Deadbolts are typically installed 6 to 12 inches above the doorknob. Mark a line to designate the height of the center of the deadbolt. In addition to the height above the doorknob, you will also need to mark the backset—the horizontal distance from the edge of the door to the center of the deadbolt.
At a minimum, deadbolts should be at least 1 inch long. The longer it is, the harder the door will be to breach.
The door backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the 2-1/8-inch bore hole for the door knob, lever or deadbolt. In the United States, there are two common backsets for residential door locks: 2-3/8 inches. 2-3/4 inches.
The two most common are 5-1/2” and 6” from the centers of the two holes. There are other combinations of spacing which are used on specialty locks, however.
The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the bore hole. There are two common backsets for residential door locks: 2-3/8″ and 2-3/4″.
To determine the correct backset measurement for your door, you will need to measure the distance from edge of the door to the center of your bore hole. Two common backset measurements are 2 ¾ inches and 2 3/8 inches. At Nostalgic Warehouse, our standard measurement is 2 3/8 inches.
A backset is the distance from the edge of your door to the center of the bore hole (the big hole where the doorknob is mounted). Most doors today are already prepped with the standard sizes. A 1" cross bore hole, 2 1/8" bore hole, and prepped to fit either 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" backsets.
Adjust the screws in the hinges to fine-tune your door's alignment. If it isn't warped or misaligned, you likely need to modify or reposition the strike plate. This may involve filing the plate opening and expanding or drilling new holes in the door frame to allow full deadbolt extension.
Any horizontal deadbolt must have a throw of at least one inch to be considered adequate security. Shorter throw deadlocks are too vulnerable to frame spreading, a common burglar attack, LOCK-IN-KNOB LOCKSETS al'e also known as cylindrical locksets or key-in-knob locksets.
To be truly secure, any exterior door needs a dead bolt. You have a choice of separates—a deadbolt and a lockset mounted separately—or a handle set that incorporates both features.
A simple deadbolt is an effective lock, and is often regarded as well suited to front doors. Again, if you are following all of the safety tips listed above, including buying a solid door, a traditional deadbolt knobset or leverset may be the perfect choice for your home.
Ideally the lock should display horizontal for locked and vertical for unlocked. This is the accepted standard in most of the world. In actuality, this is more dependent on the manufacturer of the lock and when/where manufactured.
In the U.S. there are two common backsets for residential door locks, 2-3/8" and 2-3/4". The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the 2-1/8" bore hole. We will pack your locks with a 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" latch depending on which backset you specify.
Determining the backset and overall length can be done by removing the existing latch and taking the dimensions. If the door handle or knob is still in place and you'd rather not remove it then you can measure from the edge of the door to the centre of the spindle hole (centre of the handle/knob).
A properly installed door features a 1/8-inch gap along the latch side to allow the door to swing and function correctly. If the gap on your door exceeds this standard clearance, your door may fail to latch, leaving you vulnerable to security and privacy problems.
Backset is measured from the centre of the keyhole to the edge of the lock. Most backsets are commonly measured at either 44mm (for a 64mm (2½”) lock) and 56mm (for a 76mm (3”) lock).
A doorknob is typically located on a door, which is usually around waist height for easy access. The distance of a doorknob from the floor is about 1 meter (approximately 3 feet).
Single cylinder
This is the most common type of deadbolt used. Single cylinder deadbolts have an exterior keyhole that throws or retracts the deadbolt using a key on the outside. On the inside, you can lock and unlock the deadbolt with the thumbturn.
The standard Kwikset deadbolt is the most common lock in America.
Knob locks are the most common type of door lock available and the chief security method for most doors. The lock cylinder is located in the knob itself instead of the door. Thus, knob locks should not be used on external doors, as they can be easily broken into with basic tools like a hammer or wrench.