Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Thank you for this information! Sign up for easy DIY tutorials, product giveaways and discounts. The diameter of the latch bore is generally 1 to accommodate bolts from either mechanical or electronic locksets. The other benefit from having heavy duty strike plates is priceless. Then, open the door. Its not a long job, and at least you can relax when you know you have a proper fitting. The door kick-in is a commonly used tactic used by opportunistic burglars. Door strikes are one of those items that no one notices until theres a problem, anyway. It keeps the door in place until the door knob or lever is turned which releases the latch. I bought a dead bolt strike plate thru Walmart from Home design hardware A quality strike plate is made of heavy duty metal and attached to a doorjamb. Our goal is to stop this from happening, following the tips in this guide will help prevent this. If you have something different, please contact us so we can help you find exactly what you need. With a traditional strike plate, a simple door latch springs into its hole to keep it closed. Hole Centers, Steel, Satin Nickel Plated, Satin Nickel Full Lip Door Strikes (2-Pack). If in doubt, get someone to do it for you.
Before trying to correct the problem, its important to know whether the latch is missing above or below the strike plate hole. Chrome or This refers to any plate, including trim and handleset plates, that surrounds a keyhole or lock. Unskilled workers getting things done as quickly as possible. It functions as an anchor point, a way to reinforce the door frame by engaging the deadbolt and keeping the door locked tight.
Check whether the latch is contacting the strike plate above or below the hole and how much the latch is misaligned. There are a few easy ways to help figure out the cause of the problem, and many causes are fairly easy to fix. The majority of deadbolts are one inch long (25.4mm). Put a strip of masking or painters tape on the strike plate, then close the door.
If the mark is below the strike plate hole, then the problem may be caused by sagging hinges.
Extended lip strikes are an easy, DIY-friendly answer to this common problem! Door hardware terms and parts of a door lock. Check the swing of the door and verify that the new position for the strike plate is lined up with the latch so that it will close smoothly without rubbing or catching on the frame. Theres little point to having an excellent deadbolt and the best strike plate if the door jams, hinges, door and door frames are weak. 2010 - 2022 Factory Direct Hardware. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Door Wrap Plates will help strengthen this area. A lot of folks who think theyve got pretty good security measures in place are in fact quite vulnerable. and 1-3/4 in., Stamped Steel, Brass Plated Finish, White Plastic Base, 1/4 in. Here's a few pictures of various styles. Find licensed contractors in your area and get free, no-commitment estimates for your project. However, if you shimmed or sand down the hinges, enlarged the strike plate hole, or moved the strike plate, then there may be some clean-up and touch-up required to finish the job. You still need to take window security seriously, but make doors your first priority, especially the main entrance. By Timothy Dale | Updated Oct 25, 2021 11:01 AM. 
All rights reserved. It's somewhat made up for by the fact that their are many screws, typically 3 hinges with 4 screw's each. A strike plate or "Strike" is a metal plate that is secured to the door jamb for the purpose of reinforcing the latch on the lockset or deadbolt. The grading system is expressed alphabetically (A, B and C) and looks at three different categories: Security, Durability and Finish. A properly balanced door will close correctly, but the latch and strike plate hole may still be out of alignment. If its out of alignment by more than inch, then you may need to move the entire strike plate hole (see how to do this below). 210-929-2495, Lastly, after we have reinforced the Strike and Door lock assembly with the above products, the next weakest ling is typically the hinge side of the door. A paintable wood filler and a coat of paint or stain that matches the rest of the door frame completes the repair. Need help finding the right Door Hardware for your application?
Taking into consideration a properly installed strike, on an in-swing door. Kick-in burglaries often occur because of weak or poorly fitted strike plates. Another critical thing to check for is the bore-depth of the deadbolt hole, the physical hole that is drilled into the jamb must be at least 1" deep, or a deadbolt will only extend partially, when a deadbolt does not fully extend, it does not "Dead Lock". We'd love to help. With all installations, there are minimum and maximum measurements required for your lock to be compatible. The reality, however, is quite different. Interestingly even a "passage" non-locking door knob will provide considerable kick-in protection if a strike is properly installed.
Lets start with the parts of the lock youll typically find in the box when you purchase door hardware from Schlage. Ideally, you want doors that cant have their locks picked or their doors kicked in. If we artificially limit the throw to only allow a partial extension, you'll see that the deadbolt does not "dead lock" and can be easily manipulated. 210-929-2495, Locked out of car? This is the best place to spend money and effort. And heres something you may not know: four out of every five homes broken into have alarms installed. If youve ever accidentally locked yourself out of your house or a hotel room, you know this type well. If your house has thicker or more decorative casing, a standard strike wont cover it, and, before long, the trim will be gouged and scuffed. Many door locks come with a standard full lip strike, which works fine as long as the trim around the door is narrow enough to fit behind the strike plate. W, Steel, Satin Nickel, Fix-A-Latch Strike Plate Repair Kit, 1-3/8 in. You also need to have a strong deadbolt, one that works in harmony with the strike plate, so be sure to check that.[2].
