A home needs to be safeguarded against intruders, creatures, and outside forces. Doors are a great way to make sure you feel secure when entering your home, yet they can’t be utilized properly unless the doorknob is functioning correctly. Once you have gone through the door, you can close it behind you for additional protection. No matter which kind of door you are trying to open, whether it is a bedroom door, a bathroom door, or an outdoor one, you will most likely find door knobs, door levers, or door handles which you can operate in order to unlock the inner latch and pull the door open.

There are numerous kinds of doorknobs accessible that come in a host of materials, designs, finishes, sizes, and lock sets. Understanding more about doorknobs is a great approach to be knowledgeable when selecting a doorknob for your house. Think about factors like security, whether it is for an indoor or outdoor door, and a lockset when reading through this extensive guide to assist you in understanding how to pick and put in a doorknob.

Before Replacing Your Doorknob

Doorknobs are relatively uncomplicated components, so when one is not functioning correctly, you may determine to get a new one quickly. Despite this, there are some uncomplicated self-fixes you can do to attempt to repair the problem before installing a new doorknob. Tightening the screws on the doorknob is the initial step to take. The screws normally located next to the knob can be tricky to get to without a screwdriver with a long shaft.

If the screws seem secure, but the doorknob is not functioning properly, take the knob off the door. Examine the screws to see if any are damaged, and change them out if need be. Check that the doorknob is in the correct position in the door. Put the doorknob back on by using the new screws and find out if it remedies the issue. If the problem continues, it would be wise to replace the door handle.

Buying Considerations for Doorknobs

Before making a selection of a fresh door handle for the sleeping area, restroom, or entry door, it is advisable to do some research on the types of materials used, styles of finish, lock sets, and the essential dimensions for finding a doorknob that fits your door.

Material and Finish

Although material and finish are not the top criteria to ponder on, you ought to spend some time considering which material and finish would fit in well with your home’s style. If you are changing the knob on a door, you could keep the same aesthetic that the other doorknobs have, or use this chance to try something different.

Door handles are usually constructed from metal, and can come in various finishes, including brass, matte black, rose gold, satin, nickel, pewter, chrome, bronze, and stainless steel. Opt for a glass or porcelain doorknob if you would like your door to have a more ornamental appearance that is different from traditional handles. Doorknobs made of ceramic or wood are a sensible selection for a countryside or cottage look.

Lockset

The lock set is the device used to pull back the latch of the door and secure it shut. Some of the most common types of door locks are passage, privacy, keyed entry, and dummy lock sets.

Passage knobs are frequently used for bedrooms, cupboards, and other inner doors. The user operates the door latch by turning it either left or right, which allows them to open the door; however, passage locksets do not have locks attached to them.

Privacy locksets, as with passage locksets, are commonly put on interior doors. A distinguishing feature of a privacy lockset is the presence of a push-button or turn-button lock on the interior side of the door, making them a good choice for use in bathrooms.

Exterior doors may be equipped with keyed entry locksets for the purpose of safeguarding the home from outside threats. This lock on the handle of the door can be used both inside and out, with a key. In most cases, you will need to open the outer lock with a key. However, the inside portion of the lock is generally opened with a simple turn dial or a lever.

Dummy locksets are only doorknobs in appearance. They do not rotate, lack a latch system, and are not able to be secured. These locks are frequently used on doors that can be folded back, such as for closets that contain bedding, in laundry areas, or for mop and broom storage.

Measurements

It is imperative to measure your existing door precisely in order to guarantee the new doorknob will fit correctly. You will have to measure the gap in the door frame, the hole in the door and the width of the door prior to purchasing a new doorknob.

The dimension from the outer edge of the door to the middle of the doorknob is known as the backset. In the majority of situations, the backset is either 2 3/8 inches or 2 3/4 inches.

The primary aperture in the face of the door, in which the handle and locking hardware is put in place, is the cross bore. Take a tape measure and measure the size of the circular opening at the maximum width to determine the diameter of the through hole. The standard size for the cross bore is 2 1/8 inches.

Determining the width of the door is quite effortless by taking a measurement from the outside of the door on the right side to the outside of the door on the left side. The size of a door usually ranges from 1 1/4 inches to 2 inches in width (although it can be up to 3 inches). This depends on where the door is located and whether it is being used for interior or exterior purposes.

Doorknob Styles

Once you have acquired the measurements of the door and know the type of lock that fits it, take some time to pick out a door handle that works with the home’s design.

  • Rustic: A rustic doorknob is a great option for a country, farmhouse, or ranch aesthetic. These doorknobs can be made of wood, glass, or metal with a brass or bronze finish, giving the home a charming natural appeal.
  • Classic: The classic doorknob style is easy to recognize with a round or sphere shape and a basic metal construction. While classic doorknobs can be found in a wide range of colors, it’s more common to see plain chrome, brass, or stainless steel finishes.
  • Antique: Adding an antique doorknob to the home immediately draws attention from guests because these products typically have ornate designs with an aged appearance. Antique doorknobs can be wooden, porcelain, glass, ceramic, or metal with a faded or worn finish. Keep in mind that you don’t actually need to find a true antique. Many new doorknobs are made with an antique style, so you won’t be sacrificing functionality for appearance.
  • Modern: The sleek, clean design of modern doorknobs is common in office environments, restaurants, and commercial business because they typically have a neutral color palette and a simple design that blends well with the professional aesthetic.
  • Cost: Adding a new doorknob to the home isn’t typically an expensive renovation or repair project. These simple mechanisms that are necessary for home security can be purchased at home improvement stores for less than $20 or found online for as little as $5. However, if you are looking for a high end glass doorknob or a state-of-the-art electronic keyed entry doorknob, then the cost can increase significantly.

