Door Handles For Interior Doors: Varieties And Characteristics, Pros And Cons, And How To Install Correctly

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Types and installation of handles for interior doors

The handle is an integral part of any door. For interior linens, the choice of handles is especially wide, while they differ in their internal structure, opening method and other parameters. Therefore, it is important to know the features of the main types and the rules for installing this type of hardware on doors of different designs.

Content

• 1 Handles for interior doors: types and features

  • 1.1 Design options

    • 1.1.1 Stationary models
    • 1.1.2 Lever handles for interior doors
    • 1.1.3 Knobs
    • 1.1.4 Door handles with lock or latch
    • 1.1.5 Door handles with magnetic lock
    • 1.1.6 Handles for sliding doors
  • 1.2 Materials used

• 2 Mounting handles on different types of doors

  • 2.1 Required tools

  • 2.2 Features of installing handles on wooden doors

    2.2.1 Video: installing the lock and handle on the door

  • 2.3 Installing the handle on glass or plastic doors

    • 2.3.1 Video: how to install a handle on a PVC door
    • 2.3.2 Video: mounting the handle on a glass door

• 3 How to repair a doorknob

  • 3.1 Features of repair

    3.1.1 Video: Removing the door handle for repair or replacement

• 4 Reviews of door handles of different types

Interior door handles: types and features

For interior doors, it is important to select handles that match the overall style of interior decoration. They differ in shape, material of manufacture, construction, installation method and other parameters. The optimal model is determined depending on the door option.

The ease of use of the door leaf depends on the quality of the handles.

When choosing, you need to take into account:

• product material;
• dimensions and installation method;
• build quality;
• design, color and shape of the handle.

Design options

Door handles can have a different design, with each option having its own area of application, depending on the type of door and the characteristics of its use.

Stationary models

Stationary handles are the simplest in design and easy to install. They are in the form of a bracket, the two ends of which are fixed on the door leaf. For this, there are holes into which screws are screwed. Stationary pens can be curved or straight, ornaments in the form of inserts, twisted decor details, engraving.

The stationary handles are simple in shape, comfortable, practical and very easy to install

The advantages of stationary handles:

• ease of installation and replacement;
• a variety of options from different materials;
• the ability to use in any interior style;
• low cost.

The disadvantage of stationary handles is the lack of a latch. A door with such a handle cannot be fixed when closed. If the canvas loses its vertical or is skewed, then the porch will not be dense.

Lever handles for interior doors

Handles with a movable handle and a latch are called push. Such models allow not only opening the door, but also fixing it in the box, preventing movement as a result of a draft or other impact. Lever handles are often equipped with a lock. The handle can be decorated with rhinestones, inserts, twisted details. In any case, the installation involves the creation of a hole in the canvas, where the central part of the mechanism is placed. Pads and handles are attached outside.

Door lever handles are often combined with a lock and have a latch

Positive features of lever handles:

• functionality - with their help you can not only open and close, but also fix the door;
• a large number of options and colors of products;
• versatility for doors made of different materials;
• practicality in operation;
• long service life.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting that high-quality pens are expensive, and cheap ones can break even with careful use. Therefore, it is important to choose the right product.

Knobs

Round doorknobs with a pin in the middle are called knobs. They can be made of wood, plastic, glass or metal. The simplest versions do not have a latch, while more complex models are equipped with a movable part. To open the door, turn the handle in a clockwise direction. In some models, a latch is installed on one of the handles that holds the latch in the closed position. On the other hand, they have a key cylinder or a screw for a flat screwdriver that allows you to forcibly unlock the lock. A hole in the canvas is required for mounting the knob.

Knob knobs often have a ball-shaped handle

Knobs have the following advantages:

• compact size;
• easy installation;
• affordable cost;
• convenient form.

Knobs with a latch are inconvenient to turn to open the door, especially if your hands are busy with something. High-quality products have a high cost, but they are distinguished by their durability and strength.

