Fitting A New Front Door Handle

Measure both the door and rough opening to make sure the door is the right size.

Fitting a new front door handle.

If your new door handle attaches to the door at a point below the lower borehole like ours you may need to drill another hole to accommodate. Before you learn how to change door locks measure the space where you ll install the replacement. Installing a door handle is a relatively easy home project that you can do with a pre made kit. The flat surface of the latch should be on the interior side of the door.

If the new latch mechanism is longer than the old one drill about 1 2 inch in. Put the new latch assembly in the old latch hole. Before you can fit a door handle to a new door you will first need to mark regions to be drilled and cut. Line up the spindle on the back of the handle with the slot in the latch sliding any mechanisms up or down as needed to fit the handle onto the door.

Marking the door handle positions. Your brand new handles deserve to be shown off to their best after all. Installing an exterior door that is insulated and made of steel can be heavy and cumbersome due to the weight of the materials. Next you ll install the outside handle assembly.

Follow our handy guide to fitting interior door handles. The handle will stay in place leaving your hands free to secure the interior trim. Slide the adjustable throughbolt up or down as needed and press the handleset onto the door. Painting the door optional once you ve fitted your new door furniture you might want to spruce up the door itself.

Make sure to use the right screwdriver and to do this carefully. Align the spindle on the back of the assembly with the throughbolt and the slot in the latch. Fitting door handles may appear complicated at first but it is an easier task then you think. Put your tape measure on the floor in front of your door and measure up 41 inches from the floor since this is the most common placement for door handles.

If the screwdriver slips it could scratch your new handle. Step 3 put new latch mechanism in. If you choose to install a front door made of steel you will need a helper. Next create a rough opening around your frame that s at least 1 inch wider and taller than the outside of the door system you re installing then insert the new door into the opening and place shims on the hinge side of the door making sure there s a gap of 1 8th inch between the edge of the door and the jamb.

Normally 1 2 inch is sufficient. Take care to measure carefully as matching the size can be especially problematic in older homes.