How easy (or hard) is it to swap out a doorknob? (interior doors) (installation, bathroom)
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I am not too handy, so before I start taking things apart, I thought that I would ask about this project.
I bought a couple of new doorknobs for the closet, bathroom and door to the basement of my first floor. I can use a drill and have done a few simple projects around my house such as, installed a couple of utility shelves, installed towel rack, TP holder, etc. How hard is it to replace doorknobs? I am trying to psych myself up to get started.
Umm, not hard at all, especially if you're not changing the mechanism.
Look behind the knob on the shaft behind it. You'll see a set screw. Unscrew it, take the knob off the shaft going through the door, put on the new knob, tighten the set screw.
Well, there are several Different kinds of door hardware, but all of them are a 1 on a scale to 10 for doing a swap (assuming you've bought the same Size and Offset). Okay, maybe a mortise lockset is a 2...
My current handles simply have 2 screws that hold the handles together, unscrew those 2 screws and the 2 halves (handles) pull apart and are off the door. 2 more screws to remove the latch, which pulls straight out, and 2 more for the strike-plate on the door frame. Installation is the reverse of removal.
I've not seen one in awhile, but some door handles have a slot where you need to push in a catch while pulling on the handle, then a cover comes off to reveal the screws. The slot is always on the bottom. Some may have a set screw that needs to be loosened before sliding the handle off, or maybe unscrewing like for a mortise type handle (think glass knobs).
If you can't see how it comes apart, take a couple photos.
I am not too handy, so before I start taking things apart, I thought that I would ask about this project.
I bought a couple of new doorknobs for the closet, bathroom and door to the basement of my first floor. I can use a drill and have done a few simple projects around my house such as, installed a couple of utility shelves, installed towel rack, TP holder, etc. How hard is it to replace doorknobs? I am trying to psych myself up to get started.
They are very easy to do, just make sure you get the right size for your door. It's mostly a matter of taking the old one out and putting the new one in and tightening a few screws, I replaced by front and back door deadbolts and it was easier than I expected. I'm really not that handy, but I try. The only thing I got wrong is that I put a long screw where I was supposed to put a short one the part opposite the strike plate that goes into the middle doorknob hole, but it didn't affect the mechanism so I kept it there.
Last edited by LifeIsGood01; 11-19-2016 at 09:53 AM..
Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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Pay attention to the tongue of the door latch. If you put that in backwards, it makes it difficult to open/close the door.
Also, make sure you don't close the door when the doorknob is off, if you've left the tongue in. If the tongue catches in the latch tongue plate, it can take a minute or two to get the door open.
I am the most un-handy person I've ever known. I've tried doing this several times & I have never been able to do it. EVER.
I really admire those of you that get it right.
I could do it if I had 4 hands.
I'd settle for three.
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