Install a lockset

If you're buying several keyed locks, and don't want a pocketful of different keys, have a locksmith re-key all locks of the same brand to use the same key. If you're mixing brands, check with the locksmith—some can be keyed alike, some can't. If you're replacing a lockset or installing a new one in a pre-drilled door, the installation shouldn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes. If you need to drill the holes, give yourself an hour or two. The two important variables when installing a lockset are the height of the knob above the finish floor and the backset —the distance from the center of the knob to the near edge of the door.

Most knobs are positioned a comfortable 36 or 38 inches above the floor; check the height of other knobs in the house and keep it consistent. The point at which the knob height and the backset measurements intersect represents the center of the face bore , the circular hole that houses the lockset. A second hole, the edge bore , contains the latch assembly Most locksets come with a cardboard template to help align the two bores.

Check the template for the lock's bore diameters and choose drill bits accordingly. Open the door halfway and tap two shims one from each side between the floor and the door bottom to hold it steady. Measure up from the finish floor 36 inches or the height of other knobs in the house and mark the door's edge. Wrap the cardboard template supplied with the lockset around the door's edge. Align its centerline with the line drawn in Step 2. Punch a nail or awl through the center of the template's face bore.

This marks the center of the face bore on the door. Do the same to the template's edge bore to mark the center of the edge bore on the door. Remove the template. Place the hole saw's pilot bit on the face-bore mark and drill a pilot hole. Stop when the saw's teeth touch the door's surface. Check that all saw teeth touch the surface uniformly, then drill the bore. Remove the hole saw periodically to clear sawdust from the cut.

Stop when the tip of the pilot bit breaks through. On the opposite side of the door, align the hole saw with the pilot hole made previously, and finish drilling the face bore. Drill into the edge of the door at medium speed until the tip of the bit emerges in the face bore. Reduce pressure on the drill to avoid tearing out excess wood, and finish drilling the edge bore. Insert the latch assembly into the edge bore. Be sure that the latch's bevel faces toward the doorjamb.

Outline the rectangular latch plate onto the door edge with a utility knife, then remove the assembly. Using a chisel, cut along the outline as deep as the plate is thick. Turn the chisel bevel-side down and remove the waste, working from the middle out. The plate should be flush with the door edge when inserted into the finished mortise. When you see the point of the drill coming through, stop and finish boring from other side.

Step 3: Drill a hole the appropriate size for the bolt into the edge of door until you reach the cylinder hole. Use the combination square against the edge of the door and the drill bit to keep the bit at a right angle to the door. Smooth edges of holes with sandpaper. Step 4: Insert the bolt into the hole, and place the bolt plate in position over it. Trace the bolt plate's outline on the edge of door.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to remove the bolt and mortise edge for the bolt plate so it will be flush with the surface. Step 5: Use a chisel to cut the mortise. Insert the bolt and plate in the mortise, and drill the pilot holes for mounting screws.

Install the screws to secure the bolt in place. Step 6: Insert the outside lock cylinder so the stems or connecting bar fits into the bolt assembly.

Attach the interior lock cylinder, and secure it with the screws. Step 7: Locate the proper spot for the strike plate on the jamb, and drill the proper-size hole in the jamb.

Using the strike plate as a pattern, mark the jamb for mortising, and cut the mortise. Install the strike plate with screws so it fits flush with the jamb. Sign up for our Newsletter!

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