How to Repair a Wood Door Lock?
A wood door lock is a security feature that helps keep your home safe. Unfortunately, a broken or stuck one can make your life stressful if you don’t know how to fix it. But it doesn’t have to be a hassle or cost you too much money.
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The first thing you should do is determine the cause of the problem. Often, the cause of a wood door that won’t close is simply a hinge or latch that’s getting loose and needing to be replaced. But in other cases, a more complicated fix may be necessary to get your door back in working order.
Sagging Hinges
Over time, the top and bottom hinges of your door can begin to sag. This can happen as a result of abusing the door, but it can also be caused by foundation shifting that causes your doors to become out of alignment with each other.
If your hinges are sagging, the first step is to check the hinge mortises in the frame for misalignment. They need to be deep enough to accommodate your door’s hinge. If they aren’t deep enough, sand them down until they’re the correct depth.
Once your hinge mortises are at the correct depth, replace them with screws. You can use any size you like, but you’ll want to choose ones that are a little larger than the old ones.
Strike Plates Too High or Too Low
The strike plate, or metal plate that sits on the front of your door jamb, plays a crucial role in locking the deadbolt into place. If it isn’t installed correctly or if the foundation shifts slightly, the strike plate can be out of line with the latch and make it impossible to lock your door securely.
It’s best to be able to see the point where the latch contacts the strike plate, so a lipstick test can help you determine whether it’s too high or too low. Pick up a tube of lipstick (bright red works best) and stick some masking tape to your strike plate as you close the door.
As you shut the door, the lipstick will stain the masking tape so you can see the exact point where your latch and strike plate meet. If your latch is too high, you can try to move it up or down with a hammer and screwdriver.
Alternatively, you can drill a hole in your door and use a plug of wood that is as thick or thicker than the surface of the door to hold it in place. This can be done with a hole saw and is a fairly easy fix for most people, but it’s not without risks.
Loose or Stuck Keyhole
A keyhole that’s sticking can be caused by a buildup of dust and grime on the inside of the lock. There are several ways to clear the dirt from inside your keyhole, but the most effective way is to spray it with compressed air. Once you’ve cleaned it, you can lubricate it with penetrating oil or a spray straw to prevent any further damage to the mechanism.