14 Quick, Easy &
Inexpensive Ways to Improve You Home Inspection Report: Tip #7
Copyright
2007 by Tex-Pro Residential & Commercial Inspections
PH:
713.876.2298 www.texproinspections.com
Over time, frequent
use can loosen any door knob in your home. A simple turn of the
screwdriver can tighten up the screws holding the door knobs together
and that problem is solved. Unfortunately, there are times when a door
knob just
being loose is not the problem. Occasionally, the knob refuses to turn,
the bolt sticks, either open or closed, or
the pre-set screws
strip and
refuse to tighten. When these things happen, you are forced to replace
your defective door knob.
Replacing the knob is not difficult, but you may face a minor challenge or two. The hole for the knob and the bolt are already drilled through the door, and unless you are replacing some kind of specialty hardware, the sizes are standard, so that is not a worry. Decide on the type of knob; bedroom, bath, exterior door, locking, extra long bolt; and the finish; brass, silver, brushed, etc., and head for the hardware store.
Here you will find a wide array of knobs as well as prices to choose from. The higher priced is usually the sturdiest when it comes to door hardware, but for the light duty of a bedroom knob the least expensive can do the job equally well. This choice is entirely up to you and your taste and your budget.
Back at home, you will unscrew the 2 pre-set screws on the interior side of the door. The knobs will slide out of the door. Then loosen the two screws holding the bolt mechanism in place. The new bolt mechanism should slide right into the old ones place. Occasionally, you find that you have removed a bolt plate with rounded edges and the new bolt plate has square corners, You also find the notch cut out to recess this plate also has rounded corners and the new plate will not recess. If this occurs, use a sharp edged tool to carefully notch out the corners. A simple pocket knife, exacto knife, steak knife, wood chisel or even a flat head screw driver will suffice. You don't need to remove much wood, just enough so the plate will recess. THAT WAS CHALLENGE #1
Now you can insert the new bolt into the opening and use the new screws to hold it in place. CHALLENGE #2: Sometimes, the wood holding these screws is stripped out and the screws won't tighten. Don't panic! Find a toothpick and some wood glue. Push some glue into the opening and insert part of the toothpick, careful not to have any of the toothpick protruding beyond the edge of the opening. Now insert the screw and carefully tighten. Stop when the screw is flush with the plate and allow the glue to dry overnight before tightening any further. The toothpick will bond to the wood in the door and hold the screw in place. Finish by connecting the two knob halves and tightening the pre-set screws.
You are done and the door knob is once again in good working order.
Copyright 2007 by Tex-Pro Residential & Commercial Inspections PH: 713.876.2298 www.texproinspections.com