How To Change A Front Door Lock?

Changing the front door lock might look tedious, but is a necessary task to do as it is concerned with the safety of your house and other valuable belongings you possess. There might be times when you need to change the front door lock, for example, if you move to a new house that was previously rented by someone else, if your roommate moves out or if your lock somehow breaks.

Steps To Replace A Front Door Lock

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You don’t need to spend a fortune while changing your house lock, you can easily do it by yourself as it is easier than it sounds. All you need to do is to follow the given set of instructions and use proper tools.

Step 1: Old Front Door Lock Removal

Open the door that requires its lock to be changed. You can see the two long screws firmly placed on either side of the deadbolt. In case your deadbolt has a fancy plate over it, you will have to remove that. To remove the fancy plate, you need a bobby pin or thin wire to insert in the small hole provided. Then, you need a flathead screwdriver to insert in the small gap provided on the plate. Pull a little and the ring comes out. Now you can easily see the two long screws.

Using a Philips screwdriver, unscrew them from the deadbolt and keep them safe. Catch the exterior plate with your hand and prevent it from falling.

Unscrew the small screws holding the bolt on the door edge. Using a claw hammer, carefully remove the bolt.

Once again, using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the screws of the strike plate embedded on the door frame.

Now your old lock is completely removed.

Step 2: Measure Door Lock For Dimensions

You need to measure the correct dimensions so that you can buy a new lock that fits on your door. You will require a measuring tape for this purpose. Now proceed as illustrated below-

First of all, measure the hole where the old deadbolt was placed. This is the same hole where a new lockset will be fixed. Generally, the diameter of this hole is 2(⅛) inches, but make sure you measure it for a perfect adjustment of the new lock you are going to install.

Now measure the ‘setback distance’ of the lock setup (in most cases, it is either 2(⅜) inches or 2(¾) inches), which is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lock hole.

Next, measure the thickness of the door and make sure that you buy the new lock that fits completely. If the door wood is too thin, or the lock you buy is too wide according to the door, you will have to arrange a custom-cut plate.

Step 3: Find A New Lock That Fits Your Door

Having the appropriate measurements, you need to find the lock which fits your door. To make your task easier, note the brand name of your previous lock and try to find a new one of the same brand. If you buy a new lock of the same brand as the old one, you won’t need to make any major adjustments.

Step 4: Insert The New Bolt

Insert the new bolt from the place where it was removed. Adjustable bolts are also available in the market whose length could be adjusted by rotating. The bolt has a mark “up”. This mark should be on the top while placing the bolt. Examine through the hole that the bolt is correctly positioned.

Step 5: Fasten It With Provided Screws

After making sure that the new bolt is correctly positioned, fasten it with the provided screws. New screws provided with the new lockset are recommended to be used because the old ones might not be as strong or could be damaged.

Step 6: Connect The Interior And Exterior Plates

After the bolt is properly positioned and fastened, it is time to attach the new exterior and interior plates. Both the plates should be easily slid and positioned without applying any additional force.

Once both the plates are properly fixed, use two long screws to secure the bolt and plates together firmly. Use a powerless drill to screw these long screws because it would be time taking if manually done by a screwdriver.

Step 7: Attach Decorative Base Plate

Having the basics done, the lock is fixed. Now you need to attach a decorative base plate. Some kits provide the decorative base plate with them or you can also buy them separately according to the size of your deadbolt.

Step 8: New Front Door Lock Installation

Your front door lock is almost installed with one last step. Fix the strike plate on the door frame using new screws. After you fix the strike plate, your new front door lock has been installed.

Step 9: Test Your New Lock

After you are done with the installation of the new lock, make sure to test it. Open your several times both from the inside and the outside. Make sure that the door tight tightly shut and the locks in not loose.

Also, make sure that the latch goes into the strike plate securely when the door is locked. Having these parameters thoroughly checked, your lock is ready to use.

Step 10: Front Door Lock Changed

Congratulations! You successfully changed your front door lock and now you can go anywhere without worrying about someone picking your lock.

Replace Front Door Lock & Handle

Changing the front door lock and handle is no tedious task. All you need is a new lock and handle set and a flat head screwdriver. Using a flat head screwdriver, unscrew the screws holding the cover plate of the handle. After removing the cover plate, wiggle and pull the handle gently.

After this, you need to remove the latch plate. Remove the screws fixed with the latch plate and pull it out from the edge of the door. Take measurements using a measuring tape. Find a suitable lock and handle for replacement. Insert the new latch plate from the edge of the door and fasten it with new screws.

Having the latch fixed, fix the new cover plate using new screws again. Attach the new handle and press it a little to properly position it. Make sure to check the lock and handle after installing it.

Replace Front Door Lock Barrel

The tools required to change a lock barrel are a measuring tape, a Pozi screwdriver and a new lock barrel. Lock barrels come in various sizes so it is important to take correct measurements. Buy a new barrel accordingly. Take out the old barrel removing the fixing bolt using a Pozi screwdriver.

Insert the key in the barrel and turn it slightly for easy removal of the barrel. Before installing the new lock barrel, insert the key inside it for the barrels to be aligned. Insert the new barrel in the door and again, turn it to a slight angle to position the barrel.

After making sure that the barrel is fixed, secure it with a fixing bolt. Don’t forget to check the lock after changing it.

How To Install ?

Some doors already come with holes and spaces provided for the lock to be installed. However, if your door does not have one, then you can easily make space using a wood drilling hold machine and a wood chisel. Insert the latch from the edge of the door and rotate it to adjust the size.

Fix the latch with the screws provided. Now attach the interior and exterior plates using two long screws. You can add a decorative base plate or cover plate for the deadbolt or handle. Once again, make sure to check the lock after installing.

What Is The Cost To Change It?

The cost of changing the front door lock depends on the type of hardware you are using. Installing locks of high quality or ones with the system of the universal key can be quite expensive. These can cost you from $200 to $600. However, cheaper locks can also perform the task of protecting your house costing you from $50 to $100.

Final Talk

Now after knowing the techniques of installing new and changing old locksets, you can do this simple task on your own! You don’t need to worry about finding a good locksmith or spending a lot of money. Just a little precaution and your job is done. Do make sure to Lock a Door From Both Sides.