How To Install Locksets And Dead Bolts Like A Pro

There are age long secrets to successfully doing it yourself. One of the secrets is knowing the right tool for the job. Another secret is knowing how to do it. All of a sudden, you find yourself tackling projects you use to pay someone else to do. For instance, for installing lockset and dead bolt, you will need the following: masking tape; a hammer; tape measure; flat- head screwdriver; a 1- inch spade bit; pilot drill bits for all screws; a power drill; and a 2 1/8- inch hole screw.

After you have gotten the right tools, it is time to start work. Plan to spend about one hour to complete the installation. Follow this step- by- step guide and you will know how to install locksets and dead bolts like a pro.

Step 1. Position The Template: Most doorknobs are 34 to 38 inches high, with dead bolts 6 to 12 inches above that. Decide for yourself what height is preferable. When drilling new holes, tape the producer's template in place with the lockset centerline at the desired height. Determine the backset - the distance from the door edge to the centerline - and use the corresponding template marks. The backset can be 2 3/8 or 2 3/4 inches; many locksets accommodate both. Then drill 1/8- inch pilot hole through the door edge, use the template to drill a 2- inch- deep pilot holes through the door to center of the 2 1/8- inch hole saw. At the door edge, use the template to drill a 2- inch deep hole for the strike or bolt.

Step 2. Drill The Door Face And Mark The Jamb: Using drill with a bubble level or a torpedo level taped on top, drill halfway through the door from each side with the hole saw to prevent blowout sintering. Then mark the doorjamb for the strike plate by closing the door, inserting a nail from inside of the 2 1/8 inch hole through the strike pilot hole and pushing it into the jamb.

Step 3. Drill The Jamb And Door Edge: With the nail mark as an indicator, drill a 5/8- inch- deep hole for the strike or a 1- inch spade bit. In the door edge, use the pilot hole to guide a 1- inch spade and drill through to the large hole where the cylinder will sit.

Step 4. Chisel The Jamb And Door Edge: Hold the latchet assembly up to the door edge and score its outline deeply with utility knife. Do the same for the strike plate on the doorjamb. then score the wood to be removed at 1/4- inch intervals with a chisel, removing enough wood so the strike box sits flush with the door edge and the strike plate sits flush with the doorjamb.

Callistus Amadi is a home improvement consultant. He provides do-it-yourself home improvement tips at [http://diyhomeimprovementtips.com/]

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