How to Replace Door Locks
Door locks are your primary security measure against unauthorized access to your home. Signs of wear and tear as well as instances like moving into a new home or burglaries, may trigger the need to replace 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 correct-sized lock.
Deadbolt
If you want to make sure your door is secure against intruders, it's a good idea to install deadbolts. When the bolt is extended into the strike plate of the doorframe, it makes it harder for an intruder to get through the door. A single cylinder deadbolt is activated by a key on the exterior side and a thumb turn piece on the interior. A deadbolt is only effective if it's installed correctly however.
First, you'll need to find out if the door has a hole to install deadbolts or has to be bored. Mark the location of the hole to install the deadbolt on the exterior of the door using the template included with your lock installation set. Then, use your tape measure to determine how high the deadbolt should be. Then, mark the height on the side of the door. Use a speed square to draw straight lines across the mark you made for the bolt hole.
Then, using an electric drill, bore out the hole until it reaches the opposite side of the door. It could take a few minutes. Sand the hole and the edge of the door to make it smooth. 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 rear and front assembly of the deadbolt, as well as its bolt inside. Then, remove the bolt and replace it with a new one that is compatible with the door hardware. You'll need to remove the bolt from a setplate. Once this is done, you will need to chisel out the area for the strike plate on the door frame.
If your strike plate is out of alignment It could be due to the previous installer didn't mortise it properly or that a weatherstripping has changed the strike's position. It is necessary to re-mortise the strike plate and perhaps even the deadbolt to fix this issue. Once this is completed check the deadbolt by closing it and locking it. Test the deadbolt by closing and locking it once the bolt has been extended into the strike plate.
Knob
It could make your home and business less secure If the knob on your door is damaged. It can also make opening and closing the door more difficult, which is why it is an ideal idea to replace it. Replacing knobs is an easy DIY task that should not take less than 30 minutes to complete. Use pliers or a screwdriver to remove any knobs or handles. Be cautious not to harm other parts of the door.
Spray WD-40 or another dry lubricant on the mechanism of your door knob before you begin. This will assist the new lock to slide smoothly when you turn it. To ensure that it operates properly it is essential to select the right knob and handle to are compatible with your doors. If there's no match then you'll have to purchase a replacement doorknob and latch plate.
Before you begin the replacement process, examine the old knob 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 hidden screws plate and then remove it.
After you've removed your old knob, examine it for signs of rust or damage. It's important to clean it off if there are any scratches or marks however you don't need to do anything when the knob is in good shape.
Install the new knob. It is important to first look over the two knobs in order to make sure that you've selected the correct one for your door. You'll need to select one with an extender rod that locks with the rod mechanism of the other knob. Once you've positioned the new knob over the hole in the door and then carefully slide it into the latch.
Test the spring by pressing it down repeatedly. The latch should then spring back up every time. Install the second knob, and lock it to the rod mechanism of the first knob. Thread in the other long screws from the knob's interior through the cylinder hole on the doorknob on the outside and lock it in place.
Latch
A latch is a piece of metal that extends into the door jamb to keep it closed. The latch can be operated by a handle or knob located inside the door, or by a thumb-turn on the exterior. Deadbolts can be used to secure a latch and keep intruders from breaking through the glass of the door. It can also guard against accidental or intentional closing by pets or children. A latch can be installed with single cylinder deadbolts or double cylinder deadbolts based on the level of security you prefer.
Installing a deadbolt is the same as installing a latch, however, there are some distinctions. First, determine the setback of the doorjamb using an instrument to make sure the new lock will fit. The setback is measured from the edge of doorjamb up to the middle of the hole for the latch plate. A typical setback is 2 3/8 to 2 3/4 inches. If you have a larger setback, you may have to purchase a more substantial latch from a hardware store or locksmith.
Then, you'll need to make a hole for the latch plate in the doorjamb's edge. Utilize a chisel to smooth out the mortise of the latch making sure it's large enough for the faceplate of the new latch to be close to the doorjamb. Tape the strikeplate to the doorjamb to ensure it is positioned properly.
If the strike is set too high, the door could be pushed into or pressure applied to it with a crowbar or tire iron. door locks replacement basingstoke can also crack the doorjamb. This can be corrected by drilling a new hole into the doorjamb and then chiseling the core out of the hole that was previously made.
The last step is to install the new strike plate, which can be done by screwing it over the screw holes that are already in place. Then you can use wood putty to fill in the screw holes that were previously used and the bolt hole that is not used. Once the putty is dry then sand it to a smooth finish for a professional finish.
Strike
The piece of metal that connects the deadbolt and latch when the door is closed is an electric strike. It is a vital part of the lock's overall security because it prevents the door from opening, and also provides an additional level of resistance to force or kicking. If a door has been equipped with an electric strike, it will only be opened using a key or the control unit that governs its electrical impulses.
Traditionally, installing an electric strike involved cutting a section of the doorjamb in order to remotely release a cylindrical lock's latchbolt from the pocket of the strike. This is not only undesirable and unattractive, but also exposes the mechanism for the latchbolt and the keeper to intruders.
Recently, several electric strikes manufacturers have created a "No Cut" type of strike that does not require a cutout for operation. They use a specific design that allows the latchbolt and keeper to slide into the pocket without damaging the doorjamb's faceplate.
The strike is equipped with an internal ramp that lifts the latchbolt and keeper when it receives an electrical signal from a reader or controller. The latchbolt and keeper are pushed higher up the ramp by the retract. When the door is shut the deadbolt remains at a lower position and the latchbolt retracts into the keeper.
Installing an electronic strike is a straightforward procedure, especially when you're replacing an older strike. However, if you're upgrading to an electric strike in an access control system, you will have to ensure that your new system is compatible with the type of lock you've installed. You will also need to ensure that the strike is connected to your access control system and is designed to operate in a fail-safe manner.
One method to guard against unauthorized access is to upgrade the strike on your doors to a high-quality strike plate. These plates are fitted with four to six screws of three inches instead of the two, three-fourth inch screws that are typically used in standard strikes. These longer screws make it difficult for anyone to break the frame and then reach inside to turn the thumb turn part of a single deadbolt cylinder.