25 Surprising Facts About Lock Replacement

Door Lock Replacement - What Are the Different Parts of a Door Lock?

A broken door lock can make your home a to target for burglars. It is an inexpensive way to beef up security without making your door inaccessible.

Many locks come packaged with a cardboard template that you can wrap around the edges of your door to ensure it fits properly. This will help you avoid buying the wrong lock.

The Cylinder

The cylinder, also referred as the lock body, is the primary component of a traditional mechanical door lock. It houses a set of spring-loaded pins that keep the door locked when there is no key placed into the hole. When the key is inserted into the doorknob, the uneven edge pushes up on the pins inside of the cylinder, allowing them to fit in their proper position. When the pins fit they allow the bolt, also known as the latch to move forward and connect the inside of your door.

The bolt extends out of the cylinder and into the box, creating a hole is then drilled into the door frame. The box is designed so that the bolt isn't able to be pulled out easily. The bolt retracts by a spring clip when the door closes. When you turn the handle the spindle is designed to rotate inside the cylinder. The bent end retracts into frame of the door when the spindle is finished rotating. The bolt rests on the cut-out part of the doorframe and closes the door until you are required to reopen it.

A faceplate is an inside metal plate that is attached to your door on either side of the hole for the deadbolt. Its purpose is to shield the mechanism that locks your door from damage caused by the knob's repeated insertion and removal. If you're installing a brand new lock, ensure that the faceplate lines up with the hole in your door frame and is securely secured to the plate and to the bore of the latch.

When replacing locks on doors make sure that the deadbolt is seated correctly by sliding it into the opening of the strike plate. When you're finished, screw the strike plate and core of the new lock into the hole. Do not over-tighten as this could damage the latch or prevent it from fitting into its groove. You can test your new lock by turning the key until it is locked position. If you find any issues, like a loose latch or a loud deadbolt, it's time to replace the old lock with a new lock.

The Faceplate

A faceplate is an over-sized flat plate that is attached to the headstock of the lathe to support the workpiece. The screw thread is wound into the wood via a series of screw holes. Faceplates can be used to support a variety of shapes but they are more difficult to employ than a chuck as they require to be placed properly, fixed, and balanced.

A typical faceplate has many mounting holes, in this instance three holes positioned at a 120-degree spacing to accommodate the screws for mounting the workpiece 18 of FIG. 2. The screw holes can be manufactured using an interchangeable insert 16 or directly into the faceplate body. The faceplate features an incline in the middle, which serves as an index mark for locating the exact location of the blank workpiece.

The stepping area has also been designed to resist abrasion to ensure that the fastener doesn't damage the chisel you use to cut it. The body's surface of the faceplate has different properties compared to the surrounding region and machining into this area alerts the turner to possible contact with a fastener, and gives the turner enough time to react.

Screws used to hold a faceplate into place must be of a size that fits within the screw hole with only a little free play. When the screw is firmly seated onto the glue block there should be no space behind it. This may permit the block during rotation to move. It is also recommended to use a larger gauge screw because it will sit more securely within the faceplate. The screw should be inserted into the middle of the screwhole to prevent the possibility that a screwhead might get into contact with the workpiece.

The Strike Plate

The strike plate is among the most vital components of your door lock. The strike plate stops the bolt from sliding when you shut the front door. The strike plate is an element that can help increase the strength of the lock and prevent intruders from breaking in by using force against the jamb and latch bolt.

A strike plate is a thick metal plate that is installed in the doorjamb (the vertical part of the frame) with a hole that allows the latch or deadbolt to traverse through. When the cylinder turns it shoots the bolt through the strike plate into the doorjamb, securing it closed.

There are different kinds of strike plates that are available, depending on your needs. If you require a strikeplate that will fit your lock it will be listed in the information below it. Most strike plates are the same and work with standard latches and locks.

Most standard strike plates have an ovular screw hole and a "C-shaped" piece that acts as washer. They are usually used on doors with rounded corners and are available in a variety of sizes to fit your door.

For additional security, you can choose strike plates that have no lip and is designed specifically for deadbolts. This is a great choice for areas where security has to be achieved quickly like stairwells. This is a great option if you want to protect items or documents inside your home.

Another option to improve the security of your door is to install a strike plate for your box, which adds strength and thickness to the strike plate.  how to replace window locks  makes it harder to break in through the deadbolt or latch, and it's often required for commercial doors with a security lock.

Spray a lock lubricant on the strike plate in case it isn't aligned with the latch bolt. If this doesn't work, you'll have to adjust the strike plate by drilling new screw holes and enlarging the catch hole. It is not recommended to make many changes to the strike plate. Repeated and drastic adjustments could result in it becoming useless.

The Deadbolt

A deadbolt is an iron bolt that connects the door to the doorjamb frame. Unlike a spring-latch used in doorknobs that can be used to loid (jimmied) using credit cards or other tools such as latch slips, a deadbolt is locked using the use of a key, thumb turn, or electronically (in the case of keyless and smart deadbolts). They offer better protection against forced entry methods like kick-ins, and are easy to use with minimal maintenance.

The bolt extends from an socket in the doorjamb which is strengthened by a strike plate for additional security. The bolt should be minimum of 1 inch of length to make it more difficult to remove the door. You should also choose a deadbolt that has an ANSI rating, which indicates how secure the lock is.

The strike plate also helps to hold the cylinder in place. Three holes should be placed across the bolt. The one in the middle connects the facepiece to the cylinder and the other two are on either side of the central hole. These are the holes where screws go to attach the cylinder to the bolt. The screws should be included with the new deadbolt. Some locks come with covers that snap on the facepieces. Consult the instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure that they are installed correctly.

When choosing the lock for your house, you should consider your lifestyle and the level of security that you need. Single cylinder deadbolts are the most traditional option for locks and can be found on a wide range of exterior doors. Keyless deadbolts are secure, but they are more difficult to use. Smart deadbolts let you lock and unlock them using voice commands or an app on your mobile.

A professional locksmith can assist you to determine which lock is appropriate for your home, and install or replace it. Upgrade your front door locking system is a cost-effective option to boost your home's security. Consider installing a double-cylinder or reversible deadbolt to the side of your front door to provide an additional layer of security.