How to Replace Door Locks

Your first protection is your door lock. It will prevent unauthorized entry to your home. The signs of wear and tear, and also instances like moving into a new residence or break-ins, can necessitate the need to replace door lock your lock.

You can determine the size of your cylinder by measuring the distance from the center of the knoblock cylinder to the adjustment screw. This measurement will enable you to purchase the appropriate lock.

Deadbolt

If you're looking to ensure that your door is secure from intruders, it's a good idea to install a deadbolt. The bolt extends into the strike plate that is on the doorframe when locked, making it more difficult for burglars to gain entry through the door. A single cylinder deadbolt is activated using keys on the exterior side and a thumb turn piece on the interior. A deadbolt will only work if it's installed correctly however.

First, you'll need to determine if the door has a hole to install deadbolts, or if it needs to be bored out. Utilizing the template included with your lock installation kit, mark the location of the hole for the deadbolt on the door's surface. Use your tape measure to determine the height of the deadbolt. Then, mark the height on the side of the door and use a speed square to draw an even line across the mark you made for the bolt hole.

Then, use a power drill to drill this spot until the hole is on the other side of the door. This may take some time. Then, sand down the hole and the edges of the door until it's smooth. It's also a good idea to stain or paint the door at this point.

Remove any screws that are visible from the deadbolt. This will reveal the front door lock replacement cost and rear assembly of the deadbolt and its internal bolt. Then unscrew the old bolt and replace it with a new one to match the door hardware. The bolt is usually attached to a set plate which you'll have to remove. After this is done, you will need to chisel the area for the strike plate that is on the door frame.

If your strike plate is out of alignment, it could be because the previous installer failed to mortise it correctly or a weatherstripping has changed the strike's location. To fix this problem, you will need to remortise the strike plate and the deadbolt. Once this is completed, test the deadbolt by closing it and locking it. Make sure the bolt extends into the strike plate, and then test the key to ensure it is able to open and close easily.

Knob

When a door knob is damaged it could make your home or business less secure. It can also make opening or closing the door more difficult, so it is an ideal idea to replace the knob. Replacing a knob is a relatively simple DIY project that shouldn't take less than 30 minutes to complete. You can use a screwdriver or pliers to remove the knob or handle, but be careful not to harm any of the other components on the door.

Spray WD-40, or another dry lubricant on the mechanism of your door knob prior to you begin. This will help the new lock to slide smoothly as you turn it. It's important to use the best knob and handle that match your current doors to ensure proper operation. If there's no match, you'll need to buy an additional doorknob and latch plate.

Before you begin replacing lock in upvc door the knob, take a look at the knob that was previously used to see what screws are that are holding it in place. If there aren't any screws to hold it in place, you can use a screwdriver to wedge the cover plate in between the screws plate hidden behind it.

After taking the knob off examine it for indications of damage and rust. You'll need to clean it off if you notice any scratches or replace Door lock marks however you don't need to do anything when the knob is in good condition.

It's time to install the new knob. Before you do that, look over the two new knobs to make sure that you're selecting the correct one for your door. You'll want to pick one with an extending rod that's designed to lock into the rod mechanism on the second knob. Once you've positioned the new knob over the hole in the door, carefully slide it into the latch.

Thread the latch plate screws down and test the spring by pressing down repeatedly. The latch should rise each time. Install the second knob and lock it to the rod mechanism of the first knob. Then, thread the other long screws from the knob's interior through the hole for the cylinder on the doorknob on the outside and lock it in place.

Latch

A latch is a steel piece that extends out into the doorjamb in order to hold it closed. The latch is operated either by a knob or handle located inside the door, or by a thumb-turn on the exterior. A latch can be secured using a deadbolt to keep thieves from breaking through the glass. It also offers protection from accidental or intentional closing of the door by pets or children. You can install a latch with either a single-cylinder or double-cylinder deadbolt depending on the level of security.

Installing a deadbolt is the same as installing a latch but there are some differences. First, measure the setback of the doorjamb with a tape measure to be sure that the new lock will fit. The setback is the distance from the edge of the doorjamb to the center of the hole for the faceplate of the latch. Setbacks for standard latches are 2 3/8 to 2. 3/4 inches. If you have a higher setback, you may need to purchase a larger latch at a hardware store or locksmith.

Then, make a hole for the latch plate in the edge of the doorjamb. Use a chisel for chiseling out the mortise of the latch, making sure it's deep enough to allow the faceplate of the new latch to sit close to the doorjamb. Tape the strikeplate in place to ensure it's placed properly.

If the strike is set too high, the door may be pushed into or pressure applied to it using a crowbar or tire iron. This can cause cracks to the doorjamb. To fix this, the strike can be lowered by drilling a new hole in the doorjamb and cutting out the core of the old hole.

The last step is to mount the new strike plate which can be accomplished by screwing it over the existing screw holes. Utilize wood putty to fill in any old screw holes or bolt holes that won't be used. After the putty is dry then sand it to a smooth finish.

Strike

The metal piece that engages the deadbolt and latch when the door is shut is an electric strike. It is an essential part of the lock's security because it prevents the door from opening and gives an additional level of resistance to force or kick. If a door has been equipped with an electric strike, it can be opened using keys or the control unit which controls the electrical impulses.

Traditionally the installation of an electric strike meant cutting out a portion of the doorjamb to release the latchbolt of a cylindrical lock from the pocket of the strike. This is an issue in terms of the appearance of openings and also exposes the keeper mechanism and latchbolt to any unauthorised users.

Recently, a number of electric strike manufacturers have developed a new type of electric strike, dubbed the "No Cut" strike that doesn't need a cutout in the doorjamb to operate. They use a specific design that allows the latchbolt and keeper to slide into the pocket without causing damage to the faceplate of the doorjamb.

The strike is fitted with an internal ramp which lifts the latchbolt and keeper when it receives a signal from an individual reader. The retracting of the keeper as well as latchbolt causes them to rise on the ramp, which replacement locks for patio doors the door. When the door is closed, the deadbolt stays extended and the latchbolt is retracted into the keeper.

Installing an electric strike is an easy task, especially when you are replacing an existing strike door. If you're planning to upgrade an access control system to an electric strike, it is important to ensure that the new system is compatible. You will also need to make sure that the strike is wired to your access control system and is designed to operate in a fail-safe manner.

One way to protect against access by unauthorized persons is to upgrade the strike on your doors to a heavy-duty strike plate. These plates can be fitted with up to six screws of three inches instead of the standard two screws of three-fourths inches. The longer screws make it harder for people to break the frame and then reach inside to turn the piece that turns the thumb of a single deadbolt cylinder.