How to Change a Doorknob
When was the last time you had to change a doorknob? Well without patience and perhaps a cold ****, it can become a hair- pulling experience. Since I have been rehabbing houses here on the Gulf Coast, I have put in over 50 doorknobs, and I am here to tell you that some are easy and some are not, but the basic procedure is the same. Follow these instructions as if none came with your doorknob kit. Installing a new doorknob can be easy, but you will need a few tools. Most door mechanisms permit direct substitution. The difficulty of changing a doorknob is moderate.
Things you need for changing the doorknob:
Doorknob kits
Phillips/or flathead screwdriver sets
Steps:
Separate the circular metal by removing the screws that hold it on. Depending on how old that door knob is, you may have to move it back and forth gently in order to unstick it.
Once the metal is off you will notice 2 more screws that must be removed too. You will notice that they actually go through the hardware of the door. Basically, they are what hold the interior components of the knob on both sides of the door.
Gently pull the two doorknob sections apart and the whole mechanism will come out fairly easily. If it doesn’t, then don’t get angry and rough, as you will mess up the hole where the mechanism goes, and as a result the hole in the door may become larger. If you are having a hard time releasing them from each other, use some WD40.
Insert the new door mechanism inside the hole. The hardest part is holding both of them at the same time. However, if you stand on the edge of the door, you can easily hold one side while placing the large piece of metal into the small hole. The instruction sheet usually has a picture if you are replacing the whole door.
Security and warnings:
When you remove the entire part, make sure that you place them back in the same order that you removed them. Nothing is more frustrating than getting the doorknob in place only to find out it doesn’t lock or the handle has been put on upside down. If you run into problems, remember you have more doorknobs around the house so go take a look and make sure you have the correct set up.
If the mechanism or plate feels loose, replace the screws with longer ones or take some pieces of shim, cut a small piece and place it where there seems to be more space than there should be. You can usually move it around and see where it’s looser than necessary.
Go slowly; there are potentially lots of other parts that leave you looking at the door with a blank look on your face.
People often worry about their old knobs and want to replace them as soon possible. Some people will call a carpenter, while others will do it themselves. If you follow the above steps, you will be able to replace your doorknobs by yourself. However, you have to be a little alert while doing so.