How to replace a storm door handle
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1. Remove old handle
Remove the old
storm-door handle by
unscrewing the two
screws that hold the
two halves together.
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2. Mark new hole locations
Mark the door for the
new hole locations using
the template provided
with the new door handle.
Position the template so
the new holes do not land
over the existing holes.
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3. Drill holes for new handle
Drill 1/8-in.
pilot holes
through the
door at the locations
you
marked with
the template.
Then enlarge
these holes to
5/16 in. by
drilling halfway
through the
door from both
sides with a
5/16-in. drill bit.
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4. Assemble the door handle
Assemble the
door handle
according to the
instructions.
Screw the two
halves together
with the machine
screws provided.
Start the screws
by hand to make
sure the threads
are aligned before
tightening them
with a screwdriver
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5. Attach the strike plate
Close the door and hold the strike
plate in position while you mark the
screw slots. Remove the plate and
drill 1/16-in. pilot holes in the center
of each slot mark. Use the plastic
shims provided to shim the plate if
necessary. Then screw it to the door
frame. Adjust the strike plate until
the door latches firmly,
then tighten the
screws.
Broken storm-door
handles are easy to replace if you
buy the same kind, but upgrading
to a top-quality brass handle as
we've done takes a little extra work.
At first glance, it appeared that this
handle would fit in the old holes. A
closer look at the instructions
revealed that the handle had to be
shifted slightly away from the edge
of the door. Rather than attempt to
enlarge the holes and risk a sloppy
fit, we moved the handle down
slightly and drilled new holes. The
manufacturer had anticipated this
problem and provided a cover
plate to conceal the old holes on
the inside of the door.
You'll need a drill with 1/8-in.
and 5/16-in. bits and a Phillips
screwdriver to complete this job.
We purchased the replacement
handle at a large home center for
about $24. There are a few different
styles available. You can even buy a
matching deadbolt if you like the
idea of locking your storm door.
