Our Recommendation: If you need to mix brands and locking is particularly important, you should know that some brands can be keyed alike, however, they are not always guaranteed to be compatible with one another, so it should be avoided if possible.
One of the main factors to consider is the backset, which is measured from the center of the lock's hole to the edge of the door. The backset measurement of a door determines if a lock will fit it properly. Door handedness, or the direction the door swings when opened, is another crucial factor for lock installation.
Standard Door Measurements
Lock Bore The diameter of the hole for the lock body. The standard bore is 2-1/8”. Many older doors had bores that were been smaller. Most of the current locks require the standard 2-1/8” bore.
Changing locks on a door can involve either replacing them or rekeying them. Both methods ensure that old keys will no longer open the lock. At the end of this article, you'll find a full cost comparison of replacing versus rekeying, by a professional locksmith and as a DIY job. Replacing door locks.
Are Doorknob Sizes Universal? Most modern doorknobs will fit most standard doors, but this is not a universal law, so doorknobs are not universal, so you will need to measure the borehole, backset, and door thickness before you install your doorknob.
Replacing your door handles is a simple and effective way to update your home, but it is important to ensure that they will fit with ease and cover any old fixing holes or marks left behind from your old door handles.
Standard Door Prep for Door Knobs & Levers:
Most interior doors are prepped with a single boor hole. The standard sized bore hole is 2 1/8" in diameter. Through the edge of the door there is a 1" cross bore that extends from the edge of the door through the bore hole. (This cross bore is where the latch is installed).
Rekeying is usually cheaper, and it still provides you with a renewed sense of security. If you move into a new home or if your key is lost or stolen, rekeying your lock will almost always suffice. If your lock mechanism is beginning to deteriorate, however, consider changing the lock.
New, upgraded locks provide extra safety and comfort by knowing your home is protected. It costs between $45 and $500 to change a door lock, including the door hardware and labor. However, specific costs will vary based on door type, the number of locks installed, and additional lock features.
While the process of changing a door lock is relatively simple, there are few tips and tricks that will ensure your new front door lock works like a charm for years to come. We've laid out a step-by-step guide to changing your door lock, with all the tools and materials you'll need to get the job done right.
You can work out the size of the lock by measuring the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the door handle or knob. This measurement will give you the approximate size of the backset which will allow you to identify which size lock or latch you have.
Replacement hardware needs to fit your door, and hardware for a new door requires a hole saw in the correct size. Typically, deadbolts need a bore hole 1 1/2 or 2 1/8 inches in diameter. Levers and handlesets usually need a hole 2 1/8 inches in diameter.
The most common door prep uses a two and one-eighth inch cross-bore with a one-inch edge-bore. Another popular installation uses a one and one-half inch cross-bore with a one inch or seven-eighths inch edge-bore.
Any time you replace exterior door hardware, it is helpful to know your keying options. Most exterior locks purchased in-store come with a unique key. That means if you purchase multiple exterior locks at once, they will each have a different key required for access. This can be a hassle.
ANSI Grade 1 door locks offer the highest level of lock security. These locks are very difficult to pick or break and are resistant to any tampering with the lock's parts like removing pins, screws, etc. They're mostly used in high-security and commercial settings like banks and office buildings.
While you get the keys to your new home at the closing, you can't know how many copies of the keys the previous owners had made and how many might still be floating around. That's why it's important to have the locks changed out.
If you have a quality lock, it can last for decades. So you should expect your lock to last about seven years. Door locks last longer when they are properly maintained. It is also essential to have the lock installed properly.
Most locksmiths advise that a door lock should be changed once every seven years.
We rekey Kwikset and Schlage locks at a fraction of the price of having to replace your locksets. We can also create a 'master key' for superintendents or landlords that need access to multiple units without carrying a hundred keys. We also key Masterlock padlocks to an existing Masterlock key.
Rekeying a lock is a common task for a locksmith, and this simple project only takes about 30 minutes to complete. The only tools you'll need to rekey your lock yourself are a rekey kit and the current key to the lock. This saves considerable money, especially when you need to access multiple locks with the same key.
The main difference between a lock rekey and changing your locks is that rekeying locks fixes your existing hardware and changing your locks means you want to replace your hardware.
To remove a doorknob, the only tool you'll need is a Phillips-head screwdriver (the one with four ridges that come to a point like a pyramid). Start by removing the two screws that hold the knob in place on one side of the door. For some knobs, you'll need to remove screws from the other side as well..
There are two main components in how a door is prepped. The large main hole that the door knob mounts through is called a Bore Hole. The smaller hole that is drilled on the edge of the door is where the latch is installed and is called the Crossbore.
Most deadbolts need a hole 2-1/8-inches in diameter for the body of the lock to fit into the door. The bolt on a typical deadbolt requires a 1-inch hole in the edge of the door.