How To Get My Door Lock To Line Up

Look very closely and see how much space is between the door and the jamb.

How to get my door lock to line up.

If the door is sagging and will not line up with the latch check the door hinges. To ram a door you need to focus your energy on the points that really matter. This basically means that the lockside frame and the hinge side frame are twisted in the rough opening. First make sure all the hinges are tight.

Both of my hinges were secure but my door was still sagging and not latching correctly. To line up the lock and the strike plate so that the lock goes into the hole easily try filing around the edge of the actual lock and the strike plate. Here s a guide on how to assess the situation figure out what s wrong with your door s alignment and correct the issue so that all your doors click closed with no issues. When houses settle doors and door frames can become misaligned.

If the door is not latching properly the easiest place to start with is with the door hinges. As a result it might become tough to lock a dead bolt because it no longer lines up with the strike plate. Place a level on the top edge of the door while it is open to see if it hangs level. Usually the backset measures 2 3 8 inches or 2 3 4 inches.

Sure you could do this yourself each time you close the door e g lift up on the door as you close it to force the latch bolt up into the latch bolt hole but let s do the right fix and do it one time. If the lock side doesn t line up perfectly with the hinge side the door will appear to be extending into the room or not fit tightly to the door stop. Now try closing the door and give it a push. Look for gaps all around the edges of the door when it is closed.

If a deadbolt lock is not working properly take a look at the alignment of the bolt lock and the strike plate. The goal here is to exert enough force that dislodges the lock or the hinges from the door. Before purchasing a lock measure your door s backset cross bore and thickness to ensure you find the right fit. This can either be the door lock or the door hinges.

Similar to the process of drilling a lock this method looks to forcefully circumvent your locks. Wood frame houses tend to settle and shift over time which can knock door frames out of square. The door needs to follow the same plane as the hinge side. When the hinges are loose the door will travel up and down while it is being opened and closed.

Using a phillips head screwdriver tighten all door hinges so that none is loose. Open and close the misaligned door to look for areas where it sticks or doesn t line up correctly. Introduction loose door latches can happen whether your home is just off the market or old and full of character. The distance between the edge of the door and the center of the lock hole.