How to Move a Striker Plate So a House Door Will Lock

Houses can settle over time, and doors can sag. If your door no longer lines up correctly with the striker plate on your lock, you won't be able to lock your door. Or maybe you can lock your door, but doing so requires lifting up on the door and jiggling the knob. Instead of going through that hassle every time you want to lock up, you can move the striker plate so it lines up properly.

Screwdriver
Pencil
Wood chisel

Instructions

- 1
  Stand in front of the door, and bend down until you are eye level with the doorknob and lock. Open and close the door while you watch the lock mechanism. You'll be able to see where the latch hits the strike plate. This will tell you if you need to lower or raise the strike plate. Mark the side of the door facing with a pencil to show where the latch hits the strike plate.
- 2
  Remove the screws holding the strike plate to the door jamb, and take out the strike plate. Hold the strike plate up to the door jamb, and move it until the place where the latch would enter the strike plate is even with the pencil mark. This is where you need to reposition the strike plate. Use the pencil to mark the place where the bottom of the strike plate meets the door jamb.
- 3
  Remove wood from the door jamb with a chisel until you've removed enough wood to allow you to slide the strike plate into the new position.
- 4
  Tape the strike plate into position with painter's tape or masking tape. Close the door to check for fit.
- 5
  Screw the strike plate into the door jamb once you've determined that the latch slides into the hole properly.

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