Door Knob

When a budget is strained but a home still needs a little redecorating boost, an inexpensive way to rejuvenate home décor is buy replacing doorknobs. Decorative handles can be as antique or contemporary in design as desired, and are available in many different constructs, including:

Stainless steel

Bronze

Pewter

Ceramic

Brass

Stone

Glass

Doorknobs can also play an important role in home security issues, being functional as well as attractive. Knobs can add style, quality, safety, and value to a home, and can also come with accessories for ease in use for those with arthritic or impeded hands, such as grips and grasping aids.

Determining Door Knob Features

Before purchasing a knob for security or style, consider what type of knob is ideal for the door.

Is a standard, round shape all that is required?
Does it need to have a key lock component?
Will it be used by the elderly or by children where a lever handle may be easier to operate than a standard round one?

Once these simple decisions are made, and desired knobs have been purchased, their instillation can be done with a few basic tools.

Removing Old Door Knobs

The flat circular knob base known as the trim must be unscrewed and gently pulled from the door using a flat head screwdriver. There will be two more long screws that attach the opposing knobs to each other revealed once the trim is removed, and these must come out too. The door knobs should now be able to be pulled apart and sat aside.

The locking mechanism holds the bolt, which in turn is held by two screws. Remove the screws and extract the bolt, leaving the mechanism still attached to the door. The strike plate (which catches the bolt on the opposite frame of the door) may remain as is, unless it clashes with the color of the new knob; just check it for tightness before installing the new knob. The strike plate is held to the frame by two visible screws and can be simply tightened or removed.

Installing New Door Knobs

Start the new knob installation by inserting the new bolt into the door and screwing it into place. A trim piece is now placed flush against the door and the correct knob designed to fit the bolt mechanism is easily attached. The opposite side of the door now receives its trim and knob, and the two are aligned and matched against each other. Push the two long screws into place and begin to alternately tighten them in order to assure they align evenly.

At times, older and antique door knobs may have a few additional screws or different mechanisms. In this case, simply pay attention when removing the knob, and reassemble it on the floor in the order of removal in order to refer back to the original set up.

By Barbara Poelle