Instructions on How to Install Door Locks

Door locks come in many styles, from door knob to dead bolt.

There are many reasons to install a new door lock. There are also many different types of door locks to install. For exterior doors, many choose both the locking door knob and a dead bolt. A dead bolt is much better for security purposes. The basic installation is the same whether it is a locking door knob for the exterior or the interior of the home, or a dead bolt. You can buy sets with a locking door knob and a dead bolt that use the same key to unlock both locks.

Things You'll Need

• Electric drill
• Hole saw
• Spade bit
• Pencil
• Felt tip marker

Instructions

1. Place the paper template that came with your new door lock on your door as directed (for brand new installations). Mark the center of the holes, with a pencil or marker, on both sides of the door and on the edge of the door.

2. Line up the drill bit with the mark you made on the face of the door. Drill the hole on the face of the door using a hole saw of the proper size. Drill the hole from both sides of the door to prevent splintering. Drill the hole on the side of the door, lining up the point of the spade bit with the mark you made.

3. Insert the smaller part of the dead bolt or the locking door knob into the hole on the side of the door until the rectangle plate hits the edge of the door. Mark around the rectangle plate with your pencil. Remove the dead bolt mechanism and chisel a hole deep enough that the rectangle plate will fit flush with the edge of the door. Replace the mechanism back into the door and use the screws provided to screw the mechanism and the rectangle plate firmly into place.

4. Place the round cylinder mechanism through the hole in the front of the door and through the locking mechanism which is already in place. Insert the keyed cylinder on the outside and the turn lever on the inside of the door. Screw the cylinders in place with the screws provided with your lock (the screws will be on the inside of your door).

5. Mark the end of the dead bolt (the portion on the edge of the door) with a felt tip marker. Close the door. Turn the handle on the inside of your door as far as you can to mark the inside edge of your door jamb. Open the door and place your strike plate up against the mark. Use your strike plate as a template and mark around the outside of the rectangle with a pencil. Chisel a hole just deep enough to place your rectangle plate flush with the inside of the door jamb. Screw in place.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also buy a lock that uses a number combination to open it. You can buy locks that use remote entry. You can buy sets of locks that have 3-4 sets of door knobs and dead bolts that use the same key for entry, eliminating the need to carry around multiple sets of keys for entry into your home.

• The screws that attach the strike plate to your door jamb are important. If the screws are short it is much easier for someone to hit the door hard enough to break your door jamb for unauthorized entry into your home. It is generally advisable to replace the screws that come with the strike plate with very long screws. The longer the screws, the harder it is to simply break the door jamb.

• You can use a box cutter for marking the middle of the holes on the template and to mark around your strike plate. It actually gives you a little bit of a head start on the chiseling for the face plate and the strike plate. A box cutter is sharp and takes some caution in handling. If you choose this method, be very cautious.

• Use the chisel with caution. If you make the hole for the face plates too deep or too crooked, the locking mechanism may not fit right into the face plate.

References

• This Old House; How To Install a Dead Bolt Lock; Tom Silva
• Lowe's; Adding a deadbolt to your entryway.
• HomeGuide123; Adding and Installing a Dead-Bolt Lock to Your Front Door