How to Install a Door Handle – Step-by-Step Guide

Installing a door handle is a job you can do yourself in 10–15 minutes, with no special tools.

What you need

• Phillips No. 2 screwdriver
• 2.5 mm Allen (hex) key – usually included in the pack
• Ruler or caliper

Step 1 – Remove the old handle

1. Find the small grub screw on the rosette (on the side or on the inner face)
2. Loosen it with the Allen key
3. Pull the handle off the spindle
4. Unscrew the rosette (2 screws) and remove it
5. Repeat on the other side and take out the square spindle

Step 2 – Check the dimensions

The new spindle should protrude 5–8 mm beyond the total thickness of the door. If it is too long, you can cut it with a hacksaw.

Step 3 – Fit the rosette

1. Position the rosette in the recess of the door
2. Fit the 2 screws – do not tighten fully, leave some play for alignment

Step 4 – Insert the spindle and fit the handle

1. Insert the square spindle through the opening in the lock
2. Slide the handle onto the spindle
3. Press it home until it reaches the rosette
4. Tighten the Allen locking screw

Step 5 – The other side

1. Position the rosette on the other side
2. Slide the handle onto the spindle
3. Align both handles so they are parallel
4. Tighten the Allen screw and the rosette screws on both sides

Final check

• Does the handle go down and return to horizontal on its own? OK
• Does the latch slide in and out smoothly? OK
• Is the rosette firm, with no play? OK

Common mistakes to avoid

• Over-tightening the Allen screw can jam the handle
• A spindle that is too short means the handle does not engage the mechanism properly
• Forgetting to align the handles before the final tightening

Any technical questions? Contact us – the LC Design team responds quickly.

Order your handle

Tools and materials required

You will need: Phillips PH2 and flat-head screwdrivers (some Enger handles use Torx screws — check the box); a metal ruler to measure the centre distance and check alignment; a pencil and an 8 mm wood drill bit (only needed for a new door without pre-drilled holes). Check the contents of the box: 2 handles, front and back rosettes, spindle, long fixing screws, rosette screws.

Preparation — what to check before you start

Check compatibility: the PZ centre distance must be the standard 72 mm; the locking type must match the lock (OB without cylinder, PZ with key, WC for bathrooms with a turn button, BB with an inner turn); the door thickness — the standard spindle supplied is 80 mm, suitable for doors up to 45 mm; lever handles on rosettes are universal left/right.

Fitting the rosette and the cylinder

Step 1 — Remove the old handle: locate the fixing screws (they may be visible or hidden under a decorative cover on the rosette). Unscrew the long screws that pass through the door, then pull the handles off. Step 2 — Remove the old cylinder: unscrew the fixing screw on the lock faceplate (the screw visible on the edge of the door). Insert the key and turn it about 30 degrees so the cylinder can be extracted. Step 3 — Insert the new cylinder: with the cam slot aligned with the seat in the lock. Secure it with the fixing screw on the faceplate. Do not over-tighten — the cylinder must turn freely. Step 4 — Position the front rosette: aligning its holes with the existing ones. A SLIM rosette sits directly on the door surface, without spacers.

Fitting the handle

Step 5 — Insert the spindle through the door: the 8 mm square spindle passes through the central opening of the lock. Orient it correctly — some spindles have a locking recess on one face only. Step 6 — Fit the front handle: slide the front handle onto the spindle, align the fixing holes with those in the rosette, insert the long screws but do not tighten them fully. Step 7 — Fit the back rosette and handle: on the other side of the door, fit the back rosette, then the handle; align and insert the fixing screws. Step 8 — Tighten the screws gradually: alternating front and back, a little at a time, so the rosette stays flat against the door. Do not force them — SLIM rosettes are made of zinc or aluminium and can crack if over-tightened.

Adjustment and final check

• Test that the handle turns freely and springs back into position (the internal spring is working)
• Check that the latch extends and retracts fully when you operate the handle
• Test that the key works correctly in the cylinder on both sides
• Check that the rosette sits flat on the door, with no play or grinding
• Test with the door closed — the latch enters the strike plate correctly, without rubbing

Common problems and solutions