Ten Replace Door Locks That Really Improve Your Life
How to Replace Door Locks
Door locks are the first line of defense against unauthorized entry into your home. Signs of wear and tear, and also instances like moving into a new residence or break-ins, can necessitate the necessity of replacing 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 allow you to buy the right lock.
Deadbolt
If you want to make sure your door is safe from intruders, it's a good idea to install a deadbolt. The bolt extends into the strike plate on the doorframe when locked, making it more difficult for a burglar to gain entry through the door. A single cylinder deadbolt can be activated with keys on the exterior side and a thumb turn part on the inside. Deadbolts are only effective when it's properly installed however.
First, you will need to determine if the door already has a hole for a deadbolt or if it requires drilling. Using the template that comes with the lock installation kit mark the location of the deadbolt hole on the door's surface. Then, you can use your tape measure to determine how high the deadbolt needs to be. Mark this measurement on the door's edge and use the speedsquare to draw a straightline across the mark that you made for the bolthole.
Then using the power drill, drill out the hole until it reaches the opposite side of the door. This may take a while. Then, sand the hole and the edges of the door until it's smooth. At this moment, it's a good idea also to paint or stain your door.
When the door is in place, remove any screws visible on the deadbolt. This will reveal the front and back assemblies of the deadbolt as well as the bolt inside. Then, unscrew the bolt and replace it with a new bolt that matches your door hardware. The bolt is typically connected to a setplate, which you will have to remove. After this, you'll need to chisel the area on the door frame to accommodate the strike plate.
If your strike plate is not aligned, it's likely because the previous installer didn't properly mortise it or a weatherstripping came along and changed the strike position. To correct this issue it is necessary to remortise the strike plate as well as the deadbolt. Once you have completed this, test the deadbolt by closing it and locking it. Test the deadbolt by closing it and locking it after the bolt has been extended into the strike plate.
Knob
It could make your home and business less secure when the door knob is damaged. It could make it difficult to open or close the door, so it's an ideal idea to replace the knob. It shouldn't take you longer than 30 minutes. Use pliers or a screwdriver to remove any old knobs or handles. Be cautious not to scratch other parts of the door.
Spray WD-40, or another dry lubricant, onto the mechanism of your door knob before you begin. This will help the new lock slide smoothly as you turn it. To ensure proper operation it is essential to select the right knob and handle to are compatible with your doors. If you don't have a matching knob then you'll have to purchase an additional doorknob and latch plate.
To begin the replacement process, first look at the knob or handle to see the screws that hold it in place. If there are no screws then you can use the screwdriver to secure the cover plate between the screws plate that is hidden.
After you've removed the old knob, examine it for signs of damage or rust. If the knob shows any dents or marks it's time to clean it. Otherwise it shouldn't require any major work.
Install the new knob. You should first examine the two knobs in order to make sure that you've selected the appropriate one for your door. You'll want to pick one with an extended rod designed to interlock with the rod mechanism of the second knob. Once you've positioned the new knob in the door's hole carefully slide it into the latch.
Test the spring by pressing down on it repeatedly. The latch should spring back up each time. Install the second knob and lock it to the rod mechanism of the first knob. Attach the other long screws from the knob's interior through the hole for the cylinder on the doorknob on the outside and secure it.
Latch
A latch is a piece of metal that extends through the door jamb to keep it closed. It is operated by a knob or handle on the interior side of the door or by a thumb turn on the outside side of the door. Repair My Windows And Doors can be secured by deadbolts to stop intruders from breaking in through the door's glass. It also protects against the accidental or deliberate closing of the door by pets or children. A latch can be set with single cylinder deadbolts or a double cylinder deadbolt, according to the security level you prefer.
Installing a latch involves the same steps similar to installing a deadbolt but there are a few differences. First, determine the setback of the doorjamb with an instrument to make sure the new lock will fit. The setback is the distance from the edge of the doorjamb to the center of the hole to accommodate the faceplate for the latch. A standard setback is 2 3/8 to 2 3/4 inches. If your setback is larger it is possible to purchase a latch that is longer from a locksmith or hardware store.
The next step is to drill an edge bore hole in the doorjamb to accommodate the latch plate. Utilize a chisel to make the mortise for the latch. Make sure the depth is enough to allow the faceplate to be flush with the doorjamb. Tape the strike plate in the correct position to ensure it is positioned correctly.
If the strike is too high, you can kick the door in or apply pressure using the tire iron or crowbar. This can also crack the doorjamb. To correct this, the strike can be reduced by drilling a second hole through the doorjamb, and then chiseling out the center of the hole that was previously drilled.
Installing the new strike plate is the last step. This can be accomplished by fixing the new plate to the existing screw holes. Use wood putty then to fill in any existing holes for screws or bolts that won't be used. Once the putty has dried, sand it to a smooth finish.
Strike
An electric strike is a metal piece where the deadbolt and latch engage when the door is shut. It is an essential component of the lock's overall safety because it prevents the door from opening and provides additional resistance to force or kicking. If a door has been equipped with an electric strike, it can be opened using keys or the control unit that governs the electrical impulses.
Traditionally, installing an electric strike meant cutting a section of the doorjamb in order to release the latchbolt of a circular lock from the pocket within the strike. This is an issue in regards to the aesthetics of an opening, and it also exposes the latchbolt and keeper mechanism to unauthorized users.
Recently, a number of electric strike makers have come up with a new type of electric strike dubbed the "No Cut" strike that doesn't need a cutout in the doorjamb to function. These strikes use a special design that allows the latchbolt and keeper to slide into the pocket without damaging the faceplate of the doorjamb.
The strike has an internal ramp which lifts the latchbolt and keeper when it receives the signal of the reader. The keeper and latchbolt are pushed higher up the ramp by the retraction. When the door is closed, the deadbolt remains retracted, and the latchbolt retracts into the keeper.
Installing an electric strike can be a simple process, especially when you are replacing an existing strike door. If you are upgrading an existing access control system to an electric strike, it is important to ensure that the new system is compatible. Also, you must make sure that the strike is properly connected to your access-control system and is set up to function in a fail-safe manner.
Upgrade your strike plates to heavy duty strike plates to block the entry of unauthorized persons. The plates utilize four to six three-inch screws instead of the two three-fourth inch screws typically employed in regular strikes. The longer screws make it difficult for people to break the frame and then reach inside to turn the thumb turn part of a single deadbolt cylinder.