How To Install Door Lock Plate

Two screws are installed inside the strike box to add strength.

How to install door lock plate.

Drill pilot holes for the strike plate s two screws with a 3 32 inch bit then screw the plate in place. A mortise or recess must be made in the door jamb to accept the strike plate. Hold the strike plate over the mortise and score its outline with a utility knife. If it s not remove the strike plate and chisel out more wood until it s deep enough.

Install the strike plate photo by david carmack. Install a heavy duty door strike plate lock to strengthen the doorjamb. We didn t use the strike plate lock that came with the deadbolt. If you install your strike plate and find that it is too far from the latch try adding wooden shims behind the plate to bring it closer to the lock.

The tolerance on doors and locks often is very small. So take the time to mark and cut carefully. The mortise needs to be as deep as the strike plate is thick. If the plate is too close try tightening the door s hinges to provide more clearance on the lock edge of the opening.

See photo 6 mark the center of the old deadbolt strike. In this article we teach you how to prepare a door for a fresh installation of a new door lock that is how to drill the door. To install a door strike plate you must first mark the location of the plate on the door jamb. If you are simply replacing a door lock check out our article how to replace a door lock learn to.

Tools needed for this job. The measurement is usually 2 3 8 inches for interior doors and 2 3 4 inches for exterior doors. Whether you re installing a lock plate also called a strike plate for a deadbolt lock or a standard lockset you first must install the lock or lockset onto the door following the manufacturer s instructions. Next a hole must be drilled in the jamb to accept the door lock bolt.

Using the technique described in steps 6 and 7 chisel out a mortise as deep as the strike plate is thick. We opted for a more secure strike box plate that features four screws instead of two. If you re installing a lockset in an existing door take out the old lockset and measure the backset the distance from the door edge to the center of the lockset hole. Installing a door lock can be rather complex but with the right guidance any homeowner can install a door lock.