Questions tagged [latches]

Hardware used to secure the opening of windows, doors, cabinets and more. If the latch includes a lock, use the lock tag instead.

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Door strike plate with moving part - what is it for?

My friend has an exterior door with this strike plate on its frame. Does anyone know what this type of plate is called, and what purpose it has? The inner part is hinged in a way that allows it to ...
Ben Regenspan's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
50 views

Omnia latch set rose cover removal

I called Omnia and they sent me the rose cover washer installation tool. The problem is that the tool doesn’t fit inside the threaded washer. I called Omnia back and they said they only have the one ...
Christ Gorges's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
3k views

How does one adjust a fence gate when its gravity latch scrapes the house?

I bought a house which has a side fence gate with a latch scratching the side of the house. The damage was already there. It's not that bad, but I'd like to adjust the latch to prevent the damage from ...
Alexis Wilke's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
70 views

Can I repair and rekey this salty security door?

I bought a new house that has an awesome security door that's missing the latching mechanism. It has a lock but I don't have a key for it, so I'd also like to rekey it. I started trying to take the ...
Bob's user avatar
  • 21
0 votes
0 answers
43 views

Can't seem to get a door hinge tight which is causing a door that won't latch

This is interior door that sits around 4 inches from the nearest perpendicular wall. We had a contractor put it in around 3 years ago and it was fine until this past month. The latch no longer lines ...
retrop's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
1 answer
56 views

Sliding door cannot open after fixing strike plate

The strike plate was loose (the door wouldn't latch properly), so I tightened the strike plate and closed the door. But now the door is stuck and I cannot open it. What should I do? Do I need to undo ...
user171893's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
335 views

Door knob strike plate is hitting casing extension/trim

I installed a one piece security strike plate on my new door frame (it has the openings for both the knob and deadbolt on one plate). I’ve discovered the knob latch hits my jamb extensions (and if the ...
adam's user avatar
  • 9
0 votes
1 answer
52 views

Spare part identification for replacement purchase toolbox latch/catch/clip/hinge/toggle for holding the case closed

I'm looking for a replacement for this in my toolbox because it broke: Can you also help me find the correct word to use. I think of locking latch/catch/clip/hinge/toggle for holding the case closed ...
therobyouknow's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
6k views

How do you fix a front door latch that will not retract when you turn the knob? [closed]

I have taken the back plate off of the lock and nothing appears to be worn or broken. However, the door was shut when the latch got stuck, so I cannot pull the whole latch out. The lock is made by ...
Jillian's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
2 answers
112 views

What would be a robust way to install the door stop

The aluminium door used to have the latch installed on the wall. And the door used to swing right out to latch to it. Because the height of the retaining wall was over a metre, we installed this ...
Rohit Gupta's user avatar
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7 votes
4 answers
2k views

How to prevent push button on screen/storm door latch from freezing?

I came home today and discovered the push button on the front screen door was frozen solid and it wouldn't move even with brute strength banging. I thought, no problem, I'll just go to the back door, ...
David Bailey's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
74 views

Which latch should I get to replace the one on my front (storm) door?

The locking mechanism on my front (storm) door got broken, rendering it useless. What I’d like to do now is replace the latch with a new one, but I can’t find any branding on the door, so I’m not sure ...
LRitter's user avatar
  • 99
-1 votes
1 answer
99 views

Schlage - latch stopped Retracting

Suddenly the latch won’t retract unless I turn the knob. I have the Schlage Encode; I reached out because I was told it was faulty mechanism. They disagreed that my issue is related to the Encode yet ...
Jane's user avatar
  • 1
-1 votes
1 answer
251 views

How to dismantle marvin window to repair latch?

The latch on one of my marvin windows (~25 years old) "fell off" and dropped down inside the thin wood-covered plastic trim. How do I get that piece (labelled "A" in the images) ...
Gary Aitken's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
225 views

How can one lessen noise from a drop bar latch?

I live in a historic 18th century American home that has "drop bar latches" as door hardware on the interior doors. Although this is possibly a reproduction of a best guess at the original ...
brubsby's user avatar
  • 317
1 vote
3 answers
505 views

Stopping cat from opening corner sliding doors

In my bedroom, I have a pair of wooden corner sliding doors, pictured below: My cat is banned from entering the bedroom when we're sleeping here, since she keeps waking us up. However, actually ...
Noctiphobia's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
692 views

How to prevent pool gate plunger latch/lock from freezing?

This MagnaLatch lock is a really nice product, but rain/snow/ice gets under the plunger, then inside the cylinder, then freezes. I have tried rubbing alcohol to unfreeze the latch, but the best ...
Evil Elf's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
950 views

What could be wrong? My front door latch opens OK from inside, poorly from outside

The following Kwikset lockset on my front door no longer works well. From the inside rotating handle it's fine. From the outside it's sticky, as the bolt does not fully pull in. This particular ...
Bryce's user avatar
  • 10.7k
2 votes
1 answer
232 views

My latch allows to double lock from the outside... why, and is it safe?

I am a tenant in the UK. I live on the first floor (2nd floor in US scheme), there is no fire exit and the flat is big enough for a couple. The latch on my flat's door is the Ingersoll 'Classic' ...
Mysterry's user avatar
  • 121
2 votes
6 answers
9k views

Type of exterior door lock that always allows exiting?

I am looking for a lock and handle mechanism for an exterior door that is always openable from the inside. E.g. locking with a key locks the exterior handle from opening the latch, but the interior ...
cms's user avatar
  • 121
3 votes
1 answer
173 views

What is this worn part on this door handle assembly?

