How to Install a Deadbolt
Are you concerned about home safety? Have you considered adding a deadbolt lock on your exterior doors? We have prepared a helpful guide on how to install a deadbolt.
Putting a sturdy deadbolt on your entry doors can help protect your home from invasions and give you added peace of mind.
Boring for the New Deadbolt
Of course, before installing a deadbolt you need to prep the area of the door in which you wish to install it. Use these steps to bore the door.
- Decide where you want to install the deadbolt on the outside of the door. It is best to install it 6 inches to a foot above the doorknob.
- Mark the exterior, interior, and door jamb where you will install the deadbolt.
- Follow the manufacturer instructions as to where to install the backset. Next, affix the template to the door.
- If the kit contains a jig, drill 2 ⅛ inch pilot holes onto the edge of the door for the screws. Using faceplate screws, secure the jig in place.
- Drill a hole for the deadbolt assembly using a 2-⅛ inch hole saw. Then, with a 1-inch hole saw, drill a hole for the deadbolt shaft that goes from the edge of the door to the center of the former hole.
*If the door is new, you have to create a slot on the door edge on which to affix the faceplate. Place the deadbolt into the hole and use a pencil to trace around the edge of the faceplate. Next, around the inside of the line, chisel to a depth that will allow it to lay flush on the edge of the door.
- Use the jig that has been supplied in the kit to mark the faceplate and the lockset. Attach the jig and cut along the grooves of the jig using a router bit with a drill. Use a hammer and chisel to remove any excess material.
- Drill two holes about an inch deep, making sure they overlap, at the previous mark made on the door jamb. One should be below, while the other above the center point. Chisel away the remaining material in the deadbolt hole.
- Against the hole, set the strike component and then mark the screw holes. Use a drill to make ⅛ inch pilot holes for the screws. Again, chisel away any remaining material.
Install the Deadbolt
- After checking to ensure that everything is properly aligned, slide the deadbolt into the hole on the edge of the door and use screws to affix.
- Install the thumb turn assembly after retracting the deadbolt.
*If the unit has a keypad, you would install it at this point, using the directions provided on the packaging.
- The mounting plate should now be installed on the inside of the door.
- Screw the turn assembly and deadbolt plate in place. If it is a keypad system, you would now install the screws, making sure to tuck the cables and battery safely inside the unit. Next, the thumb turn will be attached.
Should you have any further questions on how to install a deadbolt, give us a call at Total Home Windows and Doors. We are here to assist you with the process, as well as help you choose the best entry doors for your home
. Call us today for a free quote for the most energy-efficient windows and doors.
