How to Choose a Replacement Door Lock The door lock is the most crucial part of your home's security. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/nottingham-window-lock-repairs-near-me/ to change your door locks as they become worn out or compromised. Changing locks can also be an effective way to update your decor or add the feeling of security after divorce or a blended family. Learn the fundamentals of installing a new door lock. Replacement vs. rekeying The option of changing your locks is a way to improve the security of your property. It's important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of replacing versus rekeying locks. Rekeying is a good option if you don't need to replace your entire lockset. It's a less expensive and quicker procedure than replacing all of your locks since it involves changing just the key pins inside the cylinder, rather than changing the entire lock. Rekeying locks can allow them to operate with new keys. This will erase the old ones and make it more difficult for anyone to gain entry into your home or office. This is a popular choice for new homeowners, who want to ensure that previous owners or anyone who has a duplicate key can't enter the home without being spotted. This is also useful for those who are worried about a rogue office worker, as they could use it to stop them from accessing sensitive information or areas of the building. Rekeying offers limited security benefits. Rekeying doesn't do much to stop people from physically attempting to enter an apartment, and it doesn't stop them if they manage to force their entry anyway. If you're concerned about this, you ought to consider changing to a deadbolt instead of rekeying the locks. Another scenario where you may want to think about changing your locks is when you've been the victim of theft. This is a frequent incident for businesses, so it's crucial to act swiftly in the event of this happening. By rekeying your locks you'll be able to stop those who have stolen them from gaining access to sensitive areas of the business, and it will also allow you to have an easier time submitting a police report in case something goes wrong. The best reason to change locks is when they're damaged or broken beyond repair. It could be as simple as a bolt that's stuck or a handle that is broken and cannot function. It's also an ideal idea to swap your locks if they're constructed of cheap hardware that is easily altered for example, a door knob or lever with spring-loaded latches that can be easily bypassed with credit card. Measure Your Door You must first determine the dimensions of your door before you choose the lock. The best way to determine these is to use tape measure along with a pen or pencil. Utilizing your fingers or an arm's length measurement is inaccurate and will give you the wrong measurements. First, measure the width of the door from the bottom middle to the top. Be sure not to include the frame. You can also determine the height from floor to threshold (for interior doors) or up to the top of the inner part of the frame. If your door is drilled for mortise locking systems you'll need to take some extra measurements. The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the hole that was pre-drilled. Most common backsets are 1" and 2" (or 44mm and 57mm). Once you've determined the location of your deadbolt it is important to know the depth of the hole in the door, which is measured from the top of the door to the centerline of the latch actuating hole in new installations, or from the bottom of the door to the top of the lock strike in existing openings. Then, you'll have to decide if your new door will be out-swinging or in-swinging. This is important, as certain locks require special installation techniques based on swing direction. Now that you've got all of your measurements, it's time to shop for your replacement lock! Make sure you keep all of your measurements on hand and bring them with you when you visit the store to select a lock. This will ensure you get the perfect fit and your door looks great! Happy shopping and good luck! If you have any concerns, feel free to contact us! We're always ready to assist! We're open Monday through Saturday from 10AM to 6PM. You can also contact us via Facebook or Twitter. We look forward hearing from you! Find the Lock that's right for you You'll have to choose the appropriate lock for your house. The best locks are high-graded, and they can deter thieves. Grade 1 locks are considered the strongest and are recommended for front door. The best starting point is the website of the manufacturer. Most manufacturers will provide complete installation instructions as well as hotlines for customer support. They'll also give you recommendations on how to install the product in your door. This will assist you in determining whether it is something you can do yourself or if a professional would be required. If you are installing a new lock, it is important to have the correct size keyhole. If the hole isn't big enough, you'll need to have it enlarged or find a different style of lock. You'll also need to think about the thickness of your door because not all deadbolts are suitable for all doors. They usually come with ratings of 2 3/8 inches or 2 3/4 inches, but should your door be thicker or smaller, you'll need to find one that fits perfectly. The materials used in a lock are also important to take into consideration. You don't want to invest in an inexpensive lock that could be easy for a thief to gain entry to your Burlington, MA, home. Choose an item that is certified by the BHMA (Builder Hardware Manufacturers Association) and has the highest rating for quality. It is possible to verify the security rating on your door lever and knob in case you have a more recent door to make sure they meet your needs. This is especially true when children are in the house, or if the previous owners still have the keys. Replacing locks is an easy DIY project. With the proper tools and a amount of experience you can replace your locks in less than an hour. It's also a great option to improve the appearance of your home without breaking the bank. You can also rest assured that you and your family are safe. Install the Lock Your door is the entry to your Burlington, MA, home where you will keep the things that are most important to you. You want to protect your family, pets or things. If a lock isn't doing its job then it's time to replace it. The replacement of your lock is more expensive than simply rekeying it, however, it comes with the benefit of locking your door to the frame. A thief can't pick or pull on deadbolts and a larger bolt makes it harder to get it into place using the wrench. If you're not certain what type of lock is best for your door, you might want to ask an expert locksmith for advice. Before installing your new lock, you'll have to take the old lock out of the door. The first step is to remove the interior screws that secure the handle section to the exterior lock sections. Then using a screwdriver remove the two locks halves. Then, take off the old latch and knob from the door. When you install your new door lock, make sure you put it in correctly. The latch should be placed on the latch plate and should have an edge that is tapered and fits into the hole for the locking mechanism. Make sure that the screw holes are aligned on the inside of your door to match the deadbolt as well as the rods that receive them. This will allow the screws to thread into the correct position and prevent them from loosening over time. If you are using the same lock you can leave the strike plate and latch plate in place. Compare them with the new lock and if you discover that they're not the right fit then purchase replacements. Install the lock after having installed the new hardware. Start by putting the deadbolt cylinder into its correct place. While doing this, pay special attention to the "up" mark on the deadbolt. This will help you remember to insert it on the right hand side of the door. Then make use of the long screws that come in the lock to join the exterior and interior plates.