If you want to know how to lock the French door interior then read the full article carefully. In this article, we will give you all the easy steps and the equipment required for the process. These doors are very weak in terms of security as two doors meet in the middle point. If they are not properly locked then the door can open very easily which can lead to house robbing. So follow the given steps and ensure the safety of your house.
Steps To Lock French Door Interior
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There are three easy steps for locking the French door interior.
They are as follows-
1. Decide The Place For The Bolts And Mark The Holes
The first part is to determine where you want to fix the flush bolts on your door. After that determine the proper position of holes for the bolts or screw on the door and the door jamb.
Use a tape measure for the proper position of holes and mark the position of holes by using a pencil because if you make mistake you can erase it easily. Don’t use a marker at all.
2. Drill The Holes For The Bolts/Screws
As we have done with the marking of the holes in the previous step, now start drilling holes at the mark.
a. To drill the holes, use an electric drill machine or use the hole saw.
b. The use of the drill machine will make sure accurate holes for the bolts/screws.
c. Drill the hole directly into the door. For the door jamb, chisel the portion which will fit into the whole base plate. Making the hole deep enough will allow the bolt to go inside the door.
3. Fixing Of The Whole Bolt
As we have drilled the holes for the screw, now we should start with installing the base plate of the lock on the French door. Insert the base plate of the lock into the holes and fix it with the help of the screws.
Use a screwdriver for the fixing of the screw into the holes as it tightens the screw properly. Otherwise, if the screw is loosely fixed then the bolt will come out in regular use. The bolt which is to be placed on the door should be placed on the holes which we have cut on the door previously.
The bolt should be properly attached to the door and door jamb. If it is not done then the bolt will chisel out as soon as you attach it to the door. Now, drill the holes for the screws required to fix the flush bolt. Determine the proper position for the flush bolt on the door. Fix the screws tightly to attach the flush bolt to the door.
4. Glass Window Film For The Security Of Door
This installation of glass gives additional security to the French door. If we use normal glass, then they are easy to break which can lead to house robbing. This glass film is very thick in width and is not easy to break.
For installing these glass window films, first, remove the panel from the door and install the glass window film in the door. If not possible we can also use a thin bead of clear silicon at the edge of the door.
5. Installing High-Security French Locks
If you want to secure your French door as much as possible then you can use High-security French locks.
Steps For Installation
1. Use the above three steps but instead of using a flush bolt use a commercial grade double side deadbolt and install it on the active side of the French door.
2. Add one side of the deadbolt on the top of the door and the other side of the deadbolt on the bottom of the door
Tools:
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Materials: NA
Tools For Locking A French Door
There is some equipment which is essential for locking the French door. This equipment is almost available in each home which makes the work easy.
- Flush Bolt – It is the most common lock used in the French door. Because these types of locks are mostly used for double side doors where one side of the door is moving and the other is fixed. The mechanism of this lock to keep the door close is that it recessed into the door edge and it moves up to close and down to open into the door jamb. You must take precautions to check the size and height of the French door and whether it has a round or square corner before installing the flush bolt.
- Screw – The usage of the screw is to hold the gate with the hinge tightly at the time of adjustment. They are fit into the holes of the base plate. The advantage of choosing screws over nails is its slotted heads and threads that ensure the proper hold of the plate with the door jamb.
- Tape Measure – The usage of the tape measure is to measure the distance for the fitting of screws. It helps us to find the proper place where to drill for the screws which ensure proper fitting of the plate.
- Power Drill – Nowadays electric drills are more operational than the conventional hand drills that have been used for the last couple of decades to maintain precise angles and accuracy. It is used to drill in the door jamb and door side in which the plate gets attached. It makes the space for the screws to fit the plate.
- Pencil – It is very important while marking the holes in a proper position. The use of markers can highlight if we get wrong while marking. But pencil marking can be erased.
- Chisel And Hammer – Chisel is used for creating mortise. It can take heavy blows and it has good holding characteristics. Hammer must be double the size of the chisel and heavy enough for the proper working of the chisel. Or you can just buy a great mortise door lock for your French door.
- Screw Driver – This tool is used for turning screws with slotted heads into the door. It enhances the proper fitting of screws into the base plate.
Locking The French Door Without A Lock
There are several ways for locking the French door without a lock.
They are as follows –
- Security Bar – These are the pair of heavy-duty barricades or brackets that are attached to the door fame from its inner side. They block the whole width of the door as it is fixed into the brackets attached to the door jamb.
- Doorstop – Most commonly they are used to prevent the door from closing. But if they are attached to the inner opening of the door then they act as locks to the door. Not helpful for an outward opening gate.
- Floor Barricade – They consist of two pieces. One is attached to the base and the brace which fits into it. For locking, attach the brace to the base. The brace can be removed for opening.
- Door Jammer – It is also an alternate option for locking the door. It is also a typical type of security bar that is slanted towards the floor and attached to the door.
- Removing Door Handle – It is not the best way for locking but it is slightly difficult to get into the house.
- Belt Or Rope – It is also the best option for locking the door which opens outside. It can be used to tie one side of the door to a heavy object such as a fridge in the case when locks get broken.
How To Lock French Door Without Boreholes?
If you want to make your French door with no boreholes then you have to choose non- turnable or dummy function hardware. These types of doors are used when there is no need for a latch or any security bolt to the French door. They are often used as a purpose of attraction or decoration.
For small rooms, you should install the door hardware on the outer side of the door while for large rooms, you should install the doorknob on the inner side of the door. You can also use an adjustable portable lock that does not require any borehole.
One side of the lock is attached to the door jamb and the other to the door. It gets attached and detaches easily. In this mechanism, if you want to buy the non-turning hardware online it is sold as single and in some cases as pair.
Final Talk
Finally, by following the above steps you can lock your French door with ease and it is also a cost-effective process. You can also add a doorknob for improving security to the French door.
Please take precautions while drilling the holes and using a tape measure for marking. If it helps you with your problems, then you can share it with your family members who want to lock their French doors.
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