Giving your internal doors some TLC so that they are looking their best, can make a big difference to the the overall appearance of your home. However, you don’t need to change or replace the whole door. Just by changing the door handles you can easily improve the look of your existing doors.

Door Handles are a necessity but they can also be a way to add some style or uniformity to your decor. As well as being a cost-effective way to change the look of your doors, replacing a door handle is a quick and easy DIY project. So if you are currently renovating, or wanting to update the look of your doors with new modern door handle alternatives just follow our step-by-step instructions below.

What Type of Door Handle To Choose?

There are thousands of designs, sizes and finishes of door handles, including wood, ceramic, plastic, glass and several types of metal to choose from. So whether you are looking for kitchen door handles, internal door handles or cupboard handles, we will have the perfect handle for you.

The most popular type of door handles are lever handles which feature a handle bar attached to either a rose or a backplate. You can choose between having your handle bar attached to a round rose or a square rose. One of our most popular lever handles on rose is the Satin PVD Brass Crown Knurled Lever on Rose. Or for a more traditional look you can’t go wrong with Lever handles on backplate with modern designs, such as the Carlisle Brass Polished Chrome Victorian Lever on Latch Backplate.

You Will Need

● Pencil / Pen
● Hammer
● Screwdriver with various heads
● Wood Chisel
● Tape measure
● Drill
● Spade bit
● Drill bits
● Set square
● Dust Sheets
● Tape
● Door handle kit
● Door wedges
● Latch

How To Fit Your Door Handle

Firstly, make sure you have all you equipment to hand. Prepare the area by placing down your dust sheets and use your door wedges to secure the door.

Replacing An Existing Door Handle

If you are replacing existing door handles you will need to remove the old ones first. To do this you will need to remove the screws holding the handle in place. These will usually be on the cover plate. Some knob and handle designs will need to have screws removed from both sides of the door.

Next you need to find the slot along one edge of the plate. Insert the screwdriver into the slot and twist to pop off the plate. Remove the screws under the plate, and then unscrew and slide out the old latch.

Finally , unscrew the strike plate from the door frame.

The backset is the distance from the centre of the big hole on the front surface of the door to the edge of the door. Measure it to check that your chosen replacement handle or knob will work with your existing backset.

Slide the new latch into the edge of the door, and then screw in place by hand, then tighten with a drill. Insert the half of the knob or handle with the peg into the door first, inserting the peg into the latch mechanism, then push on the other half of the knob or handle, and then screw in place.

If any holes or marks from the previous door furniture are visible, sand them and fill with wood putty, then touch up with paint if necessary. Finally, screw the new strike plate to the door frame.

Fitting A Door Handle To A New Door

Most door handles come with a kit and provide a measurement template for you to follow. Following these measurements, using your drill to create the necessary holes, and attaching all the necessary parts into the door frame are all it takes to attach a door handle yourself.

Start by Placing the end of a tape measure on the floor and Measure 41 inches (100 cm) from the floor the most common placement for a door handle. Mark this place using a set square and a pencil to draw a line around the entirety of the door. Do this for both sides to ensure your door handle will be straight and fitted correctly. (You can also measure the height of the other door handles in your house and use this measurement when marking the handles)

Drill preliminary holes into all sides of the door to make it easier to drill in screws later on. Use a 2mm drill bit to make these preliminary, holes in the door’s front, back, and narrow portions using the template that came with your kit.

Next you need to drill larger holes into the preliminary holes. Follow your specific kit instructions to know the exact size of the drill bit you will need to use to enlarge these holes.

Use a 25mm spade bit to drill holes into both the front and back of the door. Following the template instructions to drill the hole in the right location. (The spindle holes are where the door handle will eventually be inserted)

Next use the 25mm spade bit to drill a hole into the narrow part of the door.
Now you move to setting the door handle.

Use masking tape to secure the handle’s faceplate to the door and trace it with a pencil then use these marks to chisel out the faceplate with yout chisel and hammer. The best way to fo this is by placing the chisel at a 45degree angle and begin chiseling the outline from the top. You will need to chisel to the depth specified in your instructions.

Reset the latch and make sure the faceplate sits flush within the chiseled area. Screw the faceplate to your door.

Place the door handles into the spindle holes making sure the two handles align bith vertically and horizontally before screwing each on to the door. Once each handle is attached make sure they work properly.

This task can be a difficult yet rewarding job. We hope these instructions will help to safely guide you in how to fit your door handle. If you have any enquiries about our ironmongery products, please call our team on 01376 557 561 or email info@ironmongeryexperts.co.uk.

Disclaimer

At Ironmongery Experts we strongly advise that you always take safety precautions into consideration when undertaking a DIY project. We also strongly suggest that you closely read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of any building materials, products or tools you use for your projects. We try our best to provide clear and correct instructions within our articles, so you can easily complete any DIY project you desire. However, please note that the information we provide should only be used as a guideline and that some information within the text may not be entirely accurate. When using our articles for information and advice, please note that is your own responsibility to determine your capabilities when undertaking and executing the task you wish to complete. Before starting a DIY task, we strongly recommend that you educate yourself of any existing building, gas, water and electrical works regulations. We believe it is in your best interest to complete further research and/or contact the necessary professional body should you have any further concerns. We also strongly recommend that a qualified tradesperson completes the relevant safety tests and checks on any DIY you have completed.