How do you replace a door handle?

Door handle replacement, step by step

To replace a door handle or lever set, take off the old handles and latch, measure the door, then fit the new latch, spindle and handles and test them from both sides. These steps are practical advice for a standard internal door, not an agency rule. They work the same way for a door lever replacement or a door knob replacement.

1. Remove both handles. Unscrew the fixing screws on each side and lift both handles off the door, together with the spindle.
2. Take out the latch. Unscrew the faceplate on the edge of the door and slide the old latch out.
3. Measure the door. Note the door thickness, the latch backset (how far the handle hole sits from the door edge) and the positions of the screw holes.
4. Fit the new latch. Slide it into the door edge with the angled side facing the way the door closes, then screw the faceplate in place.
5. Fix the handles. Push the spindle through the latch and fix a handle on each side, tightening the screws evenly.
6. Test from both sides. With the door still open, turn each handle and check the latch moves freely. Then close the door and check the latch and any lock from both sides.

If you have not bought the new set yet, take the measurements first. If the new parts do not line up with the old holes, stop before you drill and ask a handyman.

Choosing a lever or knob that fits

The simplest swap is a set that matches what is already in the door. Where you can, choose one that lines up with the existing holes, so you do not have to drill a new hole.

Think about who will use the door. Levers are easier than knobs for children and older people to use. For a bathroom or toilet, choose a privacy set, which can be locked from the inside.

If the door also needs a lock, decide between a digital or mechanical lock first, then choose handles that suit it.

Main doors, gates and fire safety

HDB's building works guidelines say that replacing a main entrance door or frame along a fire escape route, meaning a door that opens onto a passageway such as a staircase or lift lobby, needs an HDB permit. The replacement must be half-hour fire-rated, the frame must have a self-closing device and the fire-rated door must have an accreditor's label. A main entrance door that is not fire-rated can be replaced without a permit. Replacing internal doors needs no permit, but HDB's conditions still apply, and a replacement main entrance metal gate must keep the same width, number of panels and swing. These rules apply if you are weighing up a fire-rated main door.

The same HDB guidelines cover digital locks. Under the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) requirement, homeowners who install a digital lockset may only choose one certified with a Certificate of Conformity to SS 332 or EN 1634-1, issued by a local Certification Body. Ask to see this certificate when you compare digital lock cost between companies.

HDB's gate and door guide describes the gate as a safety barrier and the main door as a fire safety barrier, and asks you to inspect both regularly. The door closer on fire-rated entrance doors is a self-closing safety device that must not be removed.

Stiff handles and loose doors

Before you replace a stiff handle, check the door itself. HDB's gate and door guide says a door that is hard to open or close often has loosened hinge screws, especially at the top hinge, so tighten them. HDB also advises oiling all locks, hinges and other mechanisms regularly. If a gate bolt will not slot into its hole because of wear or rubbish in the bolt hole, clear the hole, remove the dirt and lubricate it, or repair or replace the flush bolt.

A loose handle is a different job. Tighten the handle screws or the grub screw first, and replace the set if the spindle or latch is worn.

If the door still sticks after that, see the guide for a door jammed in its frame. For a gate lock that is worn or broken, see gate lock replacement.

What it costs to get it done

The table below lists published door and lock rates, each linked to its source.

FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY

Published door and lock rates

For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published door and lock rates from 4 companies run from S$50 to S$120 per job (middle rate S$60), for one door or lock. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.

See 5 published door and lock rates and sources

Lowest matching advertised rate per company, in SGD as published. "From" marks a starting price and ranges are shown in full. Check the source for minimums, GST and inclusions.

Company	Service as listed	Rate	Source
Handyman Service Hero	Lock repair	S$50 to S$120 per job	handymanservicehero.com
Repairhome.sg	Door handle repair (excluding lock)	S$60 per job	repairhome.sg
SG QuickFix	Door Repair	From S$60 per job	sgquickfix.com
Quick Repair SG	Digital lock / locksmith services, from	From S$80	quickrepair.sg
Wefix4U	Gate and door installation	From S$120 per job	wefix4u.sg

In the directory, 5 companies publish a door and lock line. Four price it per job, and their rates as printed run from S$50 to S$120 per job, with S$60 per job in the middle, a real published rate. One line is printed as door handle repair, excluding the lock, at S$60 per job. The fifth company prints a digital lock and locksmith line from S$80, printed without a unit. Each rate is printed for one door or lock, so check what it covers.

If the lock itself has failed, see door lock replacement. For work on the door, frame or windows, see door and window repair.

Questions