For certain highly-priced items, the price of just one doorknob can be in excess of $500, while the majority of goods are not that costly. The cost of a new doorknob can range from approximately ten to one hundred dollars, depending on the type chosen. Basic doorknobs, such as dummy locks or passage locksets, are typically less expensive than those with locking mechanisms.

Steps to Install a Doorknob

These are the instructions for fitting the most commonly used kind of door knob. I understand, though, that there is a wide range of differences between brands. Therefore, I am attaching a few of the most frequently occurring forms.

But, please read through the standard instructions first. Make the necessary modifications required for your specific knob set. Understanding the basics is invaluable.

Tools Required

  • drill driver
  • 2 1/8” hole bit – I really love the Dewalt installation kit (which has everything that you need for both knobs and deadbolts. It makes it easy to quickly drill out the holes without needing to take measurements. It helps eliminate mistakes. However, if you trust your abilities to measure and drill accurately, you can always purchase just the bit).
  • 1” drill bit – If you are buying the kit, it comes with this bit. But if you just need to find a good bit in this size, I prefer to use this paddle bit.
  • chisel – If you are looking for a good set of chisels for general use, t his set is great . It comes with a sharp enough edge to do door work and is perfect if you want to expand to using these for carpentry work.
  • square or measuring tape
  • pencil

Determine Doorknob Height

Once you are sure the door functions correctly, your next move should be deciding where you want to install the doorknob. There are several options to consider. Some may require a bit of thought.

The position of doorknobs should be located between 34 and 48 inches from the ground. The standard height is 36 inches. In many cases, this is the best spot to put your knob. In certain situations, 36 inches may not be the most suitable choice.

Determine Doorknob Set Back

The majority of knobs offer the option between a 2 3/8 inch or 2 3/4 inch distance from the wall. You can also easily get 5” setbacks quite readily. The majority of residential doors have a 2 3/8 inch offset. While the 2 3/4” is typical for commercial buildings. However, there are situations where these standards are ignored.

If you have already bought the necessary equipment, most of the choices will have already been made for you. Before you make a hardware purchase, it would be a good idea to consider several factors that could potentially affect the success of your hardware.

Mark Locations

  • After deciding on the knob location, you need to use a straight edge to mark that position on the door.
  • Measure up from the bottom of the door to the height that you want and draw a horizontal line at that point.
  • Using the horizontal line from above, measure across the width and make a vertical line at the location of the desired backset.
  • Repeat the above two steps for the edge of the door to mark the center point for the latch.

Drill Out Opening

Put the door hole bit on the exact middle point and use a drill to make a hole in the door. Be sure to keep your drilling motion straight at an angle of forty-five degrees. It is essential to keep the drill driver vertical and upright while doing this task.

Drill the Latch Hole

Employ a one-inch drill bit to bore a hole through the forward part of the door. This hole will connect with the hole that was drilled in the preceding step. Keep the drill driver at an upright and level angle of 45 degrees.

Consider drilling on the opposite side of the knob hole slightly for certain locks. Many times, these items are bigger than the required distance away from the property line, and require a deep space to be included in order to make them fit.

Recess the Latch Plate

  1. After the latch hole has been drilled, center the latch place over the opening. Then, trace around the latch place.
  2. Next, using a sharp chisel and hammer, score the outline around the traced lines. Then, working from the hole opening toward the scored lines, begin to carefully chisel a thin layer of the wood material away.
  3. Test, the fit of the latch plate. Remove more wood as needed but be careful to not remove too much.

If you are not familiar with using a chisel, try out the tool on a piece of scrap wood first so that you can make a determination of the amount of force necessary to chip away the wood in layers. Advise caution when using the door so that you don’t put too much pressure on it.

Assemble the Knob

  1. Insert the door latch through the edge of the door. Make sure that you have the latch properly set to your desired backset (for sets that have multiple options).
  2. Insert the interior part of the knob (spindle and screw housings) through the inside of the door.
  3. Slide the exterior part of the knob over the spindle and screw housing and insert the screws. Tighten down the screws until the knob is snug.

What If I Don’t Have a Door Hole Bit?

If only one knob is being installed and you don’t want to purchase a specific tool for the job, it is possible to get creative. I don’t advise that this is done often, but it is possible to utilize the components you have on hand if you are in a tight spot.

Make marks and bore openings that are bigger than the openings for the bolts and screws on the door, then put them in. Remember to be very precise with where you put things. There is absolutely no margin for error with this approach.

Position the Strike Plate

Once the door handle is put up and you have tested to confirm that it works properly, pull the door shut until the door snap is just slightly touching the door frame.

Take a pencil and make a mark at the spot where the middle of the latch meets the jamb. Position the strike plate on the door jamb with the middle point of the opening in line with the marking.

Outline the external and internal borders of the strikeplate.

Employ the 1-inch drill bit to bore away as much as you can of the area outlined.

Employ the chisel to cut away material in the traced region still left and to clear away the hole.

Examine the strike plate to ensure that it is flush and properly set in place. Then attach it in place with the screws.

Jonathan
Author: Jonathan