How to Replace Door Locks
Your first protection is your door lock. It will prevent unauthorized access into your home. The signs of wear and tear as well as instances like moving into a new residence or burglaries, may trigger 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 purchase the right-sized lock.
Deadbolt
If you want to ensure your door is secure against intruders, it's a good idea to install deadbolts. The bolt extends into the strike plate on the door frame when it's locked, making it much more difficult for burglars to gain entry into the door. A single-cylinder deadbolt can be activated with a key on the outside and the thumb-turn mechanism located on the interior. A deadbolt is only effective only if it's correctly installed, though.
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 surface of the door using the template included with the lock installation set. Use your tape measure to determine the height of the deadbolt. Then, mark this high point on the outside of the door. Use the speed square to draw straight lines across the mark you made for the bolt hole.
Then by using a power drill, bore through the hole until it reaches the opposite side of the door. This could take a while. Then, sand down the hole and along the edge of the door so that it is smooth. At this stage, it's a great idea also to paint or stain your door.
Remove any screws that are visible from the deadbolt. This will reveal the back and front assemblies of the deadbolt and also the internal bolt. Then, unscrew the bolt and replace it with a brand new bolt that matches the door hardware. You will need to unscrew the bolt from the setplate. After this, you'll need to chisel the surface of the door frame for the strike plate.
If your strike plate is out of alignment, it could be because the previous installer didn't mortise it properly, or a weatherstripping changed the strike's location. You will need to re-mortise the strike plate and possibly even the deadbolt itself to correct this problem. Once this is completed check the deadbolt by closing and locking it. Test the deadbolt by closing and locking it after 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 or closing the door more difficult, which is why it is recommended to replace it. It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes. Make use of pliers or a screwdriver to take off any knobs or handles. Be careful not to damage the other components of the door.
Spray WD-40, or another dry lubricant, on the mechanism of your door knob before you begin. This will let the lock to move smoothly as you turn it. To ensure proper operation it is essential to select the knob and handle that match the doors you already have. If you don't have a doorknob that is compatible then you'll have to buy a replacement.
To begin the replacement process, first examine the old knob or handle to determine the screws that hold it in place. If there aren't any screws, you can use a screwdriver to insert between the cover plate and the plate with hidden screws and pop it off.
Once you've removed the knob that was previously used, look it over for any indications of damage or rust. If the knob shows any scratches or marks, you'll have clean it. Otherwise it shouldn't need any major work.
Install the new knob. First, examine the new knobs to ensure that you're choosing the right one for your door. You'll need to choose one with an extending rod designed to interlock with the rod mechanism of the second knob. After you've inserted the new knob into the hole then slide it into the latch.
Thread the latch plate screws down and test the spring by pressing down on it several times. The latch should spring back up every time. Then, you can install the new knob and lock it to the rod mechanism on the first knob. Thread the long screws from the interior doorknob through the cylinder holes on the outside knob and fix it in its place.
Latch
A latch is a steel piece that extends out into the doorjamb in order to hold it shut. The latch is operated either by a knob or handle on the inside of the door, or a thumb-turn on the exterior. A deadbolt is a device used to secure a latch and keep intruders from breaking through the glass of the door. It also protects against accidental or intentional closing of the door by children or pets. The latch can be fitted with one cylinder deadbolt or double cylinder deadbolts, based on the level of security you prefer.
Installing a latch involves the same steps as installing a deadbolt, however there are some variations. To ensure that the new lock will work first, measure the setback on the doorjamb using the tape measure. The setback is the distance between the edge of the doorjamb, to the center of the hole that will be used for the faceplate for the latch. The standard setback is 2 3/8 to 2 3/4 inches. If you have a larger setback, you might need to purchase a larger latch from a hardware shop or locksmith.
The next step is to drill an edge bore hole through the doorjamb to accommodate the latch plate. 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 strike plate in the correct position to ensure it's in the right position.
If the strike is placed too high, the door could be pushed in or pressure imposed on it using a crowbar or tire iron. This can also crack the doorjamb. To remedy this, the strike could be lowered by drilling a new hole in the doorjamb and chiseling out the core of the hole that was previously drilled.
Installing the new strike plate is the final step. This can be done by fixing the new plate to the existing screw holes. Use wood putty then to fill in any old bolt holes or screw holes that won't be used. After the putty has dried you can sand it down to give it a an elegant finish.
Strike
The piece of metal that is inserted between the deadbolt and latch when the door is shut is an electric strike. It is an important part of the security of a lock, as it keeps the door shut and also provides additional resistance to force or kicks applied to the door. If a door is fitted with an electronic strike, it can be opened only by keys and the control unit that regulates the electrical impulses.
Traditionally, installing an electric strike involved cutting a section of the doorjamb to remotely remove a cylindrical lock's latchbolt from the pocket within the strike. This modification is not only unattractive however, it also exposes the mechanism of the latchbolt and keeper to unauthorized users.
Recently, a number of electric strike manufacturers have created an innovative type of electric strike called the "No Cut" strike that doesn't require a cutout in the doorjamb to function. These strikes utilize a special design that allows the keeper and latchbolt to slide into the strike pocket without marring the faceplate of the doorjamb.
replacement door lock has an internal ramp that lifts the latchbolt and keeper whenever it receives an electrical impulse from a reader or controller. The latchbolt and keeper are lifted higher on the ramp thanks to the retraction. When the door is closed the deadbolt remains in place and the latchbolt retracts into the keeper.
Installing an electric strike can be an easy task, especially if you are replacing the strike on a previous door. If, however, you are upgrading to an electric strike for an access control system, you will 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 connected to your access-control system and set up to function in a fail-safe manner.
One way to safeguard against unauthorized access is to upgrade the strike on your doors to a robust strike plate. These plates are fitted with four to six three-inch screws instead of the two three-fourth inch screws commonly used in regular strikes. The longer screws make breaking the frame to reach the piece that turns the thumb on a single deadbolt cylinder more difficult.