Replace a lever door handle on a rose

Swap your door's lever handles for a matching new set using the existing spindle and latch, screw by screw.

DH-01Buy a matching handle setMeasure the spindle hole in your existing latch — it should be 8mm square, the UK standard. Measure the backset (distance from the door edge to the centre of the spindle hole), usually 44mm or 57mm, and buy a set to match. If this door is a fire door (a flat entrance door or a door onto an escape route), it must keep certified fire door furniture — check the new handles carry the same fire rating as the ones you're removing.

RULES

1 each · Lever door handle set on rose

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1 each · Replacement 8mm spindle (if needed)

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KNOW THE RULES

Fire doors need certified, matching fire-rated hardware under Building Regulations Approved Document B. If in doubt whether your door is a fire door, don't swap the handles for uncertified ones.

DH-02Protect the door and set out your toolsLay the door open flat or close it fully so it doesn't swing while you work. Put down an old towel or dust sheet to catch small screws. Lay out a flathead and Pozidriv screwdriver — most handles use one or the other for the grub screw and fixing screws.

1 each · Screwdriver set (flathead and Pozidriv)

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1 each · Old towel or dust sheet

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DH-03Remove the old lever handlesLook on the underside of each lever, near the rose, for a small grub screw. Loosen it a few turns with the correct screwdriver — you don't need to remove it fully. Slide the lever off the spindle; do this on both sides of the door.

DH-04Remove the old roseUndo the screws holding each rose plate to the door face — there are usually two, hidden under the rose or accessed once the lever is off. Lift the rose plates away from the door. Slide the spindle out of the latch and set it aside.

DH-05Check the spindle and latchWipe the latch mechanism clean and check the spindle isn't bent or worn where it meets the levers — replace it if it is. Push the latch bolt in and out by hand; if it feels stiff, spray a little lubricant into the latch case, not onto the door finish.

1 each · Silicone lubricant spray

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DH-06Fit the new roseFeed the spindle through the latch so it sits centred and turns freely. Hold the new rose plates over the existing screw holes on each side of the door and check they line up. Screw both roses into place, snug but not overtightened — overtightening can crack a thin veneer door face.

DH-07Fit the new lever handlesSlide each lever onto the spindle on both sides of the door. Line up the grub screw with the flat face of the spindle and tighten it firmly — this stops the lever from wobbling or dropping over time. Check both levers sit level and at the same height.

DH-08Test and adjustOpen and close the door several times, checking the latch engages the strike plate cleanly and the levers spring back on their own. If the latch doesn't catch properly, loosen the rose screws slightly and nudge the latch alignment before retightening. Oil the hinges too if the door has been sticking.

DH-09Tidy upCollect all old screws and the old handle set — scrap metal recycling points will usually take them. Wipe fingerprints and lubricant off the door and new handles. Put your screwdrivers away and check nothing was left on the floor that could be a trip hazard.

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