Workshop
Ask a question

The Bunnings Workshop community can help with your home improvement projects.

Changing door handles

rachwhit
Finding My Feet

Changing door handles

Hello, please can someone help me. I am wanting to change these oval door handles to a more modern handle. The new handle

domes below the old screw hole. I have tried to fill, sand and re-paint but I can’t get a nice finish. Has anyone got any tips on how to get a nice finish? Maybe I’m not filing enough and am using the wrong paint to touch up? Any help would be amazing as I have about 20 handles to change. Thanks in advance. 

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

JacobZ
Bunnings Team Member
Bunnings Team Member

Re: Changing door handles

Hi @rachwhit,

 

Thank you for reaching out for assistance with your door handle replacement project.

 

What type of paint are you using? How many coats did you apply? Did you use a primer? 

 

The filler itself looks fine; the issue seems to be with the paint coverage and how it is blending in with the existing paint. Unfortunately, it can be tough to blend new paint with old because there will be no transition between materials when they are all applied together, whereas when you are painting over old paint, there will always be a transition. You can, however, blend it in a bit better by preparing the wider area and using the right materials. Patching will often blend in better if you go wider than you'd think, so you'll want to sand, prime and paint an area around 150mm or so in diameter around the handle. 

 

My advice would be to give the area around the handle a sand with some 180 Grit Sandpaper to smooth things out, then apply a primer and two coats of enamel paint in the same colour and sheen level as the existing paint.

 

Apply the primer and paint in very thin coats using a short-nap roller. Adding some Flood 1L Acrylic Paint Conditioner to your paint can also help to blend in edges.

 

I think the majority of the issue is down to the paint you've used and how many coats you've applied, but if you follow these steps, you should get a cleaner finish.

 

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Jacob

 

Why join the Bunnings Workshop community?

Workshop is a friendly place to learn, get ideas and find inspiration for your home improvement projects