Choosing Handles for Your Internal Doors

The handles and hardware you choose for your internal doors can really change the look and feel of your home; they can give a minimalist twist to a traditional door, or make a plain door more interesting. There are hundreds of different styles and colours to choose from so there is bound to be something that you like, that you think would go with your current décor and will fit in with your lifestyle.

Different Types of Handles and Hardware

There are many different types of handles as well as hardware. From different materials, to different designs:

Brass Door Handles

Brass door handles are very durable, they resist damage that is made by the scratches and pressure that is put on them when the door is opened and closed. These door handles sparkle under the light which enhances the ambiance of any room. Brass door handles are now the most common door handle made. Brass door handles is used very commonly for contemporary homes designs, along with wooden door handles. These materials tend to mix well together within the home.

Chrome Door Handles

Chrome door handles are simply a metal door handle (sometimes plastic) that has a chrome surface. These handles will usually last you long and well, although, make sure to go for the high quality handles as the not so high quality handles may not do you so proud. Overall, if you have small children that enjoy getting messy, chrome door handles are probably not the right handles for your home. Although, chrome door handles are extremely popular for the modern side of home design.

Plastic Door Handles

Plastic door handles are usually external door covers and are not commonly used for indoor purposes, although they can be. They last well and are easy to clean, however they can be easily marked. For internal doors, and handles, a metal material is usually better off. If you have small children, plastic door handles may be helpful for you, they are easy to clean and generally don’t have any sharp edges or corners that could be dangerous.

Metal Door Handles

The most common metal door handles being brass door handles and stainless steel handles. Stainless steel handles have a great resistance to weathering, wearing and tend to stay rather clean and keep their colour for a long while. Metal door handles, overall tend to be the most durable over the other materials. Although, due to the usual sharp edges, can be dangerous when it’s level with the average 2 year’s old eyes.

Wood Door Handles

Wooden handles or knobs are very well used around the home, for things like wardrobes, bifold doors and often draws. They are quite commonly used for doors too, although not often noticed. There are lots of different designs and styles of wooden door handles, not all of the handles that are made look more like a knob either. Wooden door handles tend to be on the more inexpensive side too, and will last you well.

How to Fit a Door Handle

Switching up the handles on your door can create a totally different look for your home. Give it a go yourself with our handy step-by-step guide.

What You Need

Although fitting door hardware isn’t too big of a job, there are certainly lots of little bits and bobs to help you get the job completed quickly and efficiently.

• Chisel
• Rotary Tool
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Dustpan or Hoover
• Drill and bit
• Safety goggles
• Sharp pencil

1. The first thing you need to do when fitting a door handle, is to make a note of where the centre of the existing latch keep is on the face of the door.
2. Then with a tape measure, transfer this mark to the edge of the door and mark to the centre point.
3. Drill a hole into the door edge with the correct size of flat wood bit, making sure the hole is the right required depth for the lock or latch. When drilling, sawing or chiselling, make sure to wear some safety goggles.
4. Position the lock, or latch into the drilled hole and draw around the perimeter of the faceplate, then with a sharp 18 millimetre chisel, start making cuts around the pencil outlines you have previously made.
5. Make sure to be careful when chiselling in the same direction of the grain, gentle cuts will stop the grain splitting. Chisel out the wood to the requirements that are required for the faceplate for the lock or latch.
6. You then need to measure the distance from the latch or lock faceplate to the centre of the spindle hole. Carry this measurement to the face of the door, central to the hole you have drilled for the latch barrel. Then use this mark at the centre point, using the correct size wood flat bit, drill a neat hole through the door. You can then place the latch into position and drill the pilot holes for the latch plate and make sure to securely screw into place.
7. Now, it is time to place the handle onto the spindle. Hold the handle into place and then either drill the screws into the wood, or do it by hand with a screw driver. We suggest using the hand held screw driver as you have more control and it won’t be easy enough for it to slip.
8. After you’ve done the first side, test the handle is working correctly and do the same to the other side. Then you’re done!

Door handles can be rather difficult to choose and look more complicated than they are to fit. As long as you follow the guide above, you shouldn’t find it too difficult to fit your internal door handles.