to complement your decor. If yours are starting to appear worn or just need an upgrade replacing them is easy and can be accomplished in a couple of steps. You need to locate the spindle, or shaft through which the knob is connected to the door. Some have a small hole that you can put an incredibly small screwdriver to release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a slot or hole that can be used with a flathead screwdriver to press on a spring-activated pin, also known as a detent. This pin releases the latch mechanism and lets you pull or push the knob. After you have ahold of the spindle or shaft, remove the old door knob and replace it with the new one. Check that the latch is working properly before tightening the set screws. After replacing the knob, put the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Interlock it with the rod system on the second knob. Make sure the holes are in alignment, then tighten the screws on the latch plate. Some people choose a smooth or brushed metal finish for their door hardware, giving their home a modern and sleek style. This can be matched with the furniture they have. window handles prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have members of your household with mobility limitations You might be interested in an rim lock or a lever knobs for doors that require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics are traditionally the most important factor in door handle design, other factors are becoming more important as well. Infection control and accessibility are the main issues that have led to the development of innovative new handle designs like those that can be operated using the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that opens your door can wear out from the wear and tear of use. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes. Depending on the kind of handle you choose, the latch could be a separate component or a component of the knob. In any case, you'll follow the same process for removing and replacing. Removing the old latch of its place is quite simple particularly if your door handle has what's known as a “magic button”. It is located on the opposite side of the knob, this tiny pressure-slot is the one you need to press to take the latch right out of the handle and off of the latching mechanism. If your handle does not have this magical button the first step is to remove any cover plates that rest over the latch plate. They are typically circular or rectangular and can be removed using a screwdriver to pry them off of the handle. Some have a slot where you can put your screwdriver. Other handles simply snap off. Next, you will want to unscrew the two machine screws that hold the latch and the inner plate to the door handle. It is important to keep these screws with a pointed tip in a secure location in order to reuse them in the future. After the screws have been removed, you are able to remove the latch plate and the mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside. You can now begin working on the new latch. Install the inside plate of the latch into the hole in the door, and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin on interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism in the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then, push the outside latch plate on and secure it with the screws provided. Strike Plate It is typical to replace a door handle when it is loose or isn't locking properly. This is usually caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as a striking plate that's either too short or has moved upwards or down on the doorjamb with time. This easy project allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that will provide better security and keep your door closed. To check if the problem is caused by the strike plate, apply some lipstick or similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door and attempt to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate's hole, it means that the door isn't latching because the strike plate is too small. If the mark is over the strike hole on the plate, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down the doorjamb. It is possible to put the new strikeplate in the one you have already installed by using the screws supplied with it, based on your door. But, you may have to drill holes first, and then chisel some of the wood to make sure it's a good fit. If this is the case make sure you don't chisel out too much wood or you could damage the strength of the doorjamb. Installing a new box-style strike plate will give the lock a more secure grip on the doors and will require more force to open the doors. Typically it will require two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. To accomplish this, you'll need to remove the existing strike plate and 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 is made of robust solid brass with the heavy duty thickness. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, so you'll have the right hardware for the job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip, and machine screws have a blunter tip.