What is a lever/lever handle?

A handle set comprising a lever on the inside and a lever on the outside.

What is a lever/pad handle?

A handle comprising a lever on the inside of the door and a compact pad on the outside.

Are the handles handed?

Most are not, they are universal so they can be set up on the door either way around with the screws still on the inside. Where you do have to select the handing of the handle; then viewed from the outside if the hinges are on the left side of the door the handle is left handed and vice-versa for right handed.

How do I remove the handle from the door?

It’s very simple.

With the door in the open position just unscrew the fixing screws that are located on the inside face of the back plate using a Philips screwdriver (in most cases there are two fixing screws but occasionally three). When releasing the screws be aware that the handle lever and plate on the outside will work loose so be prepared to hold things together with one hand! The levers will slide off the spindle (s) or can be pulled apart gently. Keep all the parts together and don’t let the door shut until you are ready to replace the handle unit.

Can the handles be used for aluminium or timber doors?

Yes they can. However, the locks must be of a similar nature to that found on a PVC-U door and the only other difference will be the door thickness. Provided you supply the door thickness correctly and check the positioning of the fixing and key-hole centres then there should be no problem.

Why doesn’t my new handle fit properly?

There are several key sizes that must be determined when changing your handles. You will need to re-check these from the ‘Suitability’ pages on this website.

The key sizes are the fixing centres, lever and key-hole dimensions and the thickness of the door. The latter establishes the length of spindle needed.

How important is it to get the sizes accurate?

Very.
There are several ways you could approach this and remember that it is millimetre (mm) measurements required:
Measure the basic centre positions while the handle is fixed to the door using a ruler or tape measure, or
Take the handle off and measure from behind the backplate, or
Take the handle off and draw around the backplate with a fine pencil on a piece of paper and measure it. 

My handle sags when fitted?

Many handles are supplied with a spring cassette that helps to bring the handle lever to a horizontal position. Ensure that if this cassette is made available with your handle that it is inserted correctly within the backplate. Some handles will not have a spring mechanism and will be sold as an unsprung handle (check product details before purchase). If this is the case you can only rely on the lock spring to hold the position of the handle correctly and this should be the case in the vast majority. If your lock mechanism is fairly old there is a chance that the spring may have deteriorated and when used with an unsprung handle you will remain with a sagging handle. The only solution is to purchase a sprung handle or to replace the lock.

Why are there two spindles within my handle?

These are most usually found on the front door handles and isolate the inside handle from the outside handle.

How do you measure the door thickness?

When the door is open measure from the inside face of the opening door to the outside. This is the distance between the handle on the inside and the handle on the outside measured in millimetres. This needs to be reasonably accurate (within 3mm say).

Can I change from a pad to a lever?

Yes you can but there are fewer options, if any, in some cases. Some pads have two spindles and therefore you will need a lever/lever off-set type.

Are there handles available with 3 fixing screws?

Yes. Primarily there are 3 fixing positions to further enhance the security of the door. The vast majority of handles have two fixing positions and therefore there will be a limited number of designs available with 3 fixing screws. Send an email with as many details of the hole positions as possible and we will do our best to find you a direct replacement.

Is there an extended lever version?

Extended handles are available at a special request. Send an email with as many details of the hole positions as possible and we will do our best to find you a direct replacement.

Why is a French door handle different?

French door handles will be sent as a complete set of two pairs. One handle will be used for the main door and this will have the key-hole lock. The other door known as the slave door will have no key hole and this will be the only difference when viewing the handles apart from any handed positions i.e. left or right handed. You can use standard Lever/Lever handles but you will have to accept that both backplates will have key-hole cut-outs.

What can I use to clean the handles?

Care should be applied when cleaning handles.

Door handles can often be cleaned with a soft dry cloth. If further cleaning is needed use a mild solution of warm, soapy water on a soft cloth and dry thoroughly afterwards.
To prolong the serviceable life of the handle, care must be taken not to scratch or damage the surfaces of the handle. Do not use wire wool or scouring agents.