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There's no reason why you should have to call a handyman to replace an old or faulty doorknob. With the right tools and know-how, you can replace an interior doorknob yourself. To replace the knob, you'll need to remove the old doorknob and substitute it with a new one. If you follow the right steps and use the right tools, replacing an interior doorknob is a breeze.
Steps
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Remove the screws in the faceplate of the doorknob if they're visible. Traditional doorknobs will have two screws in the faceplate. Use a Phillips head screwdriver and turn the screws counterclockwise to loosen them. As the screws become loose, the knob should also become loose.
- Use a shorter screwdriver, so it doesn’t slip out and strip the screws.
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Insert a sharp object into the latch hole if there aren't visible screws. You should feel a small indentation or hole on the stem that’s attached to the knob. If the hole is round, push a paperclip or nail into the hole. If the hole is flat and thin, you can use a flathead screwdriver. Press on the hole to disengage the knob.Advertisement
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Pull the interior knob away from the door. Hold the door with one hand while you pull the knob away from the door. Continue to pull the knob until it detaches from the door. You may have to wiggle it back and forth if it’s stuck on the doorknob stem. [1] X Research source
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Pry off and unscrew the faceplate if it has one. Insert a flathead screwdriver into the indentation on the side of the faceplate and pry the faceplate from the door. This should reveal another set of screws. Turn the screws counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver to remove them. Removing these screws will detach the exterior knob from the door. [2] X Research source
- If there is no indentation in your faceplate, use a thinner tool like a knife to carefully pry the faceplate away from the door. Otherwise, grip the top and bottom of the faceplate and try to turn it counterclockwise. It should release and pull off immediately.
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Remove the knob on the outside of the door. Sometimes you can just pull the exterior doorknob out of the door and other times you’ll have to pry the faceplate from the door with a flathead screwdriver. Once loose, pull on the knob to remove it. [3] X Research source
- If the latch plate is covered in paint, remove it with a knife before trying again with your screwdriver.
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Unscrew the latch. There should be two screws near the bottom and top of the latch. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws. [4] X Research source
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Pull the latch out from the hole in the door. Use a flathead screwdriver to pry the latch plate from the side of the door, then pull out the entire latch. If done successfully, you should have totally removed the doorknob and all its components from the door.
- If the latch doesn’t have any screws, it may be a “knock-in” latch that’s just tightly secured in the door. Try to just pry it out with a knife or flathead screwdriver.
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Push the latch into the hole in the door. The latch bolt is the piece of the latch that goes into the door frame to close the door. One side of the latch bolt will be beveled while the other side will be flat. Insert the latch so that the flat side of the latch bolt is facing towards the inside of the room. This will ensure that you can lock the door from the inside. [5] X Research source
- Don’t force the latch into the hole. Make the hole larger until the latch fits inside easily.
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Line up the latch faceplate with the screw holes. Line up the holes in the door with the holes in the latch faceplate so that you can screw it in. If there is a latch indentation in your door, push the latch so that it fits into it. [6] X Research source
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Screw in the latch. Secure the latch plate to the door by tightening the screws above and below the latch. Use any existing screw holes to house your new screws. [7] X Research source
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Push the bars on the external knob through the holes in the latch. Your exterior doorknob should have three bars connected to the knob. These bars need to line up with the holes on the inside part of your latch. Line up the holes on the interior of the latch with the bars connected to your knob and push the knob through the holes. [8] X Research source
- The center bar will usually be square while the bars on each side of it will be round.
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Attach the faceplate to the other side of the door, if applicable. The faceplate is the part of the doorknob that runs flush against the door and connects the knob to the door. Line up the faceplate so that the holes in the plate are aligned with the holes in the exterior knob. Tighten the screws with a Phillips head screwdriver. Then, put the outer plate over the interior plate and tighten it to hide your screws. [9] X Research source
- Sometimes the faceplate is attached to the knob itself.
- Hold the faceplate as far back as you can so you can see where to start the screws.
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Connect the interior doorknob to the door if you don't have a faceplate. The bars from your exterior knob should poke out onto the other side of your door. Take your interior knob and align the holes in the knob with the bars on the exterior knob. Once you line them up, press the interior knob onto the bars until the knob runs flush with the door. [10] X Research source
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Screw the knob into the door. Thread the screws through the holes on the interior doorknob. Turn the screws clockwise with a screwdriver to drive them in. [11] X Research source
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Slide the new knob onto the stem if you have a faceplate. Your exterior knob should have a bar or stem that sticks out of the other side of the door. Align the hole in the interior knob and the stem on the exterior doorknob. Press on the knob to push the stem into the hole. You may have to rotate the knob left and right until it finally slides all the way down the stem and is locked into place. [12] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat 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 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.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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QuestionIs it better to remove the door before drilling a larger hole for the new door knob?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.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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QuestionHow do I gain access to the screws when none are visible?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.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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Things You’ll Need
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver
- Paperclip or nail
- Ruler or tape measure
Tips
- Keep a hammer and chisel handy since new door hardware may larger than your older ones.Thanks
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Warnings
- Make sure that the door is open while you replace the doorknob or you may lock yourself out.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6j_3s1yBhw&feature=youtu.be&t=2m48s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsemQ-MNmE&feature=youtu.be&t=20s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6j_3s1yBhw&feature=youtu.be&t=3m23s
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-a-doorknob/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjAn21prEJw&feature=youtu.be&t=10s
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-remove-a-doorknob/
- ↑ http://blog.homedepot.com/how-to-install-a-door-knob/
- ↑ http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/advice/how-to-change-a-doorknob/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg4dKFlmdB0&feature=youtu.be&t=2m34s
About This Article
Article Summary
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Replacing your interior doorknob is relatively easy and generally requires only a Philips head screwdriver. If the screws in the doorknob’s faceplate are visible, remove them with your screwdriver. If the screws aren’t visible, insert a sharp object, like a paperclip, into the latch hole on the doorknob’s stem. Once you’ve removed both doorknobs, unscrew the latch and slide it out of the door. Then, insert your new latch into the side of the door and screw in the faceplate. Finally, push the external knob through the holes in the latch, and screw both doorknobs into the door. For more tips, including how to enlarge the hold to fit your doorknob through, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My doorknob replacement package came with slightly clear instructions. Unfortunately, I don't know all the doorknob lingo, and the pictures they provided are confusing. So I came here. Just finished installing the knobs. Perfecto! Thank you, wikiHow!" ..." more
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"My doorknob replacement package came with slightly clear instructions. Unfortunately, I don't know all the doorknob lingo, and the pictures they provided are confusing. So I came here. Just finished installing the knobs. Perfecto! Thank you, wikiHow!"
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"Fixed my doorknob! The bolt was disconnected from the turning mechanism. The article showed me enough to be able to see the problem and fix it."
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"This is my first time replacing a doorknob. All the practical details will be of much help."
