How to Drill Hardware Holes in the Entry Door

Installing knobs and locks is a fairly simple process.

Drilling your entry doors for knobs and dead bolts is intimidating the first time. All of that gorgeous, pristine wood, steel or vinyl, and you don't want to mess it up. What it really comes down to, for either a knob or a dead bolt, is drilling two holes. Use the right size bits and hole saws and correctly position your backset, and not too much can go wrong. Start by reading the installation instructions that came with your hardware.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Drill
• Holesaw
• 1-inch spade bit
• Chisel
• Door hardware with template

Instructions

Marking the Door

1. Measure from the floor, and mark the edge of your door at 36 inches with a pencil. For a dead bolt 42 inches is standard. Use a carpenter's square to transfer that mark to one main face of your door. Extend the mark 3 inches from the edge of the door onto the face.

2. Find the cardboard template that came with your hardware. It will have markings for the face and edge placement of your holes.

3. Measure the thickness of your door. There are at least two marks for centering the edge hole. Use the one closest to half the thickness of your door.

4. Place the template on the door with the template center line lined up with your mark. Fold it over the edge of the door so that the piece labeled for the edge of the door falls into position.

5. Poke through the template with the tip of a sharp screw or nail at the spot marked as center on your template. Do this for the main face and the edge of the door. Use a hammer to tap the fastener through the template.

Drilling the Door

1. Bore through the face of the door using a holesaw. Use the size indicated in the instructions. Be careful no to force the holesaw through the opposite face to avoid splintering, take it slow with steady
   pressure.

2. Use a 1-inch spade bit to drill the edge hole for the lock bolt or knob striker. Hold the drill as level as possible. Do not force the bit; use steady pressure to cut through into the hole cut in the main face.

3. Use the striker or bolt edge plate as a template to mark the mortise for the plate on the edge of the door. Use a wood chisel to chisel out this area to a depth of about 1/8 inch.

Drilling the Jamb

1. Assemble the hardware according to the directions. Close the door against the jamb, and mark the center of the bolt or striker, which is the center height of the jamb striker hole.

2. Transfer the center mark with a square across the face of the jamb to the door stop. Mark the midway point on this line. Use the 1-inch spade bit to drill two holes, 5/8 inch deep, one directly above the midway mark ½ inch, one directly below ½ inch so that they overlap to create a figure 8.

3. Use the striker or bolt plate as a template to mark the jamb for the mortise or notch where the plate will sit. Use your chisel to chisel out the wood in that area to a depth of about 1/8 inch.

Tips & Warnings

• Scoring around the outside of the striker or bolt plate motrise area before chiseling with a utility knife helps create a cleaner line and prevent splintering.

References

• This Old House: How to Install a Lockset