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How to Replace Door Handles The door handles that you have in your home are an essential element of your decor. A new handle will bring your home's decor modern. Over time the knobs on your door may become stiff, or even break. These are indicators that it's time to change the knobs. This guide will help choose the correct door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs The handles on your doors will enhance the appearance of your house and allow you to shut and open them. They are available in a range of colors, finishes, and styles to match your decor. If yours are starting to show signs of wear or just need an upgrade, replacing them is relatively simple and can be completed in just a few steps. You need to locate the spindle, or shaft 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 release the set screws that hold the knob in place. Some have a small slot or hole that you can use to press the spring-activated detent pin using a flathead. When you press the pin and the latch mechanism opens, it releases and allows you to 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 the new set screws. After you've replaced the knob, place 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 the holes are in alignment, then tighten the latch plate screws. Some prefer a smooth or brushed metal finish on their door hardware for a sleek, contemporary look that is a perfect match for other furniture in their homes. Others prefer a more rustic look which is great for farmhouse-styled spaces. If you have one of your family members who has mobility issues, you might want to choose a lever style or rim lock that requires less pressure to operate. Other aspects are being considered more and more for the design of door handles. Infection control and accessibility are key issues that have led to the development of innovative new handle designs including ones that can be operated with the forearm of a person. Latch The latch that holds the handle of your door open can wear down over time. Changing out the old latch to accommodate an entirely new handle can be an easy DIY task and it will make a huge change in the way your door opens and closes. Depending on what type of handle you are using the latch may be a separate part or a component of the knob. In either case, you'll need to follow the same procedure to remove and replace. It's easy to remove the old latch, particularly in the case of an entry handle that has 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 out of the latching mechanism. If your handle does not have this magic button you'll need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually circular or rectangular and can be removed by using a screwdriver to pry them off the handle. Some have a small hole in them where you can insert your screwdriver through, while others simply snap off. The next step is to remove the two machine screws holding the latch and the plate to the door handle. You will need to store these screws with an angled tip in a safe location in order to reuse them in the future. Once the screws are removed, you can remove the latch plate and mechanism from the hole, and then set it aside. Then you can begin to install the new latch. Insert 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 inside the handle and is aligned with the other holes for screws in the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate It is common to replace a door handle if it feels loose, or does not lock properly. This is usually due to misaligned components in the latching mechanism, like the strike plate being too small or has moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb as time passes. This simple fix allows you to replace your old strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and keep your door closed. To check if the problem is due to the strike plate, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the latch bolt. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is lower than the strike plate hole it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is above the strike plate hole, it's most likely that the strike plate has been moved upwards or downwards on the doorjamb. It is possible to install the new strikeplate in the one you have already installed using the screws that come with it, depending on your door. However, you might need 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 case, be careful not to chisel too deeply or you could cause damage to the strength of your doorjamb. Installing a new style box strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger hold on the doors and will require more force to open them. It usually requires two larger screws to anchor the strike plate to the frame of the door. To do this, you'll have to take off the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel the wood to make space for the new one. This hard-to find strike plate is made from solid brass and has a heavy-duty thickness. It's designed to be used on antique rim locks. This kit includes wood screws as well as machine screws, allowing you to select the appropriate hardware for your requirements. Be aware that wood screws have a pointy tip, whereas the machine screws are more blunt.