How to Replace Doorknobs on Escutcheon Plates

An escutcheon plate is a decorative metal plate that fits at the base of doorknobs to hide the hole that would otherwise be visible through the door. They are also functional because they block would-be drafts from flowing through the door as well. If you love your escutcheon plates but the doorknobs have become worn, the knobs can be replaced with a new set that have a similar style and color.

Tape measure
Small flat-head screwdriver
Replacement doorknob set

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the thickness of the door with a tape measure, so that you obtain a replacement knob set designed for that thickness.
- 2
  Put the key into the exterior doorknob, lock the door, and remove the key. This is a necessary step for some doorknob models, but not all.
- 3
  Locate the slot on the side of the interior doorknob's shank. Press the end of a small flat-head screwdriver into the slot, depressing the shank button inside it. Pull the interior doorknob off, leaving the escutcheon plate in place.
- 4
  Remove the knob from the opposite side of the door, pulling the barrel attached to the knob out of the door as well.
- 5
  Take the old doorknob set with you to obtain a replacement set and purchase new knobs that have the same size barrel; this guarantees that they will fit through the escutcheon plates already on the door.
- 6
  Slide the replacement doorknob that has the lock tube and barrel attached to it through the door hole. Guide the barrel through the hole, making sure that the hole on its side connects with the door latch correctly and that the barrel end protrudes from the other side of the door.
- 7
  Slide the second replacement doorknob onto the end of the barrel until the shank button catches onto the slot on the knob.

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