Door handles with lock or latch

Lever handles or knobs can be equipped with a latch or lock. The design assumes the presence of a core, handle and tongue. When the handle is turned, the tongue retracts inside the lock and allows the door to open, and in its normal position it is placed in the cavity created in the door frame, as a result of which the canvas is fixed in the closed position. The latch can be supplemented with a lock. In this case, there is a key hole outside. Pens with a similar mechanism are made of metal and can be decorated with inserts, rhinestones and other elements.

The lock is closed from the outside with a key, and from the inside, usually with a twist lock

The advantages of handles equipped with a lock or latch are as follows:

• high functionality;
• ease of use, installation and dismantling;
• a large selection of shapes and sizes of handles, lock configurations.

When installing such a handle, it is important to ensure that the door and the frame are level. Otherwise, the latch or lock will not function, and the web may be damaged.

Door handles with magnetic lock

Internal doors in the room can be equipped with a magnetic type lock, which provides easy and convenient control of the curtain. The device is based on two permanent magnets, one of which is located on the strike plate, and the other is represented by a movable bolt and is located in the lock body. The mechanism is installed in a hole in the canvas, and the handles are attached from the outside. To open, turn the handle - the distance between the magnets increases, and the force of their attraction decreases.

For the interior door, you can use the handle with a magnetic lock

Pros of a handle with a magnetic lock:

• easy operation and reliable fixation;
• simple installation technology;
• variety of appearance.

The cost of quality models is quite high, which is important to consider when choosing products.

Sliding door handles

Sliding doors in the apartment can move along the walls or slide inside the box created in the wall. In any case, such doors require compact handles that do not impede door movement. The stationary cut-in handles can be mounted in the blade structure and are a plate with a recess in which the fingers are comfortably placed. To open the door, just pull the handle in the desired direction. There are also external stationary models that are simply screwed to the canvas.

The design of handles with a latch for sliding doors is practically the same as for swing doors. At the same time, the handle is very compact and can be folded.

Sliding door handles are compact

Pros of handles for sliding canvases:

• compactness;
• affordable price;
• the convenience of use;
• strength.

Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting that the small size of the handles often make it difficult to quickly open the door.

Materials used

The handles can be made from different materials. If the product is equipped with a moving mechanism, then it is always made of metal.

The following handle models are suitable for interior doors:

• metal - they can be chrome-plated, as well as made of brass, stainless steel and other metals. The handles can have any shape, but are often made in the form of an elongated tube, decorated with inserts of different materials or patterns, which is appropriate for both stationary and push models. In any case, metal products are distinguished by high strength, long service life, and a variety of options. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting that products from low-quality and cheap alloys quickly break down, as well as the possibility of abrasion of the outer decorative coating;

  

  Metal handles for interior doors are durable and long-lasting

• wooden - a stylish and convenient solution for an interior in any style. They can be made of pine, oak, birch and other wood, but the cost of the products depends on the type of material and its processing. The advantages of wooden handles are that they are more pleasant to the touch than metal ones, and are also beautiful in appearance and can be painted in any color. They are often decorated with metal plates and inserts. The negative quality of wooden products is low wear resistance, susceptibility to scratches and cracks, instability to moisture;

  

  Wood handles complement glass and wood doors well

• plastic - they often complement PVC doors. There are also models for other types of paintings. The color of the handles can imitate marble, stone and other natural materials. Their cost is low, but the service life does not differ in duration;

  

  Plastic door handles look stylish and fit different canvas

• glass - they are distinguished by an elegant look and look beautiful on any door. Most glass products are round. Fasteners of such handles are made of metal, and they are fixed with screws. The color of the products can be any.

  

  Glass handles are often round.

Installation of handles on doors of different types

The method of fastening the door handles depends on the material of the door leaf. In any case, it is necessary to determine the height of the handle. A distance of 1 m from the floor is considered standard. In this case, it is worth considering the growth of users and the location of the handles on other doors in the room. Therefore, deviations of about 10 cm upward or downward from the indicated value are permissible.

