How to Install a Deadbolt Lock
In my teenage years, I learned heard that doors without deadbolts are very easy to pry open. So, I decided that it would be a good idea to add a deadbolt to each door leading to the outside (and the door leading into the garage) of my current home. With that, here are the specifics:
1. The first thing I did was decide what style of lock that I wanted. At Home Depot, I was able to find a style that very closely matched my current door handles. The prices of lock vary greatly, depending on the quality and finish.
2. For doors without glass, I chose a deadbolt with a keyhole on one side and a knob on the other. For doors with glass panes, I chose a deadbolt that with a keyhole on both sides. This is to prevent a burglar from breaking the glass, reaching through, and unlocking the deadbolt.
3. I had the locks re-keyed to work with my existing house key. Home Depot also did this for me. They either charged me $5 or $10 (I can't remember) per keyhole.
4. I bought a lock installation kit (here is one that I found online). They range between $10 and $20 and include a template and the drill bit (my lock also came with a template). Make sure that you get the correct size for you door and lock. Kits are sold for both metal and wood doors. I have both kinds of doors- go figure. I bought the kit with the drill bit for metal doors and it seemed to work fine on the wood door too.
5. Read the instructions! The last thing you want is an extra hole in your door.
6. Using the template, mark the location of the screws and hole for the lock cylinder.
7. When drilling the hole for the cylinder, drill from one side until the point of the drill bit protrudes through the other side, then switch to the other side of the door and finish drilling the hole. The purpose of this is to prevent the door from splintering.
8. Follow the specific instructions included with the lock. For me, the most difficult part was chiseling a mortise for the latch plate and the strike box. eHOW.com has an article on How to Chisel a Mortise.
9. Take great care in aligning the bolt with the strike box. On one of my doors, the bolt and strike box are slightly out of alignment and it can be difficult to set the bolt if the door is not closed just right.The deadbolts complement a home security system in enhancing home protection.
Jon
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