Front Door Deadbolt Not Lining Up

Poor alignment can occur because your house has settled or shifted over time the door frame is old or warped or the door is sagging on its hinges.

Front door deadbolt not lining up.

To line up the lock and the strike plate so that the lock goes into the hole easily try filing around the edge of the actual lock and the strike plate. In that case take the hinges from the frame. If the door is sagging and will not line up with the latch check the door hinges. Unscrew the strike plate from the door jamb clamp it in a vise then file it down to the chalk mark above right.

In most cases it means that the latch or locking bolt are not lining up with the door locks strike plate. Loose door locks door knobs and door handles. A strike plate is usually affixed to the door jamb and facilitates the extension of the bolt or latch. If a deadbolt lock is not working properly take a look at the alignment of the bolt lock and the strike plate.

If it s still not locking file away a little more of the strike plate until the bolt locks properly. For instance some of the best front door locks are a mixture of mortise locks. Reinstall the plate and test the dead bolt. One possible reason for this is that your door isn t properly aligned.

Luckily fixing the alignment of your door doesn t have to be a chore. File only the sides that are needed in order to have a proper fit for the lock.