Required tools

To install different types of door handles you will need:

• simple pencil, square;
• drill, screwdriver;
• drills, screws, crown;
• building level, tape measure.

All cutting tools must be sharp. This is necessary to obtain even holes.

Features of installing handles on wooden doors

The technology for attaching lever and rotary handles to wooden leaves and doors made of MDF or chipboard involves the following actions:

1. The door leaf is placed on a flat horizontal surface. The crown for the hole is selected depending on the size of the lock or latch core. It must be indicated on the packaging with fittings. Mark the places where holes are needed. Measure the required distance from the floor and draw a horizontal line on each side and end. In the middle of the end line, the location of the hole of the locking tongue is marked. On a line on each side, points are determined for installing the handle at a distance of 60 mm from the beginning of the door. The necessary holes are drilled.

   

   With a drill and a pen, they make grooves for a lock or latch

2. The core of the lock is installed in the hole. The patch attached to the end of the canvas is outlined with a pencil. A chisel is used to choose the structure of the canvas along the contour to a depth equal to the thickness of the lining. Then it is attached to the prepared place using screws. After that, the handle is installed.

   

   Many handle models are screwed

3. A counterplate is mounted on the box bar, having previously created an opening for the crossbar entry.

   

   Opposite the latch, mount the pad

Stationary products are fixed with screws or bolts. When attaching such elements, it is important to take into account the symmetry of their location, because on one and the other side of the door, the handles should be located the same.

Video: installing a lock and handle on a door

Installing the handle on glass or plastic doors

To mount the handles on PVC doors, you will need flat and Phillips screwdrivers, a marker and a drill, 4 and 8 mm drills. Next, you need to do the following:

1. The square long core of the new handles is inserted into the center hole in the door. On one side, the handle remains attached to the core, while the other is removed.

   

   The standard handle for PVC doors consists of two handles and a connecting rod

2. At the base of the handle, a thin plastic strip is removed, under which the holes for the screws are located. Fasteners are screwed into them.

   

   The plastic cover slides off easily

3. On the other side of the door, a handle is mounted on the core and fastened to the screws, and then the plugs are turned into place.

Using this technique, handles of various shapes can be mounted. For example, the staples are also fixed to screws.

Plastic door handles are attached with screws

Video: how to install a handle on a PVC door

Interior glass structures are supplied complete with hinges and other details, and therefore holes are already prepared on the canvas for installing the handle. Installation of such doors is carried out by professional craftsmen, since it is important to accurately and evenly place them in the opening. Door handles are bolted or pulled together to such panels.

Video: installing a handle on a glass door

How to repair a doorknob

Broken handles can sometimes be repaired by yourself. This will require the following materials and tools:

• screwdrivers, screwdriver and screws;
• means for lubricating the lock;
• rags;
• pliers;
• hex keys.

Repair features

Before carrying out work, you need to determine the type of breakdown. If the handle is broken off, it will need to be completely replaced. In other situations, you can take the following actions:

• if the lever handle with a latch or lock turns with difficulty, then it must be removed from the door by unscrewing the screws. The core is taken out, dust is removed, the parts are lubricated, eliminating the excess with a rag. After that, the mechanism is installed in place;
• when the handle is loose and loose, tighten the bolts and screws of the fasteners. Unscrew the lining, tighten all the fasteners and mount the decor in place;
• if the handle falls out, you need to remove the decorative cover, unscrew the screws fixing the mechanism, remove and inspect the retaining ring. If it is bent, then it should be replaced;
• when the tongue does not move, a longer square can be installed. This is usually called the rod connecting the handles, because it has a square cross section. For replacement, it is enough to remove the handle on one side, pull out the old square and put a new one;
• if the lever does not return to its original position, then the return spring may break. It should be replaced after removing the mechanism. If the spring breaks, the handle must be replaced completely.

Video: removing a door handle for repair or replacement

Reviews of door handles of different types

You can choose, install and repair the door handle yourself. This requires a standard set of tools and a little skill and desire. Almost any home craftsman can handle such work.