Providing a correctly-sized hole for the latch and deadlatch.

Reinforcing the door frame around the latch hole.

The strike plate is a thin sheet of metal that is screwed into the doorframe at the same height as the bolt.

Here is an excellent video explaining how the deadlatch works and how easily it can be bypassed if not set up correctly. This can result from too large of a strike plate or a misalignment. If the hole in the doorframe allows the deadlatch plunger to extend fully, it will not lock the primary bolt. While the deadlatch is compressed, the primary spring bolt will become locked and can no longer be manipulated.īut, for the deadlatch latch to work properly, the strike plate must be installed correctly. When the door is shut, and the primary spring bolt is pushed into the door frame, the deadlatch will remain held in by the doorframe. The deadlatch is a spring-loaded secondary bolt that sits behind the primary and larger spring bolt. That being said, many doorknobs have a secondary locking mechanism built into the latch assembly called the 'deadlatch' or 'deadlocking plunger.' This is why exterior doors should at minimum use a deadbolt as a primary security measure. Additionally, the lock cylinder only keeps the handles from turning and not the bolt from retracting.Īs a result, these locks are vulnerable to slip and shimming attacks, such as bypassing a lock with a credit card. However, this slant makes the doorknob vulnerable-even when locked. They can also utilize low-security privacy locks, such as those on bathroom and bedroom doors, that can be unlocked in emergencies with small tools like a screwdriver or a paperclip.Īdditionally, some doorknobs contain no locking mechanism and function only as a doorknob.įor convenience, the end of the bolt is slanted on one side, which allows you to push the door closed without manually turning the handle to retract the bolt.

The most common type of lock found on exterior doors is pin tumbler cylinders that use a traditional house key to lock and unlock. Meanwhile, the outside knob or handle typically features a lock cylinder that requires a key to engage and disengage the locking mechanism.ĭoorknobs and handles can contain a variety of different locking devices. The inside knob or handle typically includes a thumb turn that allows you to engage the locking mechanism with your fingers. The common door lock will have two knobs or handles-one on the inside of the door and one on the outside. Let's cover the anatomy of a door lock and its terminology in detail. Most doorknobs consist of 6 main components.

Exterior door knobs with deadbolt