Door KnobsDoor Knobs and How To Replace Them
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Door knobs seem to go unnoticed in a home unless they are broken or unique. But when door knobs are something special – antique crystal, porcelain or even quartz – they really pop into your home décor. I bought my current home, a late 1940s bungalow, partially because I fell in love with its original copper door knobs complete with keyholes and skeleton keys. If you’d like to make the door knobs in your home special, there is a vast selection out there, all of which are easy to install.
It is almost impossible to use a door without a knob, so choose your replacement knobs before removing the old ones. There are sleek graceful styles in all manner of wood and metal finishes that bring a modern touch to a room, and there are antiques and antique reproductions, which are my favorite. As I mentioned, my house has copper door knobs throughout, but my absolute favorite door knobs are those solid quartz ball knobs. Door knobs come in fun, interesting designs, find the one that grabs your heart every time you grab it.
The actual work of replacing door knobs is not hard and takes very little in terms of time or tools. Each replacement will probably only take about 30 minutes and usually only requires a Phillips and flathead screwdriver. Follow these easy steps:
1. Start by removing the old knob. To do this, unscrew the trim from the door. The trim is the ring or rectangle shaped metal plate between the door and knob. There is trim on both sides of the door, so unscrew both plates. If the trim behind your door knobs does not have screws, pry it away from the door with a flathead screwdriver. If you do need to pry the trim off, be sure to slide the pry tool as far under the trim as possible so you don’t damage door.
2. Once the trim has been removed, you’ll notice two large screws holding the front and back door knobs in place. Remove them and the door knobs themselves should come easily out of the door. Remove them too.
3. If you are replacing exterior knobs or interior knobs with lock and key mechanisms, you’ll notice two screws holding the lock in place. Remove the screws and the lock.
4. If you are replacing the strike plate (the small metal strike plate that catch the bolt or lock when the lock is engaged, you can remove it from the frame of the door either by unscrewing it or prying it off. This is unnecessary in the replacement of most door knobs.
5. If the new knob has a locking mechanism, begin the installation by inserting the new bolt into the hole from which you removed the old bolt and screw it into place. The slanted side of the door bolt should always face the direction the door closes so that the door cannot be pushed open when locked.
6. On either side of the door, place the trim flush against the door and then place the door knob flush against the trim. Do the same for the knob on the other side. Secure the knobs with the long screws.
7. Test to make sure that both door knobs move freely and the door locks properly.
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Hardware