Your exterior door locks are your main guard against invaders. Broken locks are often replaced without delay, but you should also change them if you’ve moved into a new house or lost your original keys. Duplicates are easy and not expensive to make, and you can’t be sure whether the previous landlords lost their keys at any point or missing a key with a neighbor or family member. Replacing front door locks raises your home’s security, and it’s a charge most homeowners can achieve themselves in a small amount of time.
- Open your door and take off the mounting screws locking the doorknob with a screwdriver. Pull both the inside and exterior knobs off altogether.
- Relax and remove the screws from the padlock faceplates, which are located on the inside edge of your door. Pull the deadbolt assembly and the interior and outward faceplates from the door.
- Remove the screws securing the latch plates for your deadbolt and doorknob on the door jamb and pull the plates off.
- Place the new faceplates for the padlock into the door edge and attach with the screws provided. If the new plates are somewhat larger than your old deadbolt, point a line around the new faceplates and shape out enough space for the latch to be placed flush with the door.
- Install the new deadbolt so that the keyhole is on the front of the door. Push the spindle through the latch and boost the keyhole side onto the spindles.
- Test the deadbolt to make sure the bolt slides in and out as you bend the knob or latch on the inside side of the door. Insertion the key to ensuring you can lock and unlock the door from the outer.
- Line up the escalating holes on the new hardware with the open holes from the old deadbolt. If the current screw holes do not line up correctly with the new mounting holes, use a sketch to mark the new holes.
- Insert the bolts provided into the mounting holes and stiffen to secure the deadbolt to the door.
- Insert the new knob latch into the starting left by the old doorknob.
- Fix the faceplate on the edge of the door and lock it with the screws supplied. If the new plates are faintly larger than your old deadbolt, mark a line all around the new faceplates and carve out enough space for the bolt to sit flush with the door.
- Slide the shaft into the latch from the inside side of the door. Install the outer knob onto the spindle.
- Line Up the rising holes on the new doorknob with the current holes from the old one. If the remaining screw holes do not line up correctly with the new doorknob increasing holes, use a pencil to mark. Remove the doorknob assembly and predrill the new holes before fixing the knobs.
- Test the doorknobs to make sure the latch drops in and out as you turn the knobs. Place the mounting screws into the holes on each side of the entrance and stretch to secure the knob.
- Test both locks to make sure you can secure and unlock the door from beyond the house. Close the door for sure the plates line up with the bolts and the door locks and opens.
Do you need a locksmith to open a locked door or install new door locks? Citywest locksmiths Melbourne are professionally trained and provide a 24/7 service. Call us today on 0414 930 586.
