How to Install a Deadbolt Lock

Member

By jimdris
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating:

(21 Ratings)

Side Door

Although not burglar proof, a deadbolt lock is widely regarded as a necessary level of security for any exterior doors of a home. Deadbolts are therefore installed as standard equipment on all modern homes. They may be still lacking on a door leading into the garage, or between the garage and the house, however. This article guides you through the steps involved in installing a deadbolt in these locations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Dead bolt
Hole saws
Chisel
Hammer
Screw drivers
Electric drill

Step 1

Hole Saws

Purchase a deadbolt from a hardware store or large discount department store. If the door has a window in it, you will want a deadbolt that uses a key on both sides of the door. Otherwise, purchase a deadbolt with a turning knob for unlocking the inside of the door. Study the instructions to determine what size hole saws you will need to purchase at a hardware store. If the door is steel-faced, be sure that the hole saws you buy are designed to cut through metal.
Step 2

Drill through Door Face

The instructions will have a template or pattern that you can tape to the door's edge, to mark the locations of the holes that you must drill into the door. Begin by drilling the large hole through the face of the door. When the drill bit mounted in the center of the hole saw makes it all the way through the door, start drilling from the other side of the door until the hole saw makes it all the way through the door.
Step 3

Hole for Deadbolt

Drill the second hole into the edge of the door. Examine the screw plate at one end of the latch mechanism for the deadbolt and chisel out a shallow rectangular depression into the edge of the door to accommodate this plate, so that it will set in flush with the door edge's surface.
Step 4

Mark Door Frame

Close the door and use a very short pencil to trace the location of the hole to be drilled into the door jamb, by pushing the pencil tip through the hole drilled in the edge of the door.
Step 5

Drill Hole in Door frame

Drill a hole into the door frame using the appropriate sized hole saw. This hole must be drilled the same depth as the length of the deadbolt when fully extended. A wooden plug will remain in the hole after drilling with the hole saw, and will have to be chipped out with a small flat bladed screwdriver or small chisel.
Step 6

Deadbolt assembly

Insert the deadbolt mechanism into the edge of the door, and assemble the inner and outer pieces of the lock on each side of the door, Insert and loosely tighten the two screws holding the inner and outer lock pieces together, with the rod between them properly engaging the latch mechanism.
Step 7

Test Lock

Insert and tighten the screws into the plate on the edge of the door. Tighten the two screws on the inside lock face. Using the keys or turn knob, test the deadbolt for smooth operation.
Step 8

Lock Plate on Door Frame

Position the lock plate on the door frame and attach it with two screws. Close the door and check for clearance and for deadbolt operation. Chisel out a shallow depression behind the lock plate and adjust its position if necessary. If a key rather than a knob opens the deadbolt on the inside of the door, attach a lanyard to the spare key and hang it near the door where it can be found quickly in case of fire or other emergency.

Comments

skyedanzer said

Flag This Comment

on 7/10/2009 Great, detailed article!

MarlaineMarie said

on 2/25/2009 We recently replaced the locks on our door - too bad we didn't have this then!

MIghtyDreamer said

on 2/12/2009 Could you have sent me a link to this article like three days ago when one was replaced on my door :).. thanks for writing this article on how to install a deadlock bolt. It should be helpful to many