The main entrance is the first impression for anyone who visits your home. This is actually, the main role of “Decorative Side Frame Doors”.
Usually, they are met in the front entrance of the house. The glass surfaces of these decorative frames are designed to bring more natural light inside your home.
Photo by Stephen W. Hackney Landscape Architecture – More entryway ideas
However, many times it happens that your front door lock feels awkward or hard to lock. In this case, you need to adjust the lock mechanism. It is a simple operation, which does not present any difficulty. No need to call a locksmith, you can do by yourself.
Materials & Tools
– Screw Driver; Hammer; Chisel; Carpenter Pencil;
– Graphite Powder
Your Exterior Door Hardware Should Be Chosen Wisely (howtobuildahouseblog.com)
How to Adjust the Lock
1. Make sure the lock bolt is in line with the hole in the “metal strike plate” from the frame of your door.
It is easy to check. Only, keep the door in the open position, turn the key in the locked position, extending the bolt of your lock. Try closing the door. Using a carpenter’s pencil mark the top and the bottom sides of the lock bolt on the doorframe.
Open the door and check if your marks are in line with the hole in the metal strike plate. If not then you need to remove the metal strike plate from the frame of your door.
– Unscrew the screws that hold the strike plate;
– Find the right position for the metal plate according to the marks made by you on the doorframe.
– Use a chisel if you need to broaden the hole in the doorframe.
– Put back, the strike plate into the new position.
– The lock bolt should slide easily into the metal plate.
2. Spray “graphite powder”into your front door keyhole if you find the lock hard to lock.
Graphite powder is a lubricant used generally, for lubrication of delicate mechanisms such as door locks or watches. You can find this product in any hardware store.
It is necessary to spray several times. Insert and remove the key from the keyhole two, three times. Twist the key in the door lock.
The door lock will begin to work increasingly better.
3. Make sure the screws that hold the lock bolt in position are sufficiently tightened, otherwise the bolt may twist or change its position inside your door. In fact, it is a good idea to heck all the screws if are sufficiently tightened, including the screws that hold the handles of your lock.
4. Look inside of the metal strike plate hole. You will see a metal little tab, which starts from the top downward. Adjust (bend) gently this metal tab. If it is bent too much, then the door will shake on windy days.
