Figuring out how to replace a door handle is a simple and basic process that every homeowner should invest time in learning. All you need to remove a door handle and replace it is a basic screwdriver and a ruler. Before jumping the gun and trying to replace your door handle with any random door handle you have lying around your home, you’ll want to initially figure out which door handle will work for your door. Analyze your door lock and inspect what one will work for it.
Along the way, some questions you’ll want to ask yourself are:
- Is the door handle broken on your door?
- Are you just wanting to increase the security of your door?
- Are you wanting to increase the aesthetic appeal of your doors?
There are also a couple of other factors to keep in mind when you’re considering replacing your door:
If your door has a multipoint locking system, then there is a good chance that you can’t install a standard operating lock on the door
If you’re wanting to get a deadbolt on the door and the current door installed doesn’t have a deadbolt, you might want to get a professional to assist you with that
If your goal is to just replace the door handle with a new one, then try following these steps:
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Measure Your Door Opening
The first with installing a door handle is to see if the handle will even fit in the first place. You’ll want to take some measurements before jumping the gun and taking things apart. Start by measuring the center point of the doorknob opening all the way to the other edge of the door. This measurement is commonly referred to as the backset. To make things easier, take off the doorknob that you currently have installed on your door. You’ll then want to get a new door handle that will fit.
As you’re researching what door handle to purchase, you’ll have to keep in mind which direction the door handle will be facing. If you don’t think about this while looking for a door handle, you could mistakenly purchase one that isn’t oriented in the right way.
Door Handle Plate
The next thing you’ll want to do is to figure out what type of door handle plate you need for your door. The door handle plate is a metal piece that is situated around the opening in the door at the point where the latch pokes in. When you purchase a door handle, it should come with a rectangular latch plate and a round latch plate. In most cases, the rectangular latch plate will fit. If it doesn’t use the round plate, instead.
Take Off The Handle
Get your screwdriver and start to take off the screws that are keeping the door handle secured. For the majority of door handles, you’ll just have to take off screws on one side. In some cases, you’ll have to take off screws on each side.
After the screws are taken off, each part of the door handle will be able to be taken off easily.
Take Off The Latch
At this point, the latch should be able to be taken out fairly easily. All you have to do is push the latch into the hole and it should come right out. With certain doors, you might have to take out a couple of screws that are securing the latch in place.
Taking Off The Strike Plate
Now, you’ll want to begin taking off the strike place. This is a metal piece that covers the opening of the frame of the door. Two screws typically hold the latch plate in place and after removing them, you’ll be able to take off the plate.
Latch Installation
Installing the latch comes next and it is a simple process where you just have to remove two screws.
Installation Of The Handle
After you’ve installed the latch, you can proceed to install the handle on the door. To begin, you must work from one side of the handle to the other, starting with the part with the square, solid steel peg. When you insert that part of the handle in the door, the peg will pass through the latch mechanism. In order to install the doorknob in its entirety, you must first install the steel pin. Screws are used to hold the handle.
Securing The Strike Plate
Screwing in the replacement striking plate is the final step.
After you’ve completed these procedures, check to make sure your door handle is working correctly. The latch and lock should both function properly, and the door should function smoothly without any issues.
Door handles come in a variety of styles and materials. Many people use a doorknob. Long horizontal handles are also obtainable. You may choose a lever because of its look or practicality. The installation method will be the same whether you are replacing a doorknob or a door lever.
