DIY guideDoor
Door won't latch or lock: line up the strike plate
Find where the latch misses the plate, tighten the hinges, then file or move the plate until the door clicks shut.
- 15 to 30 min
- 5 steps
- Every step animated
5 steps
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Rub a little chalk or lipstick on the latch, close the door gently, and see where the mark lands on the plate.
Tighten every screw in the hinges, on the door and the frame. A door that has dropped a little is the usual reason it misses.
If the mark is just past the opening, file that edge of the plate's opening until the latch slips in.
If it misses by more, unscrew the plate, move it toward the mark, and screw it back.
Close the door: it should click shut without a push, and the lock's bolt should slide all the way in.
What you need
- A screwdriver
- A metal file
- Chalk or lipstick
Call a pro if
- The frame is split, or the door has warped
- It's an outside door that won't lock
- The door drags on the floor
Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.
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