In this DIY instructional article we are going to cover how and what you will need to fit a lock to an internal door.
As long as you are reasonably competent at DIY, fitting a lock to your internal door should not be too difficult.
So first things first, here are the tool you are going to need.
Lock
Drill
Chisel
A Square
Tape
Tape Measure
Door Jamb
Hammer
16mm Augur Bit
Nothing that a decent tool box shouldn’t have.
The first thing we need to do is to make sure that the lock we have will fit the door. The best way to do this is to take the old lock with you when buying your new lock and compare the two, to make sure the new lock is no deeper than the old one. The other way, if the door doesn’t already have a lock fitted is the measure the side rail of the door, that the distance from the edge of the door to where either the door panels start or the door glass is, and then to make sure the new lock isn’t longer.
Now that you have your lock, we need to fit it. It this is a new door then the lock should be between 900mm to 1m from the floor. If the door frame has had a lock already fitted, the best way to determine the positioning of the door lock is to position the lock to match up with the strike plate on the door frame and them mark the position of the latch on the doors frame. Now close the door and mark on the door where the marks on the frame comes in contact with the door.
Using the latch marks as a guide [lace the lock on the door edge and mark the top and bottom of the lock, allow and extra 5mm top and bottom. Using the square mark in a center line, this will help when drilling out the lock.
Before drill out the lock from your internal door use the door jamb to stop the door moving while drilling. Now use some tape to mark the length you want to drill into the door on the drill bit, again add about 5mm leeway. Then using the center line you have drawn on the door edge make a series of drill whole to cut out the lock space. We then use the chisel the smooth out the drilled whole. Once the lock while is nice and smooth place the lock into the whole.
With the lock in place mark the edge of the lock plate, we now need to chisel out a recess so that the lock will sit flush with the door. Once the recess is cut out hold the lock against the side of the door and mark where the center point of the handle spindle is and the key whole is. Now repeat this on the other side of the door. Now drill out these two wholes,by drilling in half way from one side and then drill out the second half from the other side, this will help stop the door splitting.
Now insert the door lock and tap into place and use the screw provide to secure the lock to the door frame. Now attach the handle and cover plate to the sides of the door.
If this is a new frame you will need to chisel pout the strike plate on the frame for the door lock, once this has been completed and screw in you have finished. Well done!
Kaybeedoors hopes that you find this little tutorial helpful, of cause if you are not confident in your own handyman skill please get a professional to fit your lock.
