How to Replace Door Locks
Door locks are your primary line of defense against unauthorized access to your home. The signs of wear and tear and even instances such as moving into a new residence or break-ins, can necessitate the necessity of replacing your lock.
To begin, you must determine your cylinder size by measuring the distance between the adjustment screw and the middle of the cylinder knob. This measurement will allow you to buy the lock that is right for you.
Deadbolt
Installing a deadbolt is great way to secure your door against intruders. The bolt extends into the strike plate that is on the doorframe when it is locked, making it more difficult for a burglar to break in through the door. A single cylinder deadbolt can be activated using keys on the exterior side and a thumb turn device on the interior. A deadbolt will only work when it's properly installed however.
You will first need to determine whether the door already has an existing hole for a deadbolt or if you need to drill it out. Mark the location of the hole for the deadbolt on top of the door using the template that came with the lock installation set. Then, you can use your tape measure to determine how high the deadbolt needs to be. Mark this measurement on the door's edge. Use speedsquares to draw a straight line across the mark you made for the bolt hole.
Next, use a power drill to bore out this spot until the hole is on the other side of the door. This may take a while. Sand the hole and edge of the door to smooth it. It's also an excellent idea to paint or stain the door at this point.
Remove any visible screws from the deadbolt. This will reveal the back and front assemblies of the deadbolt as well as the internal bolt. Then, remove the bolt and replace it with a new one that matches your door hardware. The bolt is often connected to a setplate, which you will need to unscrew. Once this is done, you will need to chisel the area for the strike plate on the door frame.
If your strike plate isn't aligned properly It's likely that the previous installer didn't correctly mortise it or a weatherstripping was installed and changed the strike's position. To fix this issue, you will need to remortise both the strike plate as well as the deadbolt. Close and lock the deadbolt once you have completed this step. Test the deadbolt by closing it and locking it after the bolt has been extended into the strike plate.
Knob
It could make your business and home less secure when the door knob is damaged. It can also make opening and closing the door more difficult, so it's an ideal idea to replace it. It shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes. Use door lock repairs or pliers to remove any old knobs or handles. Be careful not to damage other parts of the door.
Spray WD-40, or another dry lubricant, onto the mechanism of your door knob before you begin. This will let the lock to move effortlessly as you turn it. To ensure that it operates properly it is essential to select the knob and handle that match your existing doors. If you don't have a match, you'll need to buy an additional doorknob and latch plate.
To begin the replacement process, examine the old knob or handle to determine what screws are holding it in place. If there aren't any screws you can use a screwdriver to wedge between the cover plate and the plate with hidden screws and remove it.
After you have removed the knob examine it for indications of damage and rust. It's important to clean it off if you notice any scratches or dents however you don't need to do anything major if the knob is in good shape.
Install the new knob. You should first examine the two knobs to make sure that you've selected the correct one for your door. You should select one with an extended rod that's designed to lock into the second knob's rod mechanism. After you've placed the new knob in the door's hole, carefully place it in the latch.
Thread the latch plate screws downwards, then test the spring by pressing down several times. The latch should rise each time. Next, install the other new knob and interlock it with the rod mechanism of the first knob. Thread the long screws of the interior doorknob into the cylinder holes on the exterior knob, and fix it in its place.
Latch
A latch is a piece metal that extends into the doorjamb to secure it closed. It is operated by a knob or handle on the inside of the door or by a thumb turn on the outside side of the door. A latch can be secured with deadbolts to prevent intrusions from piercing the glass of the door. It also helps protect against accidental or intentional closing by children or animals. A latch can be installed with one cylinder deadbolt or double cylinder deadbolts, depending on the security level you prefer.
Installing a deadbolt is exactly the same as installing a latch but there are some differences. First, you must measure the setback of the doorjamb using a tape measure to make sure that the new lock will fit. The setback is the distance between the edge of the doorjamb to the center of the hole to accommodate the faceplate for the latch. A typical setback is 2 3/8 to 2 3/4 inches. If you have a larger setback, you may need to purchase a larger latch at a hardware store or locksmith.
Then, make a hole for a latch plate in the doorjamb's edge. Utilize a chisel to make the mortise for the latch. Make sure the depth is sufficient for the faceplate to be in line with the doorjamb. Place the strike plate in the correct position to ensure it is positioned correctly.
If the strike is set too high, the door may be pushed in or pressure imposed on it with a crowbar or tire iron. This could cause the doorjamb's to crack. This can be corrected by drilling a new hole in the doorjamb and then cutting the core from the previous one.
The last step is to mount the new strike plate which is done by screwing it in place over the existing screw holes. Utilize wood putty to fill in any existing bolt holes or screw holes which aren't going to be used. When the putty is dry, sand it smooth for a professional finish.
Strike
The metal piece that engages the latch and deadbolt when the door is closed is an electric strike. It is a crucial component of the security of a lock, because it keeps the door shut and offers additional resistance to force or kicking applied to the door. If a door is equipped with an electronic strike, it will be opened only by an entry key and a control unit that regulates the electrical impulses.
Traditionally, installing an electric strike involved cutting a small portion of the doorjamb to remotely release the latchbolt of a cylindrical lock from the pocket of the strike. This is an issue when it comes to the appearance of an opening as well as exposing the keeper mechanism and latchbolt to any unauthorised users.
Recently, several electric strikes manufacturers have developed a "No Cut" kind of strike that does not require a cutout to operate. These strikes utilize a special design to allow the latchbolt and keeper to slide into the strike pocket without damaging the faceplate of the doorjamb.
The strike has an internal ramp which lifts the latchbolt as well as the keeper when it receives a signal from the reader. The retracting of the keeper as well as latchbolt raises them on the ramp, locking the door. When the door is closed the deadbolt remains in retracted and the latchbolt retracts into the keeper.
Installing an electric strike can be an easy process, particularly when you are replacing a strike on an existing door. If, however, you are upgrading to an electric strike for an access control system, you'll be required to ensure that the new system is compatible with the model of lock you have installed. Also, you must make sure that the strike is properly wired to your access control system and that it is set up for fail-safe operation.
One way to safeguard against intrusions by thieves is to upgrade the strike on your doors to a heavy-duty strike plate. These plates use up to six screws of three inches instead of two screws of three-fourths inch. These longer screws make it more difficult for anyone to break the frame and then reach inside to turn the thumb turn piece of a single cylinder deadbolt.