Q&A for How to Replace an Interior Doorknob

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What can I check if the door knob seems to be frozen in the "lock" position and I can't unlock it? It is brand new, so I must be doing something wrong.

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Check and make sure the thumb latch is not turned. You might have to remove the handles and check the latch assembly is not stuck.

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Question

Is it better to remove the door before drilling a larger hole for the new door knob?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

It's okay to leave the door hanging while drilling a bigger hole. Try and open the door all the way up against the wall before starting to drill.

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Question

How do I gain access to the screws when none are visible?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

The screws for a handle maybe located underneath the face plate. You may have to remove the handle by depressing a little button. The face plate can be gently pried off then.

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Question

How do I turn the plate on an interior doorknob?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

The plates are never screwed down, so you should be able to gently twist the plate cover in place.

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Question

If the hole in the door is too small, how can I enlarge it?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

You will want to get someone to help you hold a solid piece of wood behind the hole. Get a drill and the right size drill bit. While your helper holds this block tightly against the door, you can begin to drill slowly.

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Question

The door jamb latch will not engage. I took off interior and exterior knobs. I cannot move latch. What should I do?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

The latch assembly usually has a little clip on the side, which may be stuck and needs to be freed. Also, check and make sure the spindle of the handle is inserted through the latch assembly correctly.

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Question

While trying to replace the door knob, I found that I can't get the old latch out. What can I do now?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

The latch is a complete system that is generally fastened at the latch opening. This is located on the edge of the door.

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Question

Why won't the latch bolt move in and out?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

It is most likely stuck because the handle spindle is not seated properly in the assembly.

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Question

How do I replace my interior doorknob if the one I tried to install didn't fit?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

There is an adjustment on the latch assembly that allows the backseat to be set. This might be why its not fitting. The backseat can be set to 2-3/8" or 2-3/4". Usually, interior handles are set to 2-3/8" and exterior handles set to 2-3/4".

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Question

Should my new door knobs always be in an unlocked position from inside the house?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

This is a personal preference if you want to lock the doors. There is always either a thumb latch you turn to lock or a button you depress to lock.

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Question

What can cause the locking mechanism to not work correctly?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Usually the latch assembly is where the holdup happens. Check and make sure the assembly is installed with the right side up. Check the latch assembly, because it will be marked where the top is.

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Question

What can I do if there are no screws on the doorknob?

Community Answer

If you mean on the knob plate (pic 3 above), it may just be clipped on, so pry it off with a flat screwdriver.

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Question

How do I get a screw out that won't come out?

Community Answer

Try to force oil down the screw from the sides and then give it a try. Sometimes it helps to give it a few nudges with a hammer too.

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Question

What can I do if I cannot open the door?

Community Answer

If the lock is jammed, try penetrating oil. If you've lost the key and can't get access to the screws, you'll have to drill it out.

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Question

How do I change only the interior handle?

Community Answer

If they line up, only do one of them. If not, then you're out of luck.

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Question

After installing the level handle, I can only pull the handle up to open the door. I want to be able to push the handle down to open the door. How can I fix this?

Community Answer

Check the package. There are left and right facing handles, and you might have purchased a knob that faces the wrong direction.

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Question

My knobs fall off after tightening the screws. What am I doing wrong?

Community Answer

Make sure that the screws are actually going into the screw holes on the opposite side of the doorknob. If the screws are just hanging in the holes, it won't hold up the knob. The baseplate and doorknob itself should feel firmly attached once you're done tightening the screws.

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Question

How do I stop a door knob from spinning when it's loose?

Community Answer

Check the back of the doorknob, where it's closet to the door, look all around until you see doorknob hole with a flat head or Allen screw in it, then tighten it with a small screwdriver or even a butter knife.

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Question

How do I take the handle off a door without any screws?

Community Answer

If there aren't any screws there will be a clip that will pull out with needle nose pliers. If there isn't a clip than there will be a small hole you insert a sharp object into that releases a latch to remove the doorknob.

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Question

How do I screw knobs so they are level on the inside and outside?

Community Answer

Measure from the bottom up and make a mark so you know where the screw should go, then do the same on the other side.

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