Installing a Deadbolt
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: August 30, 2010
Locks are an affordable way to keep your home safe and secure, and deadbolts can give your doors added protection from burglars.
There are a variety of different models available that reflect a wide range of quality and style. Just one example is a single cylinder deadbolt that locks from the outside with a key and from the inside with a turnpiece. A double cylinder deadbolt adds even more protection because it locks from the outside and inside with a key on each side. This type of deadbolt is ideal for doors that have glass or windows. If a burglar broke through the glass and tried to open the deadbolt from the inside, they wouldn’t be able to thanks to the interior lock. Deadbolts have even gone high-tech with keyless models that lock and unlock with the press of a keypad.
No matter what type of deadbolt you choose, you can install them yourself. In this segment, Teresa installed a single cylinder deadbolt.
For this type of installation, you’ll need a deadbolt set, a drill, a hole saw, a chisel, a mallet or hammer, safety goggles, and a tube of lipstick.
1. First, make sure that you’ve read the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly.
2. Then take the lock template that came with the deadbolt and tape or hold it to the door. Using the template, mark the center for the deadbolt with the pencil, and then mark the center for the latch bolt.
3. Then take the drill and hole saw, and bore a cylinder hole into the door. Stop once the drill starts to break through.
4. Next, drill through the hole on the opposite side. This will give you a cleaner cut.
5. Afterwards, use the drill and hole saw to bore a latch-bolt into the end of the door. Then insert the latch-bolt.
6. Once that’s done, position the plate over the latch-bolt and trace around the outside of the plate with the pencil.
7. Take the chisel and the mallet or hammer and use them to carefully remove the wood. The latch plate should then fit flush with the edge of the door.
8. Next, assemble the latch by directing the cylinder’s screws through the locking mechanism. Then attach the face plate onto the inside of the door, and screw the dead-bolt latch onto the face plate.
9. Close the door and find the point where the latch bolt meets the doorjamb. The strike plate can serve as a template, and you’ll need to mark the location where the deadbolt will land. An easy way to do this is with a tube of lipstick. Just put a little on the bolt, shut the door, and once it’s open, you should see the mark.
10. Next, hold or tape the plate over the mark, trace around the plate, and then chisel out an area that will allow the deadbolt to sit flush against the doorjamb.
11. Drill a hole into the center for the latch bolt, and then screw the plate into position. Always be sure to use screws that are three inches or longer. This ensures that the plate isn’t just attached to the doorjamb, but also to the stud in the wall, and this will make it even harder for someone to kick the door in.
There are a variety of different models available that reflect a wide range of quality and style. Just one example is a single cylinder deadbolt that locks from the outside with a key and from the inside with a turnpiece. A double cylinder deadbolt adds even more protection because it locks from the outside and inside with a key on each side. This type of deadbolt is ideal for doors that have glass or windows. If a burglar broke through the glass and tried to open the deadbolt from the inside, they wouldn’t be able to thanks to the interior lock. Deadbolts have even gone high-tech with keyless models that lock and unlock with the press of a keypad.
No matter what type of deadbolt you choose, you can install them yourself. In this segment, Teresa installed a single cylinder deadbolt.
For this type of installation, you’ll need a deadbolt set, a drill, a hole saw, a chisel, a mallet or hammer, safety goggles, and a tube of lipstick.
1. First, make sure that you’ve read the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly.
2. Then take the lock template that came with the deadbolt and tape or hold it to the door. Using the template, mark the center for the deadbolt with the pencil, and then mark the center for the latch bolt.
3. Then take the drill and hole saw, and bore a cylinder hole into the door. Stop once the drill starts to break through.
4. Next, drill through the hole on the opposite side. This will give you a cleaner cut.
5. Afterwards, use the drill and hole saw to bore a latch-bolt into the end of the door. Then insert the latch-bolt.
6. Once that’s done, position the plate over the latch-bolt and trace around the outside of the plate with the pencil.
7. Take the chisel and the mallet or hammer and use them to carefully remove the wood. The latch plate should then fit flush with the edge of the door.
8. Next, assemble the latch by directing the cylinder’s screws through the locking mechanism. Then attach the face plate onto the inside of the door, and screw the dead-bolt latch onto the face plate.
9. Close the door and find the point where the latch bolt meets the doorjamb. The strike plate can serve as a template, and you’ll need to mark the location where the deadbolt will land. An easy way to do this is with a tube of lipstick. Just put a little on the bolt, shut the door, and once it’s open, you should see the mark.
10. Next, hold or tape the plate over the mark, trace around the plate, and then chisel out an area that will allow the deadbolt to sit flush against the doorjamb.
11. Drill a hole into the center for the latch bolt, and then screw the plate into position. Always be sure to use screws that are three inches or longer. This ensures that the plate isn’t just attached to the doorjamb, but also to the stud in the wall, and this will make it even harder for someone to kick the door in.
