Door reinforcement plate for loose door handle?

[smie]

Hi! I have an external back door that the handle latch is missing, and the handle is simply flopping out of the hole cut in the door. I dont know if I get a new door handle set like this, or this will it fit in the existing hole? I feel that the existing hole is a bit worn away. In this case could I use one of these square reinforcement plates or a round reinforcement plate? If so, how do you know that the knob size matches the plate size? Thanks so much for your help!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @smie,

If the existing hole is only a little worn, it usually will not cause any issues. Most new door handle sets have two through-screws that tighten the inside and outside handles together, clamping firmly onto the door, so a slightly enlarged or rough hole is not a problem as long as the handle’s cover plate fully hides it.

If the hole is quite damaged or has worn out to the point where the handle cannot sit securely, then a reinforcement plate is a good solution. You just need to match the plate to your door and handle. Check whether your existing hole is the standard 60 mm or 70 mm size, and make sure the reinforcement plate matches that. Also, make sure the backset of the plate suits your handle. Most modern handles have an adjustable backset, so you can generally make them work together without much trouble if the door is heavily worn. 

If you can post a picture of the cutout in the door, we'd be able to advise whether you can just replace the handle without the plate.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell