How to Mount Antique Hardware on a Modern Door

Mounted antique door pull handles.

You find antique hardware on vintage doors, but you also may use antiques on modern doors for an authentic era look. Various antique hardware pieces, such as antique doorknobs, are made from brass, crystal or bronze. You can add them to a modern door if you take proper steps to ensure that you mount the antique hardware correctly and you don't break it while inserting. You can shop for antique hardware in antique shops, flea markets or garage sales.

Things You'll Need

• Conversion door set
• Rectangle back plate
• Round rosette
• Manual or electric screwdriver
• Door knob spindle
• Ruler
• Metal saw
• Nut and washer
• Drill bit
• Electric drill
• Skeleton key
• Solid brass door hinges
• Decorative door caps
• Deadbolt lock

Instructions

1. Use a conversion door set to mount antique hardware. Take a rectangle back plate, or round rosette, and install it into the door with a manual or electric screwdriver. Insert the doorknob spindle and twist the antique doorknob into the back plate once you attach it to the door.

2. Loosen the screw and remove the rod part from an antique doorknob at the base. Remove the original doorknob. Place the knob through the door and re-attach the antique doorknob parts. Make sure the doorknob covers the hole completely. Test to see if it turns properly.

3. Take vintage hardware and measure it with a ruler. Make sure to measure the opening or surface on the door where you will mount the hardware. Purchase new fittings to better cover any existing holes in the door if the hardware or back plate does not completely cover the hole. Cut the bolt in the door with a metal saw if necessary to fit with new hardware. Check to see if the knobs are even on both sides.

4. Install a knob to one side of a door with a nut and washer. Check that the washer is strong enough to anchor the bolt. Use a drill bit the same size as the bolt when making a hole in the door for knobs.

5. Attach antique brass hardware, such as antique entry handles, with attached back plates or keyholes, using an electric drill. If you don't find drill openings on flat antique hardware, such as keyholes, make four small drill holes in each of the four corners then attach securely to the door. Make sure the keyhole correlates with the bolt on the door and locks. Test the keyhole with the original key, or use a skeleton key to ensure that the lock works once you mount the keyhole plaque.

6. Use solid brass door hinges and decorative door caps to go on top of the hinges for an authentic old look if you can't find antique hinges. Replace antique hardware with reproduction antique hardware for an antique look, yet with all the modern conveniences--such as a deadbolt lock.

References

• HouseofAntiqueHardware: Door Set Hardware
• YouTube : Antique Door Hardware