Vaughan Deadbolt Lock Installation
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Vaughan Deadbolt Lock Installation – How To Install a Deadbolt Lock
Few things compare with the deadbolt lock when it comes to security. Over the past few hundred years, the deadbolt has become synonymous with safety and home security. Your home is not truly secure unless you have at least one on each of your exterior doors. Installing a deadbolt is a relatively simple procedure that requires just a little know-how and a couple of specialized tools.
In order to accurately complete this installation, you’ll need the following:
- A deadbolt lock kit
- A screwdriver
- A power drill (with a hole-saw attachment)
- A chisel
- Safety Goggles
- A pencil or awl
- Ink (lipstick or paint will work)
- Tape
- Sandpaper
Before you begin, make sure that you thoroughly read the instructions for your particular model of deadbolt. The instructions that I’m going to give you are simply general directions on how to install an everyday deadbolt lock. Your model may have an extra step, or one less, if you bought a different model. At its basics, installing a deadbolt is like installing a fancier, more secure lockset; so if you’ve ever dealt with that you should already be a step ahead of the game.
First, take the template that came with your deadbolt set and tape it around the edge of the door where you want to position the deadbolt. Ideally, you don’t want to place it less than 6 inches or further than 12 inches away from the door knob. Make sure that it is level and that the two holes for the actual deadbolt set line up on either side of the door. You can us the approximate reference points on the template for the thickness of your door. Tape it into place so that it doesn’t move. Use a pencil or an awl to mark the door where the holes should be placed.
Now, your door should be marked for where you’re going to drill. Use the hole-saw attachment and a pilot bit to drill out the door for the deadbolt. Stop drilling when the pilot bit emerges from the opposite side of the door and continue drilling from the other side. Never drill straight through your door as it will cause the wood to splinter and one side of your door will wind up looking pretty bad.
Use a smaller hole-saw attachment and drill out the hole for the bolt. Stop drilling when you reach the hole created for the deadbolt. You can use a combination square to keep you level with the door, but most power drills these days come with a level on them. Check your instruction for specifics on this step as some bolts require a different drill pattern. Once you’ve done this, put the latch plate over the bolt hole and trace its outline onto the door. Use the chisel to create a space for the latch plate making sure that it will be flush with the edge of the door. My suggestion is to work in small increments. You can always chip more away, but you can’t add more wood once it’s gone. Once this is finished, use the sandpaper to smooth out the edges of the holes and latch notch.
Now before you install the deadbolt, try assembling it. This will give you a good idea of where things are supposed to go before you have to work within the confines of the door. Once you’ve established the relationship between the locks moving parts, go ahead and install the lock. Be sure that it’s snug within the holes that you drilled for it. If it moves around inside of the holes, you may need to apply some silicone to make it fit correctly.
Now that your deadbolt is installed, you need a strike plate on the door jamb. The best way that I’ve found to accurately do this is to apply a little ink (or lipstick or paint) to the edge of your bolt. Close the door and try to turn the bolt. When you release the bolt and open the door, the ink will have perfectly marked the strike path of the bolt. This is where you’ll work.
Using the same methods that you used to install the latch plate, you’ll install the strike plate. Secure the strike plate around the ink outline of the bolt and trace the plate’s outline with your pencil. Using the same hole-saw attachment that you used to drill out the hole for the bolt, drill out the same hole in the door jamb. This will only secure an outline of the hole. Use a regular drill piece to drill out the center; if you have a spade bit, this is a great time to use it though it’s not extremely necessary. Use the chisel to carve out the mortise for the strike plate, again making sure that it will be flush with the door jamb. Drill holes for the screws then mount the strike plate to the door jamb.
Now close the door and turn the bolt into place. If it doesn’t smoothly drive into place, you may need to widen the holes or the bolt or in the door jamb. If it does, that’s great. You just made your home a bit more secure by installing a deadbolt.
If at any point you don’t understand a step, don’t have the right tools or any other reason, don’t be afraid to call a professional Vaughan locksmith. They can be there within minutes and make sure that the job’s done right. This job is pretty cheap and the technician will probably help you to know where you went wrong. Some locksmiths even offer troubleshooting over the phone that’s free. Either way the job gets done, you know that you’ve made your home a little harder to break into with a world-famous deadbolt.
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