Door Lock Replacement - What Are the Different Parts of a Door Lock?

Faulty door lock can make your house an easy target for burglars. Changing your lock can be an inexpensive way to improve security without making your doors unusable.


A lot of locks come with a cardboard template you can wrap around your door edge to ensure that it will fit correctly. This will help you avoid buying the wrong lock.

The Cylinder

The cylinder, also referred to as the lock body, is the main part of the traditional mechanical door lock. It is made up of a set of spring-loaded pins which keep the door shut even when there is no key into the hole. When the key is inserted into the doorknob, the uneven edge presses upwards on the pins inside of the cylinder, which allows them to be inserted in their proper position. When the pins fit into the cylinder, they allow the bolt, also known as the latch to move forward and engage the door's inside.

The bolt extends from the cylinder, and into the box, creating a hole that is drilled in the door frame. The box is designed so that the bolt cannot be easily removed. The bolt is retracted by a clip spring once the door closes. When you turn the handle to close the door, the spindle within the cylinder spins. The slanted end retracts into the door's frame when the spindle has completed its rotation. The bolt is positioned in the carved-out area of your doorframe, securing the door shut until you are required to open it once more.

A faceplate is an internal metal plate that is affixed to your door on either side of the hole that is used for the deadbolt. Its function is to shield your locking mechanism from damage that can be caused by the frequent removal and insertion of the knob. Installing a new lock? Make sure the faceplate is in alignment with the hole in the door frame. Also, make sure the faceplate is secured both to the plate and the bore of the latch.

When replacing a lock on a door make sure that the deadbolt is correctly seated by sliding it into the the strike plate. Once you're done, screw the strike plate and the central part of the lock back into the hole. Don't over-tighten, as this can cause damage to the latch or stop it from fitting into its groove. It's a good idea to test your new lock by turning the key when it's locked. If you find any issues like a loud deadbolt or loose latches it's recommended to replace the lock with a new one.

The Faceplate

A faceplate is a flat plate that is attached to the headstock of a lathe to hold the workpiece. The screw thread is wound into the wood through the series of screw holes. A faceplate can support many different shapes, but in general they have to be positioned properly, balanced and fixed, which are not easy tasks when compared to the simplicity of an tool chuck.

A typical faceplate is equipped with several mounting holes, in this instance three placed at 120Adeg spacing to accept the screws used to mount the workpiece of FIG. 2. These screw holes can be made by using an insert that can be interchanged or directly into the faceplate body. The faceplate features a stepped area in the middle that acts as an index mark for locating the exact location of the blank workpiece.

The stepping area has been designed to resist abrasion to ensure that the fastener doesn't cause damage to the chisel used to cut it. The surface of the body of the faceplate is different properties compared to the surrounding region and machining into this area alerts the turner to possible contact with the fastener and gives the turner time to react.

Screws used to hold a faceplate into place should be of a size that seats inside the screw hole, leaving just a small amount of free play. There should be no space left behind the screw once it is tightened on the glue block, since this can allow the block to move during the turning. A larger-gauge screw will also seat more securely in the faceplate. upvc window locking mechanism repair RepairMyWindowsAndDoors should be inserted into the middle of the screwhole to avoid the possibility that a screwhead might come into contact with the workpiece.

The Strike Plate

The strike plate is a crucial element of the door lock. It's what keeps the bolt from slipping out when you shut the door. The strike plate can also help to strengthen the lock and stop intruders breaking in using force against the jamb and latch.

A strike plate is a large metal plate that installs in the doorjamb (the vertical portion of the frame) with a hole for the latch or deadbolt to pass through. When the cylinder rotates, the bolt shoots through the strike plate and into the doorjamb, keeping it closed.

There are many different kinds of strike plates depending on the requirements of your. If you need strike plates that work with your lock it will be listed with the information for the product. The majority of strike plates are identical and work with standard latches as well as locks.

The majority of standard strike plates have ovular screw holes and a "C-shaped" piece that functions as washer. They are typically used on doors with rounded corners. They are available in various sizes to match the door.

You can add extra security by installing a strike plate with no lip that is designed for deadbolts. This is a good option for areas that must be secured quickly, for instance stairs. It's also a great choice to secure the equipment or documents inside your home.

Installing a strikeplate for your box will also improve the security of your doors. It adds thickness to the strike plate and strengthens it. This makes it more difficult to get in through the latch or deadbolt and is often required for commercial doors with security locks.

Spray a lock-lubricant on the strike plate if it isn't aligned with the latch bolt. If this doesn't work, you'll have to adjust the strike plate by drilling new holes in the screw and widening the hole for the catch. You should not make too many adjustments to the strike plate. Repetitive and extreme adjustments could cause it to lose effectiveness.

The Deadbolt

A deadbolt lock is an extremely strong metal bolt that secures your door to the doorjamb's frame. A deadbolt lock is different from a spring-latch found in doorknobs. Instead of being able to be locked using credit cards or using professional tools such as latch slips, it can only be locked by the use of a key, thumb-turn or electronically. They are more user-friendly and require less maintenance. They also provide greater protection against forced entry methods like kick-ins.

The bolt extends through a socket or hole in the doorjamb that is strengthened by a strike plate to provide additional security. The bolt should have a minimum of 1 inch in length to make it difficult to remove the door. You should also choose a deadbolt that has an ANSI rating, which indicates how secure the lock is.

In addition to securing the bolt the strike plate also helps to hold the cylinder in place. There should be three holes that run along the bolt: one located in the middle connects the facepiece and the cylinder. The other two are to the left and right of the central hole. The screws are inserted into these holes to join the cylinder and bolt. The screws should be standard with the new deadbolt. Some locks come with covers that snap onto the facepieces. Consult the instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure that they are installed correctly.

When choosing the right lock for your house, you should consider your lifestyle and the level of security that you require. Single cylinder deadbolts are the most commonly used lock type can be found on a variety of exterior doors. Keyless deadbolts can be more secure but more difficult to use. Smart deadbolts let you lock and unlock the bolt with voice commands or a mobile app.

A professional locksmith will assist you in determining which type of lock is best for your home and will install or change the lock. Upgrading your front-door locking system is a cost-effective option to boost the security of your home. You can consider installing a double-cylinder, or reversible deadbolt to the inside of your front door to provide an extra layer of security.