I've been having problems with our Kwikset front door handle. It's a lever on one side, and a press down latch on the other. When you try to open the door, it doesn't retract the bolt all the way. ...
Frank's user avatar
  • 365
0 votes
3 answers
238 views

How can I secure a door latch blocker without drilling?

I have a door latch cover that looks like this: Its installed in a common area so I cannot drill any holes. Right now its attached to the door with an elastic band as shown in the photo but they keep ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
105 views

What is this 1950s brass door catch called

I'm looking for a replacement for the pictured 1950s internal door catch. I can't find one, and don't know what they're called. I've tried "gravity catch" and "teardrop catch" ...
aucuparia's user avatar
  • 803
17 votes
8 answers
6k views

How to (more) securely attach a latch to a frequently-used wooden gate

Our house's front yard is separated from the street with a low picket fence with a spring-operated gate. The latch of this gate has been consistently problematic because it is exposed to the weather ...
Justin Grant's user avatar
  • 1,577
0 votes
2 answers
546 views

How to shim a doorknob latch plate

I'm replacing all the doorknobs in my new house. The new knobs "latch plates" (not sure what the proper term is) are thinner than the old ones, so they sit a bit too deep in the space that ...
The111's user avatar
  • 215
0 votes
1 answer
111 views

Finding replacement upvc door keeps

We've recently moved into a new house and we've found that some of the doors are not closing properly. We had a locksmith in to change the locks and he mentioned that we needed to get a 'keep' for ...
Richard Nienaber's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
374 views

What are these latches at the top and bottom of this window for?

Getting a hernia trying to open these windows. I've unlocked them so they're either stuck or I'm doing something mindlessly wrong. Regardless, scratching my head trying to figure out what these ...
LAMATL's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
4 answers
4k views

How do I prevent an interior door from latching?

I have an interior door (with doorknobs, not handles) that auto-closes. I would like, most of the time, to be able to just push the door open and not have to turn the knob. However, I don’t want a ...
Calion's user avatar
  • 101
0 votes
0 answers
110 views

Suggestions for finding replacement interior tilt latches?

I need to replace the left and right window tilt latches on an older vinyl window but I can't find any retailers who carry what I'm needing. I see there are numerous tilt latches that can be attached ...
Patrick's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
813 views

How to repair Garden gate latch 'spring clip'?

Google for "garden gate latch" and you'll see the gate latch we have. It's sold by the hundreds of thousands worldwide under different brands. I bought mine in the UK through B&Q (Blooma ...
paul_h's user avatar
  • 305
3 votes
1 answer
6k views

How to repair a French Door latch that's keeping the door from opening

I have an exterior French door that, in addition to the normal door latch, also has bars that extend both upward and downward as part of the latch mechanism. The door handle is used to extend these ...
mschaef's user avatar
  • 133
0 votes
2 answers
133 views

What's a workable low hassle privacy latch for the inside of an interior door (against the jamb)

I need to add a privacy latch on this side of this interior door. (Photo #1) I looked through an extensive set of latches at a local hardware store and none of them had the right strike plate or ...
Bryce's user avatar
  • 10.7k
0 votes
0 answers
78 views

installing a keyed-entry door handle without switching latches?

I have an internal door that currently has regular passage door handles without a lock and key, which I'd like to replace with keyed-entry door handles. Is it possible to replace just the handles and ...
o c's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
2 answers
919 views

Is there a replacement mailbox lock that is more pry-resistant?

The communal curbside mailboxes at my townhouse frequently are pried open. (The unit is a Salsbury Industries, Aluminum 3504ASU Surface Mounted Vertical Mailbox with 4 Doors and USPS Access). I know ...
A Barron's user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
1k views

Magnetic Mortise Latch for American Style Doors

I am looking to make the door handles for my kids' rooms quieter. Today I went through and oiled everything, but the latch / mortise assembly (??correct term?) that I have in my doors are still pretty ...
HelpEric's user avatar
  • 489
1 vote
1 answer
526 views

How to deal with sharp door latch corners?

There is a doorway that sometimes people walk through and get scratched on their arms by the latch on the door and occasionally it even draws blood. I think it's because the two external corners of ...
Syncopated's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
48 views

Identifying Window Latch

I would appreciate it if anybody could tell me what type of window latch is in the picture below? I bought a house and need to change a couple of these that are broken. Thank you!
Clueless's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Interior Sliding Door Latch or Snib, openable from both sides

I'm looking for a interior sliding door latch or snib that can be released and engaged from boths sides. I've been unable to find such a piece of hardware, it should not be lockable. Each item I have ...
jezr's user avatar
  • 29
0 votes
0 answers
74 views

Do I need a special kind of locksmith for accurate installation of latches in a solid door?

I have some expensive doors made of solid oak and I need them to be drilled and mortised for latch sets. I am a little nervous about hiring a random locksmith to do this work, because if they screw up,...
Tyler Durden's user avatar
  • 6,789
0 votes
1 answer
215 views

What is this sliding door latch called, and where can I find it?

I have a sliding door. The part that the the lock interacts with, on the wall, has broken. It looks like a double hook (pictures attached). I went to home depot and no one knew what it was or where ...
Tyler S. Loeper's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
561 views

Finding replacement for antediluvian lock

I would like to replace an internal lock on the cupboard door in my flat. The lock is very old and I struggle to find a similar type in B&Q. I can mostly find locks that are to be mounted inside ...
Konrad's user avatar
  • 157
2 votes
1 answer
127 views

How can I both insulate and get a latch to work on this window? Foam kerf insulation strips

After trying many options, I've finally found something that might work to reduce drafts and noise through these 1925 historic windows: But that latch. Original brass, matches the house, but won't ...
Bryce's user avatar
  • 10.7k