If you’re planning on making some changes to your home, you could be eager to carry out much of the work personally. While there may be bits and bobs that require the help of a professional, jobs such as installing door knobs can be done yourself.
The important thing to remember here is to take your time and follow the guidance you are given carefully. Rushed jobs can often lead to mistakes – and therefore extra costs in getting them fixed.
So, the first item on the agenda when it comes to installing your door knobs is simply choosing your new fittings. For example, if you select mortice door knobs, you may need to purchase a few accessories. If you plan you use this kind of door knob for your bathroom, for instance, you will need to buy a matching turn and release mechanism.
Meanwhile, if you are using them with a sash lock, you should invest in a keyhole cover to match.
There are many types of attractive fittings you can buy, such as chrome door knobs, which give a modern, polished look.
Once you have made your selection, you can start preparing your door. While most doors will already have the required holes for door knobs, this may not always be the case. In the event you have to drill these yourself, be aware that door knobs are usually found at 36 inches from the bottom of the door.
Having measured this distance carefully, you can then make a mark 2.6 inches from the face of the door. This will establish your backset measurement.
This point will become the hole through which your new door knob will fit – also known as the cross bore. Using a power drill, make a hole through the door at this marker.
For the next step, you will need to consult the individual instructions that have come alongside your new fixture. Using these, you can make a mark for the location of your latch – also known as the latch bore.
Once you have, drill this to connect with the cross bore. After this has been done, use a chisel to create room for the latch. This should be an approximately 2.25-inch long traced spot. When doing this, remember it should be centred on the latch bore.
This concludes your preparation, meaning you can move on to fitting your door knob. The strike plate can be screwed to the door first, after which you can secure the latch to the latch bore.
Then the spindle and body of the lock need to be run through the latch, before finally adding the last part of the door knob. Once this has been completed, you twist back the knobs on both sides of the door to ensure the latch retracts fully.
However, if you have purchased centre door knobs, you will find the process somewhat simpler. Sitting in the centre of doors, these kinds of knobs are for push and pull only, rather than twisting. This means you can simply affix them to the centre of the door to use straight away.
Whatever kind of door knobs you choose, make sure you follow the individual guidance given with each when installing them. Sticking closely to the instructions, carrying out careful measurements and taking your time should all help you to achieve excellent results.