Like your cars engine under the hood, this is the internal body of the lock, the unseen working mechanisms inside the door. If the problem persists after adjusting the screws in the hinges, then the door frame may need to be shimmed or sanded. One is that they offer an extra layer of quality door security for anyone. Make the doors in your home safer and more secure by installing mechanical door closers, door checks and slam-proof door dampers. Even if you live in a low crime area, youre still vulnerable to a break in, especially if your home security is lax. Depending on the lock you choose, there are a number of available trim styles and finishes to meet your specific preferences and that fit the uniqueness of your homes look and style. Front door security is paramount. Learn about Security Camera Picture Quality and Whats the Best for Your Home.
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Comments must be approved before appearing. Are Neighbors Security Cameras Invading Your Privacy? Your email address will not be published. The strikes often come from the factory with tiny 1/2" screws.We recommend replacing them with 3" screws. Hole Spacing, Classic Bronze Finish, Meets ANSI A156.2, Fix-A-Latch Strike Plate Repair Kit, 1-3/8 in. For more information on door terminology or installation help, visit Schlages, Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. The solution is simple, replace the small screw's with 3" screws that make contact with the stud behind the trim. On average, a housebreaker spends no longer than 8-12 minutes inside a residence. Be sure to check other areas of door security too, like frame and locks. The deadlocking plunger does not go inside the strike pocket! Beyond parts, there are a few more terms you might find helpful when it comes to purchasing and installing your door hardware. and 1-3/4 in, Steel, Satin Nickel Plated Finish, White Plastic Base, Door Latch Strike Plate, Steel Construction, Classic Bronze Finish, Standard T-Strike, 2-1/8 in. With the right strike plate, you get to strengthen your door thus protecting it against kick-ins. Here we look at how to reinforce your door to help prevent burglars from entering into your private space.
Door knob latches also contain a "Deadlocking plunger" and it is critical that this piece sits correctly on the strike or else, similar to the deadbolt example above, the latch mechanism will not "Dead lock". A half-round file will match the curvature of the latch hole, making it the best choice for widening the strike plate hole. For the strike plate to be most effective, you need screws that are three inches in length, no shorter. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. However, if contact is made above the strike hole, then its more likely that the position of the strike plate is the issue. A right-handed lever has the door hinges located on the right side of the door as you look at it from the outside. When the cardboard is in, replace the hinge and check the door. 210-929-2495, Door wrap around plates are used to reinforce the door, once the strike has been properly installed, using 3" screws and reinforced, this is commonly the next weakest link.
If youre replacing a too-short strike plate with an extended strike, be sure to choose one that matches your existing hardware. If you live in a house, you will likely have two or more entrance points. Even a heavy duty strike plate is of little use if the screws used are too short.
Older doors and doors that are frequently used may experience sagging at the hinges as gravity pulls the door down.
Once the door is closed shut, the doors bolt extends into the strike plate hole(s) and keeps it locked tight. An affordable door intercom system is a great place to start strengthening your home security defense. These strikes come in a variety of lengths and help protect the door casing from wear and tear caused by the latch. You need to understand in a kick-in situation the trim board splits, once this happens it will rip the entire trim board in half and blow out, it does not matter if you've got 1, 2, 3, or 4 deadbolts installed on your door, without proper strike installation and reinforcement, that trim board is going to blow out and all those additional locks will do you no good. Whether exploring the world of door hardware online at websites like schlage.com or visiting your local home improvement store to purchase door hardware that meets your specs for security, performance and style, it helps to be able to talk the talk. For more information, check out our blog post on understanding lever and door handing. There are probably many more that go unreported. 2000-2022 Build.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Firefox.
Your entrance doors are where most burglars try to get in, so this is where you want to fit heavy duty deadbolt strike plates. This means it can easily be "Jimmied" or forced with a screwdriver/knife/credit card. The doorjamb, or doorpost, is the vertical section of your doorframe that secures the door. Top 3 Wireless Home Security Cameras Indoor Only, Top 3 Home Security Cameras Outdoor Only, Safest Place to Hide Valuables in the Home, How to Set Up Your Amcrest ProHD WiFi Indoor Camera System, Things to look out for When Setting up Indoor Wireless Home Security Kit. A: When a door wont latch, the latch is missing the hole in the strike plate on the door frame. According to the FBI, theres a staggering 1.1 million residential burglaries each year. First, remove the strike plate from the door frame. Similar to a faceplate, the strike plate is a metal plate that is affixed to the doorjamb and has a hole (or holes) that accommodate the lock bolt. Give us a call or send us an email by clicking on the contact us link below. The shape of the faceplate used during installation depends on your doors preparation. It may have rounded corners or be a circular drive-in faceplate.
Hi, my name is Mark Bickmore. This will often times pull up a sagging door, and also add significant security and kick-in protection. Need Help? They come in many different shapes and sizes, for various applications. What this means for you is, the lock can be "Jimmied". Well also provide some practical understanding of the various door lock and security options available to you. To test where contact is occurring, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the door latch. After removing the strike plate from the door frame, use a metal file to enlarge the strike plate hole. The cross bore is the main hole drilled into the face of the door where the body of the lock (chassis) is installed. It "Sits" on it, this engages the deadlock!
Your email address will not be published. All Rights Reserved. The extra material adds an additional cushion to support the hinge and balance the door. 
