2 out of every 3 newly installed doors I meet don’t lock correctly

[@selock]

I knew I would get some comments on checking the hinge, and yes always check the hinge to make sure they are not loose. I did this when I was putting the cylinder back in but forgot to notate it in the video!

[@ImGumbyDangit]

Very nice Video. I'm not a locksmith so I don't run into these very often. But as a homeowner very informative. The big problem with my doors is changes in weather. In the summer doors and deadbolts seem to work fine. In the Winter I need to force the door closed so the deadbolt latches. It needs so much force, my wife can't seem to latch it fully. I have been thinking of replacing the latch with a tapered latch to assist with closing in the winter.

[@bradw0535]

Excellent work sir! Great to see a true professional who takes pride in his or her work, appreciate you sharing Jason!

[@PRenard2012]

I have found that taking out a hinge screw the top inside more center of frame ( they are always short screws) and try installing 4 inch screw if room allows it, You may hit wood in the back and it will suck the door back that has sunk a little. the door will pitch back and raise the latch back up to where it should be. I do this first before any drilling chiseling etc.

[@BobVan]

I’ve noticed a trend where they don’t mortise the latch plates in on the door jamb. Which I really don’t see anything wrong with that, as long as you have the clearance but it is becoming more common. A lot of times I will install the one piece deadbolt/kik latch plates if there’s already been a lot of house settling or the wood is already been chewed up from others making adjustments. Those plates usually have larger cutouts for vertical movement when the seasonal changes cause the latches to move up and down. Awesome vid! Thanks!

[@lmars5933]

Nicely done Jason I have done many of these ...couple times board 1inch hole and added 6inch peace of gas pipe back into the jamb it differently makes a secure door lol lol.😎

[@kevinkoepke8311]

Great job Jason. Houston has the 'Houston clay'. I live in the Clear Lake area, where it can get as much as twelve feet deep. Thanks

[@creativereicoach]

Thanks Jason good video. Appreciate all your videos!

[@loz11968]

nice video sir. I went to sort out an installation of a code lock the other day looked like the made the holes with a pissed off beaver and the keep wasn’t even close to where it should have been. Still it keeps me busy.

[@MarkCallies-qf2yz]

When i first started out a locksmith showed me a trick Use lipstick to mark the bolt to see were the bolt lines up Then you will know were to put the strike plate insted or Just drilling holes or chiselinng the door frame just mark The bolt hope this helps someone

[@5amgarden]

Maybe the doors top hinge was loose. I would have tried to tighten the to hinge up first and see if that made the door square in the frame first.

[@selock]

sam webb I did check it after I put lock back on door, should have pointed that out in video with a footnote. Good point as it always needs checking as well

[@5amgarden]

Good job man. I've been installing doors for years and I always wanted to be a locksmith. I'm probly to old to start now tho

[@gkeyman565]

You should have checked the door to see if it can be picked up into position, hinges may be loose, broke, etc , if door doesn't move then adjust latch plate. But other wise good vid: add note: Jason does check the door like any good locksmith would, this was more a reminder to anybody watching and that Jason just forgot to mention it in his vid.

[@selock]

GKeyman565 someone mentioned that below and yes I always check the hinge, this one I checked right after putting lock back on door. I forgot to add the footnote in the video to check hinges :(

[@gkeyman565]

@@selock ,ya, I saw that later, and your reply

[@JC-11111]

I had to adjust the deadbolt strike plate on every door when I moved into this current house. They either wouldn't latch at all or they dragged along the bottom of the hole in the strike plate and you had to "lift" the door to lock it 👎. So I moved the ones I could and filed the hole a tad larger on the 3rd one. What do you do when the door frame is so mangled it will barely hold screws anymore? That's the issue I was having and why I didn't moved the 3rd plate. It had nothing left for the screws to screw into basically. It was all cracked and split and the screws never would tighten up. How do you fix that? Use longer screws to get into fresh wood?

[@5amgarden]

I usually break of little slivers of shim and shove it in the screw holes to give me more meat to screw in to. If it's super bad maybe some glue too. Longer screws are a good idea as well. Good luck

[@J__C__]

@@5amgarden Thanks! Not sure how I missed this. The other issue I noticed is that the jambs have been prepped for larger strike plates than what's there so it looks like crap. I assume you can buy the plates separate? I'd like to fix this one day soon.

[@francoisbelangerboisclair]

Nice, I got to fix one of the door because the strike plate was not properly installed. I'm maybe paranoid but decided to install security deadbolt strike plate, has you just show, on the two exterior door being at it.

[@selock]

François Bélanger Boisclair always a good idea to install the higher security! Thanks for watching :)

[@pdxlockpicker7796]

Nice video. I love the tip about the spade bit. Yeah I've also learned that 90% of problems are always alignment issues. Random question. Do you think a deadbolt sleeve and 3" screws provide just as much brute Force security as those thin sheet metal door frame kits I've seen at Big box stores?

[@selock]

PDX LockPicker ahh sorry I missed this comment PDX! I think that standard Schlage kit with the heavy screws and backer plate is almost always sufficient for most decent solid wood doors (the door will bust out before a well installed one of those) However if you have a steel skin door and have the typical gap issues common with most new home designs there are the 4 foot metal jamb covers with the 3” (lighter weight though than the Schlage 3”) all the way among its length. In cases where it can be used you can also combine the two to make it super awesome. However, it’s typically way overkill in most cases due to other security issues not being addressed

[@dusso4231]

Great video as always, but this one was a little quiet even at full volume.

[@selock]

dusso4231 yeah, filmed on GoPro audio is not that great if I’m not near it. We are working on getting that thing set up for better audio though! (just got the connector to make it possible recently, now gotta find mobile mic) Sorry!

[@mattB-uy9bf]

Thank you for doing this video. I was working at a friend's house recently installing new locks. He had older thinner wooden doors and getting the strikes aligned was kicking my ass. Do you charge extra for this or is it included in your rekey fee and if so how much?

[@selock]

Whack Job oh it is extra, absolutely. Depending on the door and whether it just needs moved or upgraded it is $10-$35 (higher for the higher security plate installs) and of course there are the full length security strips that can go for $75-125 :)

[@JeffreyRosenthal1]

That's about 60% of our work just doing strike adjustments

[@selock]

Jeffrey Rosenthal as we say our “yazoo clay” pays the power bills!

[@JeffreyRosenthal1]

@@selock haha! I had to look that one up. I've never heard of yazoo clay.

[@JeffreyRosenthal1]

@@selock and yep.it certainly.does pay the bills

[@jeffmoss26]

good stuff!!

[@petewoodfine2100]

Hi Jason. Thanks for taking the time to do this video. I'm surprised at the ratio of new builds which this is happening with. Well good for business I guess. But makes me wonder whatever other shortcuts have they

[@selock]

Pete Woodfine tons of other little minor things. I’ve seen these new homes with inspection reports 4” thick and every page flagged :/

[@petewoodfine2100]

@@selock I thought these issues would be done on second fix. As security is also classed as structure ,well it used to be. Seriously lax snagging list.

[@KingStreetRob]

Oh your just one of those fancy locksmiths that looks for any reason to jack up the bill. Be honest none of that stuff matters so just take your expensive Knipex pliers and go away...Another informative video brought to you by JPM Productions. Thanks Jason. Happy Friday Y'all

[@bird718]

that was informative

[@PRenard2012]

Emtek Garbage.. and i hate that type of weather stripping they are using on new door frames now. The over thick stuff.. ( just watched Video Laughed at GETTO GARBAGE, Im gonna use THAT from now on thks)