Today everyone seems to be a little more security conscious than they used to be. New state of the art security systems with remarkable capabilities are now widely available to homeowners, but it is important to remember that all good systems should include deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
Deadbolts come in two styles. One requires a key to unlock from the outside but is operated on the inside by turning a knob. These are best suited for doors with no glass and they are safer in the event of fire as there is no fumbling for keys to make your escape.
The other requires a key both outside and the inside. If your front door has a pane of glass in it, you should probably opt for this style so that would be burglars cannot break the glass and simply reach in a turn the knob. However, they double keyed style is harder to operate in a fire. Should you install this style, always be sure that the keys are easily accessible in case of fire or some other emergency. The installation of these two styles is basically the same.
Installing a Deadbolt Lock
Step# 1
The fist step for installation is to position the template that comes with the lock on the edge of the door. Use a screwdriver or an awl to mark the locations of the holes.
Step #2
Using the marks that you made in step 1, bore the lockset hole using a hole saw. Bore until the pilot bit pokes through the other side of the door. And then continue cutting from the other side.
Step #3
Bore the bolt hole next; making sure that it is drilled completely straight. Accuracy is very important. Be sure that you do not drift right or left while you are drilling or the lock will not go into place properly. To ensure that your hole is drilled straight, have someone hold the door in place or block the door so that it remains steady while you drill.
Step # 4
Trace the bolt plate on to the edge of the door, then using a very sharp chisel, mortise out the door edge so that the plate will sit flush.
Step #5
Slide the bolt into the bolt hole and make sure that it fits flush on the edge of the door. Pre-drill screw holes and then insert the screws.
Step #6
A deadbolt is activated by a flat pin that joins both sides of the lockset. Pin length can be adjusted to match the thickness of the door.
Slide the lockset and the pin through the deadbolt mechanism and then tape it to the door. Slide the other half of the lockset into place and attach it.
Step #8
Test the bolt to make sure that it works properly. When you are satisfied that it is working and in the right spot, mark the end of the bolt with some a grease pencil or some lipstick. Close the door and turn the bolt out against the door frame. The grease or lipstick will leave a mark in the exact spot where the bolt hits the frame. Determine the exact center of the mark and take all measurements from this point. The door frame is now ready for the strike plate to be attached.
Step #9
To install the strike plate, bore out the screw holes. The plate will come with screws approximately 3” long that will extend through the door frame and into the exterior wall studs. Once these screws have been installed, the job is complete and your home is a much safer place.
