Repair Door Lock Strike Plate

When you close the door the lipstick transfers to show if the latch is hitting the strike plate too high too low or just right.

Repair door lock strike plate.

A strike plate the metal plate affixed to a doorframe with an opening for a door latch or deadbolt that needs repair will show itself when the door lock s latch bolt misses the hole in the strike plate or when the door won t stay latched or closed. File off enough metal to allow the latch to catch inside the plate and secure the door. Insert either a triangular file or a flat file that s small enough to fit inside the strike plate. The strike plate is the small piece of metal on the door frame where the latch from the key rests when the door is closed.

Have a door out of alignment due to settling. The family handyman suggests covering the strike plate with masking tape and smearing lipstick on the latch. The stripped hole repair kit from king s original ha. Is the door adjusted properly.

Check where the latch on the door hits the strike plate on the frame. The side of a door frame where the lock engages is known as the strike side of the frame. Replace the plate fill the gap at the top or bottom with wood putty and refinish. If they don t line up the lock won t work properly.

File the striker plate. This fix a latch strike plate repair kit is constructed this fix a latch strike plate repair kit is constructed of stamped steel and white plastic components and it comes in a brass plated finish. For more than a 1 8 inch misalignment remove the strike plate and extend the mortise higher or lower as necessary. This kit can be used to easily repair a door that fails to latch when it is closed.

The kit includes a strike plate for use with a 1 3 8 in. If your filing action is shaking the strike plate remove the plate and secure it in a vise for your repair. T interior door and another for a 1 3 4 in. The strike plate receives the door latch and or deadbolt for your door lock.

You can also solve misalignment by replacing the strike plate with an adjustable door strike available at amazon or home improvement centers. If this is not your problem see door repair for all of the door repair topics. Many problems with doors and hardware can be solved with some adjustment to the door.