I never knew door handles could be so confusing!

[SoMuchForSubtlety]

So we have a new house. Lovely. And we're redecorating. All very nice.

But now I have to choose interior door handles. I am baffled. I know what I want them to look like, that's not the problem.

What I can't figure out is the price point at which they become reasonable quality ie robust? And which ones are the reliable brands? In other words, how do I get to a price/quality point that makes sense and doesn't involve replacing cheap shite handles in a year or spending a fortune.

I'm also quite confused about how I choose a mortice to fit the door handle if the door handle has a lock in it as well - how do you find a mortice that has the lock and spindle the right distance apart?

Very puzzled, all help and advice welcome!

Look at IronmongeryDirect.

Boutique fashion dealers charge more.

All UK sashlocks have the same spacing keyhole:spindle, but backsets vary, which does not affect the lockset. Continental locks may be different.

If you want knobs instead of levers you will need a greater backset, at least three inches.

If you just want a latch with no lock, fit a tubular latch (there probably is one already as they are cheap and quick to fit).

If you mean, by a handle with a lock in it, an American-style knobset, they are not much good.

If you have an older house with horizontal mortice locks (knob and keyhole at same height) write again.

No it's not an older house. All of the existing doors have normal tubular latches in them but they're all brass and need to be replaced with something silver coloured (I can't handle the brass it's retro in a bad way!).

What I'm hoping to do is put in standard backplate lever handles in most doors and locking ones in the bathrooms. I'm not sure if I'm referring to an American style knobset? I mean one like the picture.

The problem is that I've bought a few and had to send them back as the quality is so bad. I don't want to spend a fortune but I also don't want wobbly door handles. So what's a reasonable price for a door handle that won't fall apart?

You need a bathroom sashlock.

Instead of a key, the lock is thrown by a square spindle operated by the thumbturn, with an emergency button on the outside.

Union 2226 is a sound one. You can use one on your bedroom too if you want.

Look for a bathroom handle set that you like the look of, then get other handles from the same range. Stainless, or brass, or chromed brass, are often better than aluminium. A brushed finish needs less polishing.

Changing a tubular latch is easy. Take out the old one and measure it precisely so the new one fits.

Carlisle is a good maker, but I've never bought bad handles. You can tell as soon as you pick them up. I think all the bad ones I've seen were aluminium or plastic.

That's very helpful! Thank you