Door locks are your primary security measure against unauthorized access to your home. Locks may need to be replaced due to signs of wear and tear or other circumstances like moving into a new home or a break-in.
To begin, determine the size of your cylinder using the distance between the adjustment screw and the center of the cylinder knob. This measurement will enable you to purchase the appropriate lock.
Deadbolt
Installing a deadbolt is great way to secure your door from burglars. The bolt extends into the strike plate that is on the doorframe when it is locked, making it more difficult for burglars to break in through the door. A single cylinder deadbolt is activated with keys on the exterior side and a thumb turn piece on the inside. Deadbolts can only function when it is properly installed.
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. Using the template that comes with the lock installation kit mark the location of the deadbolt hole on the door's surface. Use your tape measure to determine the height of the deadbolt. Then, mark this 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 drill to bore this spot until the hole is on the opposite side of the door. This may take some time. Then, sand the hole and the edges of the door until it is smooth. At this moment, it's a good idea to paint or stain your door.
Remove any visible screws from the deadbolt. This will reveal both the front and rear assembly of the deadbolt as well as its bolt inside. Remove the bolt and replace it with the new bolt to match the door hardware. It is necessary to remove the bolt from the setplate. Then, you'll need to chisel the surface of the door frame to accommodate the strike plate.
If your strike plate is misaligned it's likely that the previous installer didn't properly mortise it or a weatherstripping popped up and altered the strike position. You'll need to re-mortise the strike plate and perhaps even the deadbolt to fix this issue. After this is done, test the deadbolt by closing it and locking it. Make sure the bolt is extending into the strike plate then test the key to ensure it opens and closes smoothly.
Knob
If a door knob is damaged it could make your home or business less secure. It could also make opening or closing the door more difficult, which is why it is an ideal idea to replace the knob. Replacing a knob is a relatively easy DIY project and shouldn't take less than 30 minutes to complete. You can use a screwdriver as well as pliers to get rid of the knob or handle that was previously used, but be careful not to scratch any of the other components on the door.
Spray WD-40 or another dry lubricant, onto the mechanism of your door knob before you begin. This will allow the new lock to slide effortlessly when you turn it. To ensure proper operation, it's important to choose the right knob and handle to are compatible with your doors. If you don't already have a doorknob that matches and handle, you'll need to buy a replacement.
To begin the replacement process, first look over the knob or handle to determine what screws hold 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 pop it off.
After you have removed the knob examine it for evidence of damage or rust. You'll need to clean it off if there are any scratches or marks however, you shouldn't need to do anything If the knob is in good condition.
It's time to install the new one. First, examine the new knobs to ensure that you're picking out the right one for your door. You'll want to pick one with an extending rod that is designed to lock with the rod mechanism on the second knob. After you've inserted the new knob into the hole then slide it into the latch.
Test the spring by pressing it down repeatedly. The latch should rise each time. Install the second knob and lock it to the rod mechanism of the first knob. Thread the long screws of the interior doorknob through the holes for cylinders on the outside knob and fix it in the knob's position.
Latch
A latch is a piece of metal that extends into the doorjamb to hold it shut. The latch can be operated by a knob or handle on the inside of the door, or a thumb-turn on the exterior. The latch can be secured by deadbolts to stop intruders from breaking in through the door's glass. It also offers protection from accidental or intentional closing of the door by children or pets. It is possible to install a latch with either a single-cylinder deadbolt, or a double-cylinder deadbolt based on the level you prefer for security.
Installing a latch involves the same steps like installing a deadbolt but there are a few distinctions. To make sure that the new lock will work, first measure the setback on the doorjamb with the tape measure. The setback is the distance between the edge of the doorjamb to the middle of the hole for the faceplate for the latch. Standard setbacks are 2 3/8 to 2. 3/4 inches. If your setback is higher it is possible to purchase an extra-long latch from a locksmith or hardware store.
Then, drill a hole for the latch plate into the edge of the doorjamb. Utilize a chisel to cut the mortise of the latch. Make sure that the depth is enough for the faceplate to be in line with the doorjamb. Place the strikeplate on the floor to ensure it's placed correctly.
If the strike is too high, you can push the door back or apply pressure using a tire iron or crowbar. This could also cause cracks in the doorjamb. This can be corrected by drilling a new hole into the doorjamb, then chiseling the core out of the previous one.
The final step is to put in the new strike plate which can be accomplished by screwing it in place over the screw holes that are already in place. Then apply wood putty to cover the screw holes that were previously used and the bolt hole that won't be used. Once the putty has dried you can sand it until it has an even finish.
Strike
An electric strike is the metal part where the latch and deadbolt engage when the door is closed. It is an important part of the security of a lock, since it keeps the door shut and provides extra resistance to force or kicking applied to the door. If a door has been equipped with an electric strike, it will only be opened with a key or the control unit that governs its electrical impulses.
In the past, putting in an electronic strike required cutting a portion of a doorjamb in order to remove the latchbolt on a cylindrical lock from the pocket inside the strike. This modification is not just ugly however, it also exposes the mechanism of the latchbolt and keeper to uninitiated users.
Recently, several electric strike manufacturers have created a brand new electric strike, dubbed the "No Cut" strike that doesn't require a cutout in the doorjamb to operate. These strikes use a special 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 up the ramp by the retraction. 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 simple procedure, especially when you're replacing door locks an older strike. If you are upgrading an access control system to an electric strike, it is important to make sure that the new system is compatible. Also, you must make sure that the strike is properly connected to your access control system and is designed to operate in a fail-safe manner.
One way to safeguard against unauthorized access is to upgrade the strike on your patio doors locks replacement to a high-quality strike plate. The plates utilize four to six three-inch screws instead of the two three-fourth inch screws commonly used in regular strikes. These screws are longer, making it more difficult for anyone to break the frame and reach inside to turn the thumb turn piece of a single deadbolt cylinder.