If not, use the drill to make the hole another 1/4 inch deeper. Remove the locksets lip strike plate and 3/4-in. Now, kick back and rest a little easier, knowing youve made your home more secure. Well replace an old deadbolt with a quality Grade 1 deadbolt. This could easily injure you or damage the door frame. Which Schlage Encode wifi smart lock is right for me? Luckily, fixing the alignment of your door doesnt have to be a chore. Before you shop for a deadbolt, measure the hole size where the current cylinder fits, as well as the backset distance from the center of the cylinder hole to the edge of the door (Photo 1, Step 3). Many people wonder how to make a deadbolt hole deeper. This step is where youll begin to cut your new hole. Some Grade 2 locks may list Grade 1 components on the package, but that doesnt give the lock a Grade 1 rating. Use this checklist and our suggestions to get your new lock and door working in perfect harmony. Score around the plate with a sharp utility knife. Also decide whether to buy a single cylinder (keyed on exterior side of lock only) or a double cylinder deadbolt (keyed on both sides). I'll be getting my spade bits back out post haste. It is important to choose the right size for your deadbolt hole to fit your door properly. Reply bit. Adjustable for both 2-3/8" and 2-3/4" back sets Fits all interior and exterior doors with a self centering jig that fits all common door widths. TIP: Mark the hole depth on the drill bit with a masking tape. The deadbolt hole should be 3-6 inches from the edge of the door, and it should also be no more than 8 above or below any doorknobs that are already in place. Reinstall the interior assembly on the door and replace the battery pack and interior cover. Be sure to read and understand the safety procedures for your tools, Safety Data Sheets for chemicals \u0026 materials, safety procedures for all work performed and to check your local building codes before beginning any work. The door handing process does not happen automatically when the batteries are installed. The bolt prohibits the door from opening, and is heavy and less likely to be picked or broken from the outside. If the door handing process does not happen automatically, perform the manual door handing process. Most deadbolt assemblies are a standard size, but you'll need to read the instructions or measure the assembly to choose the correct hole saw bit. Firefox. Drill pilot holes for all four No. Attempt to lock and unlock the door with the key. This website will not look or function as originally intended in your current browser, We recommend upgrading to the latest version of Do not try to deepen the hole without removing the plate. Now you can purchase a deadbolt for your home! Like the double cylinder deadbolt, this lock also requires a key to operate it from both sides, so you will need to always keep a key in an easy-to-access place that the whole family knows about in case a fire should occur. The techniques we show in this article will work on any type of exterior door. Feel free to contact Therma-Tru with questions or concerns about maintaining a door unit. Now clean up the hole and test-fit the deadbolt. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine. Is there any way to adjust the deadbolt mechanism so the anti-pushback latch can engage at a shorter throw distance? - Your door must have a minimum of 5 1/2" between the center of the deadbolt crossbore hole and the center of any other door latch below the deadbolt. Slowly lock and unlock the deadbolt several times. Test the latch mechanism again. Chose the square or round cornered scoring tool and place it in the tool holder. This means that a 2 inch diameter hole is required for the cross bore in the door, and a 1-inch diameter hole will be needed for the latch bore. Angle the screws back slightly into the wall to make sure they hit the studs. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Insert your bit drill. One possible reason for this is that your door isnt properly aligned. Then remove the old strike plate. long throw bolt (see Buying a Deadbolt). eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. If it is still unable to rotate, loosen the screws on the mounting plate and reposition the plate so there is no tension on the cylinder torque blade. However, you may have to adjust these dimensions slightly to match other doors or to avoid interfering with screen-door hardware. If the bolt pocket is not deep enough or placed correctly, the bolt cannot extend fully, keeping your door from locking properly. Youll then be able to see a chalk smear on the strike where it rubbed. If you cant get to the key in the event of a fire, then you would be trapped in the house, or if a child is trying to exit the house in a fire, they might not know where the key is or how to use it, whereas a thumb turn is much easier and more obvious to operate. This can be caused by different things, and so there are a few possible corrections you can make. Parts of a door lock and door hardware terms defined: A guide for homeowners. The backset distance is usually either 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 in., so make sure the new deadbolt has the identical backset. If you are, then this process has been completed successfully. How to Install a Deadbolt in 4 Easy Steps - Bob Vila If youre the type of person who wants to be prepared for just about anything, then this is an ideal modification to make. Do they make a special tool? above the floor. If enlarging the bolt hole does not fix the problem, check the existing metal strike plate, which could be affecting the bolt pockets depth. This way of adding a deadbolt hole is effortless because you dont need any special tools, only a saw and screwdriver. A deadbolt lock is only secure when the bolt is fully extended into the door frame. Align the cutter with the hole for the latch barrel and strike the tool with a hammer. PDF How To - Lowe's A turn deadbolt is the most simplistic type of deadbolt lock available. Trace around the mounting plate with a pencil and chisel out the area so it fits flush with the surface. Remove the screws from the deadbolt and lockset strike plates on the door frame. FBI burglary statistics show that 65 percent of home break-ins occur by forcing in the front, back or garage service door (not to mention the 12 percent of entries where burglars find your hidden key or simply walk in through an unlocked door).