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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles of your home are an essential part of the interior design. A new handle can elevate your space and bring your decor up-to-date. Over time, your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and even break. These are indications that it's time to replace them. This guide will help choose the right door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles can enhance the appearance of your house while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a wide variety of finishes, colors and styles to complement your decor. If yours are starting to begin to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be completed in just a few steps. The first thing to find is the shaft or spindle through which the knob is attached to the door. Some have a small hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to remove the set screws holding the handle in place. Some have a small slot, or hole, that allows you to press the spring-activated detent pin using flathead. When you press the pin, the latch mechanism releases and lets you pull or push the knob. After you have ahold of the shaft or spindle, take off the door knob and replace it with the new one. Make sure you align it properly and check to ensure that the latch works properly before tightening your new set screws. After replacing the knob, put the rod for the latch into the door's hole. Lock it in place using the rod system on the second knob. Ensure that the holes are aligned, then tighten the screws for the latch plate. Some homeowners opt for an brushed or smooth metal finish for the door hardware to give their home a modern and sleek style. It will complement the furniture they have. Some prefer a rustic look that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have members of your household with mobility limitations You may want to consider choosing the rim lock or lever-style door knobs, which require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have traditionally been the most important factor in door handle design, other aspects are being taken into consideration as well. Accessibility and control of infections are key considerations when it comes to developing new handle designs. For example some handles can be operated using an arm. Latch The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down over time. Changing out the old latch to fit the new handle is a simple DIY job and will make a huge difference in how your door opens and closes. Depending on window handles of knob you have, the latch may be part of the knob itself or it might be an independent piece that is attached to the door. In either case, the same process for removing and reinstalling will apply. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially when you have doors 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 out of the handle and out 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 using a screwdriver to pull them off of the handle. Some have a slot where you can insert your screwdriver. Other handles just snap off. The next step is to remove the two machine screws that secure the latch and inner plate to the door handle. These are the screws that are shorter with a sharp tip – you will be required to keep them in a safe place to reuse them in later steps. Once these are off you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the hole in the door and place it in a safe place. Now you can begin installing the new latch. Install 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 interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and aligns with the screw holes on the other sides of the handle. Then push the exterior latch plate onto and secure it using the screws supplied. Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle because it is loose or does not lock properly. This is typically caused by incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, such as the strike plate being too short or has moved up or downward on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple project will allow you to replace your existing strike plate with a new, larger one that will give you better security and will keep your door shut. 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 then try to latch it. If the mark is located below the strike plate hole this indicates that your door won't latch because the plate is too short. If the mark is higher than the strike plate hole, it's likely that the strike plate has been moved up or down on the doorjamb. Depending on the door you have depending on the door, you might be able to simply attach the new strike plate in the existing one with the screws included with it. You may need to drill holes first, and then chisel the wood to ensure a perfect fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too much or you may ruin the strength of your doorjamb. Installing a new style box strike plate will give the lock a stronger grip on doors and will require more force to open them. Typically it will require two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the frame of the door. You'll need remove the previous 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 it's made from robust solid brass with an extremely thick. It comes with machine screws and wood screws, which means you'll have the right hardware for the job. Be aware that wood screws have a pointed tip whereas machine screws are blunter.