How Do I Fix A Door Handle That Has Come Loose Due To A Loose Screw?

It is stating the obvious to say doors are an important feature of the home, but we do underestimate how much work they do for us and how often we use them. This of course also applies to the door handle. A main door into a kitchen or living room can be opened and closed several times every day, and you never think to look after or maintain a door handle, we expect this to be a functional element of the door that is robust and effective for many years, and in the most part it is. But the door handle undertakes a huge amount of use over the course of several years and therefore we should not be too surprised when it starts to show signs of wear and tear.

How does a door handle become damaged?

A door handle can become damaged in various different ways:

• The door handle fitted is actually unsuitable for the type of door and the amount of use the door gets, and therefore can’t withstand the constant use
• The door handle is knocked and is dislodged from its fixings, maybe by children playing or when vacuuming the house
• The screws used to fix the door handle are unsuitable and aren’t able to secure the door handle properly
• The screws are not fixed or located properly in the door handle
• The screws of the door handle have simply worked loose due to years of constant use

This last cause is really down to general wear and tear, and is actually very common. But however the door handle has come loose, it can start to damage the door if we leave it and continue to use the door as normal, so how do we go about fixing it?

How to fix loose screws on a door handle

• Are all the screws present? - When assessing a damaged door handle, it is worth first assessing how it has become damaged, and if this is due to loose screws you should try and establish whether all the screws are actually still in place. Sometimes a loose screw will fall out of the door handle mechanism and nobody notices. It could get kicked across the floor or it could get lodged down the side of a skirting board and lost in a carpet runner. Either way, we had no idea the loose screw had gone missing. So the first thing to do is check whether all the screws are present.
• Are all the screws located properly? – With the door handle still in situ, carefully check to see how the existing screws are fixed. If it is easy to spot which screw is loose, how is it located in the door handle? Sometimes the screw holes have become too big and so the screw will never grip tight enough. This will also be the case if you have used the wrong type or size of screw.
• Remove the door handle – Once you have established why the screws have worked loose, you should fully remove the door handle mechanism. This means the handle itself, the rose or backing plate and the latch plate.
• Check the parts for damage – You should now inspect all the component parts for mechanical damage. It is not possible to do this while the door handle is mounted, and it is possible that a damaged component has contributed to the screws working loose. Once you are satisfied the component parts are all OK, you can start to fix the problem.
• Have you got the right screws? – If you need to change the screws for a different size or type, now is the time to make that selection and drill new holes if necessary. If the previous holes have grown too big for the existing screws, you might not need to drill new holes, just select a slightly bigger screw, as long as the door handle plate can accommodate them.
• Fixing the holes – If the screw holes are too big it is unlikely you will be able to make completely new holes and still fit the door handle in the same location. So you need to fix the holes. A type of wood glue or wood filler should normally do the trick here. Some people try to wedge a matchstick in the hole to enable the existing screw to grip better in the bigger hole, but this is only really a temporary solution. It is much better to fill the hole, but you must be patient and wait for the wood glue or filler to properly set.
• Refit the screws – Once you are satisfied that the re-filled holes are properly set, you can put the door handle assembly back together and refit the screws. You should always check to see what you are fixing the screws into or you will end up with the same problem. But ordinarily, the screws should work back into the same holes and now have a better grip.

Contact MB Direct for any advice on the screws and fixings

If you have a problem with a loose door handle or you suspect you have used the wrong type of screw for your door handle assembly, contact our team at MB Direct and we can advise on the best screws and fixings to use from our range. So get in touch today.