Key to Home Security

Lock sets are the first line of defense in home security. Matching the lock to the task was last week’s topic. This week, we tackle the key steps to installing lock sets and deadbolts.

To install a lock set or deadbolt, you’ll need the following:

* masking tape

* hammer

* tape measure

* flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers

* 1-inch chisel

* 1-inch spade bit

* pilot drill bits for all screws

* power drill

* 2 1/8-inch hole saw

Plan to spend about one hour to complete the installation.

1. Position the template. Most doorknobs are 34 to 38 inches high, with deadbolts 6 to 12 inches above that. Decide what height is comfortable.

When drilling new holes, tape the manufacturer’s template in place with the lock-set center line at the desired height. Determine the backset--the distance from the door edge to the knob center line--and use the corresponding template marks.

The backset can be 2 3/8 or 2 3/4 inches. Many lock sets accommodate both. Drill one-eighth-inch pilot holes through the door to center the 2 1/8-inch hole saw.

At the door edge, use the template to drill a 2-inch-deep pilot hole for drilling for the strike or bolt.

2. Drill the door face and mark the jamb. Using a drill with a bubble level or a torpedo level taped on top, drill halfway through the door from each side with the hole saw to prevent blowout splintering. Then mark the doorjamb for the strike plate by closing the door, inserting a nail from inside the 2 1/8-inch hole through the strike pilot hole and pushing it into the jamb.

3. Drill the jamb and door edge. With the nail mark as an indicator, drill a five-eighths-inch-deep hole for the strike or a 1-inch-deep hole for the deadbolt using the 1-inch spade bit (sizes vary, so check instructions). In the door edge, use the pilot hole to guide a 1-inch spade bit and drill through to the large hole where the cylinder will sit.

4. Chisel the jamb and door edge. Hold the latch assembly up to the door edge and score its outline deeply with a utility knife. Do the same for the strike plate on the doorjamb. Then score the wood to be removed at one-quarter-inch intervals with a chisel, removing enough wood so the strike box sits flush with the door edge and the strike plate sits flush with the doorjamb.

5. Install the hardware. Insert the latch assembly in the hole you drilled in the door edge and fasten it with screws after pre-drilling for them.

Next, insert the handle set and cylindrical lock or deadbolt assembly so the spindle or tailpiece aligns with the strike assembly. Typically, screws pass through the door to hold the two lock-set pieces together on opposite sides. For security, be sure exposed screw heads are on the interior side of the lock set.

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If you need a way to keep the kids out of your room or a new door handle for the closet, here’s how to judge the offerings in privacy and passage lock sets.

Privacy Lock Sets

Also called nuisance or bed-and-bath lock sets, privacy lock sets secure interior doors against accidental entry. They lock with a turn of a center knob, by push button or with a key.

Features to look for:

* A no-lockout or latch-kickoff feature that unlocks the door each time it’s shut--essential for push-button locking systems.

* Pinhole emergency release, letting you open the door with a paper clip from outside if someone is trapped inside.

* Dual-torque springs to keep knobs from sagging or loosening.

* A Grade 3 security rating. A Grade 2 rating is more expensive and typically unnecessary.

* A tarnish-free finish and mechanical guarantee (both lifetime).

* If you buy a lever-handle unit--great for improving access--determine whether your door is a left- or right-hand model, then buy the appropriate handle. Many companies include a diagram explaining left- and right-handedness on packaging.

Some lock sets, such as Titan’s, are reversible.

What you’ll pay:

* Kwikset, $9. ([800] 327-5625; https://www.blackanddecker.com)

* Titan, $14. ([800] 327-5625; https://www.blackanddecker.com)

* Schlage, $15. ([888] 805-9837; https://www.schlagelock.com)

* Weiser Lock, $17. ([800] 677-5625; https://www.weiser-lock.com)

* Baldwin, $25. ([800] 437-7448; https://www.masco.com) .

Passage Sets

With only a knob and non-locking strike, passage sets are designed for closet and hallway doors. They’re ideal for French doors, provided that they work in tandem with a deadbolt and that one door is fitted with an integrated vertical lock or slide bolts.

Features to look for:

* Dual-torque springs to keep knobs from sagging or loosening with use over time.

* A tarnish-free lifetime finish, particularly for brass, and a lifetime mechanical warranty.

* If doors need only outward-facing knobs because spring catches or magnets are used instead of a latch-and-strike mechanism, buy a low-cost dummy knob that’s surface-mounted and requires no drilling for latch installation.

What you’ll pay: Most dummy knobs cost less than $5. For conventional sets: Kwikset ($8), Titan ($11), Schlage ($14), Weiser Lock ($15), Baldwin ($83).

Reprinted from the pages of Today’s Homeowner magazine. To get more advice on improving your home, call (800) 456-6369 or visit the Web site at https://www.todayshomeowner.com