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

A damaged door lock can make your home an easy target for burglars. Changing your lock is a cost-effective option to improve security without making your door unusable.

Many locks come packaged with a cardboard model that you can wrap around the edges of your door to ensure it is properly fitted. This will help you avoid buying the wrong lock.

The Cylinder

The cylinder is the main element of a door's mechanical lock. It houses a collection of spring-loaded pins that ensure that the door is locked even when no key is inserted into the hole. When the key is put into the doorknob the uneven edge presses upwards onto the pins in the cylinder, allowing them to fit to their correct positions. When the pins are in place into the cylinder, they allow the bolt, also known as the latch, to move forward and engage the door's inside.

The bolt extends out of the cylinder and then into the box, a hole that is drilled in the door frame. The box is designed in a way that the bolt cannot be easily pulled out. A clip spring ensures that the bolt is retracting when the door is closed. When you turn the handle to close the door, the spindle within the cylinder spins. When it's done rotating the slanted portion of the bolt is retracted into the door frame. The bolt rests on the carved out area of the doorframe and keeps the door closed until you have to open it.

A faceplate is an internal metal plate that is fixed to your door on either side of the hole that is used for the deadbolt. Its purpose is to shield the mechanism of locking from damage caused by the knob's repeated insertion and removal. Are you installing a new lock? Make sure that the faceplate is in alignment with the hole on your door frame. Also, make sure that the faceplate is securely attached both to the plate and the latch bore.

If you're replacing a door lock be sure that the deadbolt fits properly by sliding it into the strike plate's opening hole. When you're finished then screw the strike plate and the central part of your new lock into place. Don't over-tighten, as this could cause damage to the latch or stop it from fitting into its groove. You can test the new lock by turning the key with the lock in the locked position. If you spot any issues, such as loose latches or a loud deadbolt, it's time to replace your old lock with a new lock.

The Faceplate

A faceplate is an oversized flat plate that is attached to the lathe's headstock to hold the workpiece. It has a variety of screw holes that are drilled through it, where the screw thread passes from the back and winds into the wood. A faceplate can support many different shapes but in general they have to be positioned, fixed and balanced and balanced, which aren't easy tasks compared to ease of using the tool chuck.

A typical faceplate is equipped with a number mounting holes. In this case, three are positioned at 120Adeg intervals to receive the mounting screws 18 in FIGURE. 2. These screw holes are made by using an interchangeable insert 16, or directly into the faceplate body. A portion between the faceplate has a stepped area which serves as an index to locate a specific position on the blank workpiece.

The stepping region is resistant to abrasion so that the fastener won't damage the chisel that is used to cut into it. The faceplate's body has different properties than the surrounding area. Machining into this region alerts the turner to possible impending contact with fasteners and gives them time to react.


Screws used to hold a faceplate into place must be of a size that fits inside the screw hole, leaving just a small amount of free play. There should be no space left behind the screw when it is tightened on the block of glue, as this may allow the block to shift during turning. A larger-gauge screw will also seat more securely into the faceplate. The screw should go through the middle of the screwhole to prevent the possibility that the screwhead could come into contact with the workpiece.

The Strike Plate

The strike plate is among the most important parts of your door lock. The strike plate is what keeps the bolt from sliding when you close the front door. The strike plate can also help to strengthen the lock and stop intruders from breaking in by applying force against the latch and jamb.

A strike plate is a thick metal plate that is inserted into the doorjamb (the vertical part of the frame) with a hole that allows the latch or deadbolt to traverse through. When the cylinder turns, the bolt will shoot out of the strike plate into doorjamb and keeps it closed.

There are a variety of strike plates available depending on the requirements of your. If you need a strike plate that is compatible with your lock it will be listed with the information for the product. Most strike plates are identical and will work with standard latches as well as locks.

Standard strike plates are typically fitted with ovular screws as well as a "C"-shaped piece that functions as washer. how to replace window locks are typically used on doors with rounded corners and are available in a variety of sizes to match your door.

For added security, you can opt for strike plates with no lip and is made specifically for deadbolts. This is a great option in areas where security needs to be achieved quickly such as stairs. This is a great option for those who want to secure the equipment or documents in your home.

Installing a strikeplate for your box will also increase the security of your doors. It gives more thickness to the strike plate and strengthens it. This makes it much harder to get into the door by using the latch or deadbolt. It's often required on commercial doors that have a security lock.

If your strike plate is misaligned with the latch bolt, try spraying it with a quality lock lubricant. If this doesn't work, you will have to adjust the strike plate by drilling new screwholes and widening your catch hole. It is best not to make too many adjustments to the strike plate. Repeated and drastic adjustments can cause it to lose effectiveness.

The Deadbolt

A deadbolt is a metal bolt that binds the door to the doorjamb frame. As opposed to a spring-latch that is used in doorknobs that can be loided (jimmied) with credit cards or other tools like latch slips, a deadbolt is locked using a key, thumb turn or electronic (in the case of keyless and smart deadbolts). They are more secure against forced entry methods such as kick-ins, and they are easy to use with very little maintenance.

The bolt is inserted into a hole or socket in the door jamb, which is then reinforced with a strike plate for additional security. The bolt should have a minimum of 1 inch in length to make it more difficult to remove the door. It is also crucial to select a deadbolt that has an ANSI rating which signifies how securely the lock has been tested.

The strike plate also helps to hold the cylinder in place. There should be three holes through the bolt. One, in the center, connects the facepiece to the cylinder. The other two are to the left and right of the central hole. These are where the screws are used to connect the cylinder to the bolt. The screws should be included with the new deadbolt. Certain locks come with decorative covers that snap onto the facepieces. Consult the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that the covers are properly installed.

Selecting the best lock for your home involves considering your lifestyle and what level of security you require. Single deadbolts with cylinders are the most popular lock and are available on a wide range of exterior doors. Keyless deadbolts are secure but more difficult to use. Smart deadbolts let you lock and unlock them with voice commands, or through an app on your mobile.

A professional locksmith can assist you in determining which type of lock is best for your home and can install or change the lock. Upgrade your front door lock to increase the security of your home. Consider adding a double-cylinder or reversible deadbolt on the side of your front door to provide an extra layer of security.