What level of difficulty am I facing. replacing the deadbolt lock myself?
emmie_keeferton asked:
If I were to purchase a deadbolt lock at Home Depot, how hard or easy would it be for me to change it myself? I am somewhat mechanically inclinded (but not really), but I have very little experience in maintenence repairs, etc. I can read & follow directions pretty well, as far as installation instructions….
If I were to purchase a deadbolt lock at Home Depot, how hard or easy would it be for me to change it myself? I am somewhat mechanically inclinded (but not really), but I have very little experience in maintenence repairs, etc. I can read & follow directions pretty well, as far as installation instructions….
I’d prefer to avoid paying an over-inflated fee to a locksmith to do something I may possibly be able to do myself.
Also, I really don’t like it when a reapir/service person won’t even give me a ballpark figure over the phone, and yet they charge a flat-rate fee JUST TO SHOW UP. I mean…. I have made it clear that I am not looking for an exact quote–just a ballpark figure, is all.
I’d really prefer to do this myself, if possible.
More questions & answers:
- Getting deadbolt lock changed… Do u trust a locksmith, knowing that this person may have a key to your home?
- can I change a deadbolt lock without buying a whole new one?
- Entry level Locksmith work?
- Don’t call a locksmith.. You can open that door yourself?
- My car door lock wont open on the driver’s side, from the outside. How can I fix it myself?
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Comments on What level of difficulty am I facing. replacing the deadbolt lock myself? »
I would buy it and read the directions and see if it something you may be capable of and try. If that does not work, find a friend who would be able to help you and if not then go to home depot and ask one of the knowledgeable people that work there for some advice.
If you are just replacing one it is pretty easy. If you can read directions go for it. All you should need is a screwdriver. Pay attention to the setting in the directions because they are adaptable for different door thickness. Go ahead and buy one, then you’ll be able to figure it out.
buy it and follow the directions, a screwdriver is all you need. 2 screws hold the lock in place and 2 screws hold the bolt and jamb plate in place,take out lock first then the jamb plate and bolt and replace with new one..if you do it once you will be able to do it again in about 3 to 5 minutes. go for it.
Replacing a deadbolt lock yourself is on the difficulty level of a first grade 10 piece puzzle.
Go to home depot or Ace hardware, tell one of the sales associates if you can find one what you want to do, they will walk you to the proper isle, show you different styles of deadbolts. Pick one that looks like the one you are replacing.
When you get home, follow the directions that comes with the new deadbolt. This should not take you more than 10 minutes. 5 minutes to read the directions three times, and 5 minutes to change the lock.
REPLACING a deadbolt is a piece of cake. It’s a little tricky putting one in for the first time if you have to carve out the bolt hole in the jamb.
For the most part it`s fairly simple. It definitely more technical than just turning a few screws and depending upon the brand, can be quite frustrating. Don`t get me wrong,I`m not attempting to dissuade you in your DIY experiance, I`m just giving you a heads up that you may possibly encounter a few problems not covered in the instructions. Before purchasing the deadbolt, ask an associate about the ease of installation aspects of the model you`re looking at. Sometimes they are actually smart enough to give you some advice on installation. Unless you`re an ultra security freak, I would stear away from double cylinder deadbolts. They will only compound your installation problem, and personally I think they`re a safety concern. If and when you make your attempt, the only installation points I would stress would be the correct positioning of the tailshaft through the bolt and proper alignment of the whole mechanism for free movement. These points should be covered in your instructions GOOD LUCK GRASSHOPPER!!!!!! Email if you wish
If you are just replacing one, its easy, but they dont go bad that
often – it might just require some lubrication. If you are wanting
to install one, where there was none, then you are over your
head – its very tricky and you can screw up your door.