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.

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

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. 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.

One possible reason for this is that your door isn t properly aligned. Unscrew the strike plate from the door jamb clamp it in a vise then file it down to the chalk mark above right. If the screws have been stripped they will not tighten in the holes and you ll need new ones. Open the door and look for a telltale kiss on the strike plate.

Lift the door up to relieve the pressure on the hinges and tighten the screws. For instance some of the best front door locks are a mixture of mortise locks.