Replace A Broken Storm or Screen Door Handle

Upgrade or change storm or screen door handles

By the experts at The Family Handyman

From The Family Handyman

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Trade in the broken, shabby push-button handle on your screen or storm door for a shiny new easy-opening lever handle. Replacement handles will fit most aluminum, steel and some wood doors. The handles are available at hardware stores and home centers for under $20. We're using a Georgian brass-finish storm door latch (model No. VGL025-555 from Wright Products, 877-560-6100, www.wright-products.com).

You can swap out the handle in about ten minutes. Typically, two mounting screws hold the old handle together. Remove the screws and discard the old handle (Photo 1). You'll see three vertically spaced mounting holes in the screen door (wood doors may require different hardware). Measure the distance from the edge of the door to the center of one of these holes. This distance is called the backset (Photo 2). Buy a new handle with the same backset, or use the enclosed drilling template to relocate the 5/16-in. mounting screwholes. Assemble the outside lever components, insert the center spindle and install the new handle (Photos 2 and 3).

If the old strike plate isn't compatible with the new handle, remove it and install the new one that’s included in the handle kit (Photo 4).

1. Unscrew both interior latch-mounting screws, pull the interior and exterior handles apart and remove the center spindle. Discard the old handle.

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2. Assemble the new exterior handle according to the instructions on the packaging, and slide the spindle through the center hole.

3. Slide the interior latch over the protruding spindle, and screw together the interior and exterior handles with the two mounting screws.

4. Hold the new strike plate in place with the door closed (have a helper push it tight from the outside). Mark the center of the mounting slots for maximum adjustability. Drill 3/32-in. pilot holes in the door jamb and screw down the new strike plate. (Use enclosed shims, if necessary.)