16
votes
Accepted
How can I remove this Kwikset entry door dead bolt lock?
There are two small indentations in the screwheads that a large screwdriver will fit into for screw removal.
- 1,164
13
votes
How can I make it so that locking a deadbolt switches on the porch light?
I am sorry your bikes were stolen, that's awful.
I think your plan is sound if fully considered (electrical safety, structural soundness), but burying that switch in your door frame doesn't sound like ...
- 266
8
votes
Accepted
My deadbolt isn’t retracting any more and turning it doesn’t do anythjng
That is a broken deadbolt. As you say, it appears to be missing an important component. The Encode uses a tapered deadbolt so that it can more easily be operated by the small motor inside the lock, so ...
- 11.4k
7
votes
How can I make it so that locking a deadbolt switches on the porch light?
Does the idea of an indicator lamp seem sensible? Sure; as a scheme for monitoring the state of something at a distance this has been implemented countless times.
Yes, a momentary switch may be ...
- 30.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Security door with lock guard
It's called a "Thumb Turn Cover", "Door Latch Guard", or "Cylinder Guard" and installs under your thumb turn mount plate, so it should be a DIY job.
It took me a very long time to pick out my ...
- 2,567
6
votes
Accepted
How can I make it so that locking a deadbolt switches on the porch light?
Googling for 'mortice lock with switch' turns up https://www.adiglobaldistribution.co.uk/Product/DA223 which is precisely what you're asking for, except that it will need an external relay or similar ...
5
votes
Will installing a deadbolt on a 1920s bathroom door decrease the resale value
Privacy locksets (generally used for bathrooms and bedrooms) are designed to be less secure than a keyed lockset or deadbolt for a reason. In the event that access is needed from the outside (due to ...
- 35.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Cannot adjust dropbolt on bifold doors which is catching
That is called a manual flush bolt. The piece that protrudes through the top and bottom of the door is called the bolt head.
Both the bolt head (which is threaded to an actuating rod), and the ...
- 35.8k
5
votes
4
votes
Lock can be opened with credit card even when deadlatch is fully depressed
If the strike bolt can be depressed by direct pressure when the small strike is not fully extended, then the lock is poorly made or broken. Replace it.
You should consider using a lock of higher ...
- 14.4k
4
votes
Unable to get bolt out of door
If you are saying the bolt is extended into the frame and won't retract, try pulling the hinge pins and removing the door by "opening" the door on the hinge side.
- 377
4
votes
Deadbolt locks from outside with key, but not from inside
In a deadbolt, the key cylinder is often directly linked to the bolt. But the hand turn-able knob only actuates on the cylinder.
So under normal operation, the knob turns the cylinder, causing the ...
4
votes
Ways to mitigate safety risks with double cylinder deadbolts on enterance/exit doors?
The way to mitigate the safety risks is to not use a key inside. It doesn't provide any protection, anyway, so there is no good reason to use that type of lock; it is inherently unsafe even if ...
- 6,118
4
votes
Swapping a lock for a double cylinder
Maybe I'm missing something others have seen, but to me that looks like a standard euro lock barrel.
Look at the face plate of the lock and see if it has this extra screw.
If so, that's all that ...
- 11.5k
3
votes
Accepted
Do I need to do anything special when drilling a hole for a deadbolt in a 2 inch door?
No, actually, the locking rod is made to snap off at various lengths, to make up for varying door thicknesses.
Make sure to center the bolt itself on the door edge. Disregard the factory template, as ...
- 2,021
3
votes
The deadbolt on the door is broken preventing opening the door.
This may just be friction from the door frame pressing on the bolt, caused by humidity changes or a shift in the frame. If so, pulling or pushing on the door while trying to retract the bolt may ...
- 29k
3
votes
Accepted
How to install deadbolt into a thin door?
To my knowledge, you won't find any modern in-door deadbolts that can accommodate such a thin door. Even if you padded the width of your door around the installation point to reach the minimum needed,...
- 798
3
votes
Accepted
Unable to get bolt out of door
The bolt may possibly be held in the door frame by friction due to misalignment. If this is vertical misalignment, using a prybar under the edge of the door and shifting the door up a little may allow ...
- 21.9k
3
votes
Accepted
What is the use the plugs over this deadbolt's bolt holes?
Those are screw caps, to prevent nasty people from tampering with the cylinder. They are generally removed by drilling them out.
- 6,269
3
votes
Install deadbolt in steel door and door jamb
Since you already have the holes drilled, it seems you will need to make this work somehow. The latches that are supplied in many new lock sets typically have a few face plate options for the strike ...
- 35.1k
3
votes
Options to cover imperfection on metal door around new lock
metal door != plaster
Plaster (or I suspect, drywall patching compound) is for drywall. Would work somewhat on wood. Metal? Not so much.
I wouldn't use a white cover - it won't be exactly the same ...
3
votes
Question about outswing door on attached toolshed
Sometimes sheds just are not built like standard construction. You are right that the door is mostly hung on what appears to be brick molding. If you want real strength from the hinges and the latch ...
- 27.9k
3
votes
Accepted
Question about outswing door on attached toolshed
No and no (well yes, but not with the results that you want)
It was done that way because it was installed backwards (on purpose) as an out-swing door rather than the typical in-swing door while the ...
- 5,729
3
votes
Weird cylindrical deadbolt housing
Everyone of those that i have encountered as just be pushed in.
Sometimes they are held in by friction and sometime they are loose and fall out.
It could be that is a snug fit and when the screws that ...
- 13.6k
3
votes
Smartkey rekey making multiple copies question
Most hardware stores have the equipment to copy keys as do locksmiths. Take the key in and tell them how many copies you want.
- 556
3
votes
Accepted
Smartkey rekey making multiple copies question
Ever have a briefcase or combination lock where you can change the combination via a procedure? And once you do, the new combination IS the combination, and the old one doesn't work anymore. That's ...
3
votes
Exterior entry door handle & deadbolt: What is a combined locking handle + deadbolt called?
OK, it looks to be a commercial Schlage product
The full name: "Commercial Tubular Interconnected Double Locking Entrance Lever Set"
Here they are for sale
https://www.build.com/collection/...
3
votes
Will standard deadbolts and door knobs work on a 7/8" thick security door?
The answer is likely no. Most modern locksets are standardized for 1-3/8" interior and 1-3/4" exterior door thicknesses, with some tolerance for variation from those dimensions. 7/8" is ...
- 138k
3
votes
How can I make it so that locking a deadbolt switches on the porch light?
Assuming this is your usual style of deadbolt (turn the knob/key, the bolt shoots into the strike plate hole), you could glue a magnet to the tip, and install a (normally open) reed switch in the door ...
- 3,438
3
votes
Deadbolt bracket hole (not "knob" hole) is too big
Generally you take a piece of filler wood cut to the dimension of the old mortise lock, screw it into the door from both front and back face and then fill in the remainder with bondo. Once the bondo ...
- 14.2k
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