We welcome your comments and I have a storage room on back of house with outswing door. Deadbolts are significantly harder to get through, and several factors can further increase that baseline of security. Installing a deadbolt is a rather simple project and should take no more than two to three hours and require only a few special tools. Step 7: Fix the set plate and deadbolt. Clamp the strike plate in a vise, with the strike plate positioned so that the edge that the latch bolt strikes is nearest the vice jaws. It should extend and retract smoothly. Needless to say, be sure the exterior section is pointing out. To do this, take a look at your hole saw. Easy to install! Installing Schlage Electronic Deadbolt - Double Cylinder Deadbolt in the way. Also, be sure to use long, three inch screws for the strike plate to penetrate deeply into the frame behind the jamb. Insert deadbolt into edge hole and mark its outline. You will need to mortise the plate into the edge of the door so that it is flush with the surface of the edge. If the hole is improperly drilled, it can ruin the door. Most of the time you simply bend the template and wrap it around the door so that one specified side is on the face of the door and the other side is on the edge. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Fit the 1-inch spade bit (or the size indicated by the instructions) into the drill. A better name for the deadbolt strike plate would be “dress-plate” or “reinforcement plate.” The deadbolt lock has one function, secure the door against thieves or the enemy or both. The problem with this solution is that the deadbolt is not completely encased by the strike plate when locked and the door is subject to back-and-forth movement. The strike plate is the piece of metal that is mounted to the doorjamb. It may be relatively expensive, and often has to be specially ordered, but it's well worth the cost. The template is your guide to doing this correctly. Using the plate and a pencil, outline the inset area on the door jamb. Be sure to drill pilot holes first. Hold the strike plate over the mortise and score its outline with a utility knife. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Keep augering until this hole meets up with the 2 1/8-inch hole created in the previous step. Some newer homes use doors that have a hollow interior (hollow-core doors). How to Install a Deadbolt To get started you’ll need to gather a few different materials: If the hole is improperly drilled, it can ruin the door. Use a 2 1/8-inch diameter hole saw or the size specified by the instructions. If it doesn't, back up a few steps and make the needed adjustments. Home security experts and local law enforcement agencies routinely advise homeowners to install a deadbolt as an effective deterrent against intruders manipulating entry doorknobs. In any case, whenever a door has standard glass in it or near it, install a double cylinder deadbolt lock so burglars can't open the door by reaching in after breaking the glass. Even a high-quality metal or solid wood door with non-removable hinges might be little help if the frame around the door is flimsy. You'll need to drill a hole through the door face for the lock or deadbolt and one through the edge for the latch. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Next, a hole must be drilled in the jamb to accept the door lock bolt. For a metal door, this can make the plate unstable. Improve security and update a door by installing a new lockset and deadbolt this weekend. Move to the edge of the door. At this stage, it helps to have an assistant hold the two halves of the mechanism in place. For keypads, install the screws and tuck the battery and cables inside the unit. Once you're sure the plate is properly placed, hold it snug against the edge of the door. 2 Repeat step 1 on the exterior side with the key. We are trying to remove a deadbolt that is keyed on both the exterior and i... Electric strike for mortise with deadbolt. Now test your lock! How to Install a Deadbolt in 15 Steps . to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Replace all these screws in the hinges and strike plates with high quality 3” screws that will penetrate deep into this frame. Instructions on the use of the template are usually provided in the package. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be The deadbolt strike plate is your best option. The mortise needs to be as deep as the strike plate is thick. Replace your regular deadbolt with a grade No. Starting at the top of the faceplate outline, make a series of closely spaced chisel cuts about 1/8 inch deep inside the marks. The metal liner often requires a rather large hole. home improvement and repair website. Bring the old deadbolt and key to the hardware store and these measurements to get a new one. Then, screw in the rough strike plate. Choose a position on the door for the lock. The back plate is marked this side to door and before installing any screws, check to make sure that the backset plate, if its own and that its flush. You probably want to choose the longest available. Again, use two long, 3" screws to penetrate into the wall frame. This allows you to lock your entrance lock when you are home and not your deadbolt. Now place the cover plate over the interior section. Next, insert the metal liner and then screw in the finished strike plate. Metal strips can be installed around existing doors which will help make the door more secure. You may want to consider replacing such a door altogether with a new metal or solid-core door. The spindle is a long metal piece that sticks out of the outer door knob. This stops burglars from carrying things out through your door. Before beginning, choose your hardware, ideally a high-quality brand—this is not an area where you want to cut corners. Safer if you anticipate needing to use long, three inch screws for.! The most novice do-it-yourselfers and cut where indicated with scissors in a matter of seconds by a criminal with more... Turn assembly a flat file two-days to install, it makes sense to drill a hole drilled with pencil. In the center of the door itself frame with all hardware and hinges in place deadbolt mechanism from the side! 'S actually quite simple, even for the strike plate and the turn assembly cuts into the spade... 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