How to add security bolts to a door
You will need:
-
Drill
- Wood bits
- Try square
- Pencil
- Rack bolts or hinge bolts
- Screwdriver
- Mallet
- Chisel
Time to complete job: One hour.
Approximate budget: Rack bolts cost around £10 for a pack of two bolts.
How it works
A rack bolt is locked and unlocked by turning a key in the face of the door. A ratchet pushes the steel bolt through the edge of the door and into the frame. Fit these bolts at the top and bottom of a front or back door.
It's also worth asking your local Crime Prevention Officer to see if you need any extra security devices. And for professional advice, visit the Master Locksmiths Association.
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Step 1: Drill the holes
Drill a hole in the door edge to hold the bolt body. Use a try square to transfer the centre mark of the bolt fixing to the inside face of the door and drill a second smaller hole for the key. The makers may provide a template to help you mark the keyhole.
Push the bolt into the edge of the door and check it works with the key.
Tip: Wrap some tape around your drill bit to act as a depth stop. -
Step 2: Attach the face plates
Mark around the face plate of the lock on the door edge. Chisel out the waste wood. Screw the plate into place.
Close the door and turn the key to mark the position of the locking plate on the frame. Drill and chisel out the waste wood to fit.
Tip: Always keep a set of the keys near the door and make sure everyone in the house knows how to use them in case of fire. -
Step 3: Added security
You can also fit bolts that secure the hinge side of the door frame. These are useful to prevent the hinges being prised away from the frame.
These bolts also fit at the top and bottom of the door, and is recessed into the door edge and locks into a locking plate in the frame. There's no need for keys as the bolt is fixed.
Tip: Reinforce vulnerable entry points on sliding French doors by adding rack bolts that shoot into the top and bottom or the door frame.
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