How to Get a Door Ready for a Lock

Measure 6 inches up from the center of the door handle on the inside of the door and make a mark. Draw a horizontal line from the edge of the door and through the mark approximately 4 inches long. Measure from the center of the door handle to the edge of the door. This distance, either 2 3/8 inches or 2 3/4 inches, is called the setback. Measure the thickness of the door.

Read the manufacturer's instructions to determine the required setback for the lock. If neither distance is specified as required, use the setback that matches the existing door handle.

Place the supplied paper template against the inside door face, with the vertical line that indicates the door's thickness on the template aligned with the door edge and the horizontal center line on the template aligned with the horizontal line drawn in Step 1. Tape the template to the face of the door and to the door edge.

Install a 1/8-inch drill bit into a drill. Place the point of the drill bit on the appropriate set-back mark on the template and hold the drill level and perpendicular to the door face. Drill all the way through the door. Open the door and position the drill bit point on the drill mark on the door's edge. Drill into the door approximately 2 inches.

Remove the paper template from the door. Install a hole saw in the drill, position the hole saw's drill bit into the 1/8-inch hole in the face of the door and saw through the door until the pilot drill bit emerges on the other side. Remove the saw, place the pilot drill bit into the hole on the other side and drill into the door to complete the sawing. Remove the hole saw from the door.

Close the door. Insert the nail into the 1/8-inch hole from inside the 2 1/8-inch hole just sawed. Press the nail into the door jamb to mark the location of the hole. Remove the nail. Install the 1-inch hole saw in the drill and drill into the edge of the door using the 1/8-inch hole as a guide.

Place the deadbolt assembly into the 1-inch hole and hold it in place, centered on the edge of the door. Use the utility knife's blade to score the edge of the door with the outline of the bolt's faceplate.

Place the chisel edge against one side of the faceplate outline on the edge of the door. Tap the chisel lightly with the hammer to penetrate into the door about the thickness of the faceplate. Work around the faceplate outline to define the depth of the cut and hold the chisel at a shallow angle to remove material to allow the faceplate to sit flush with the door's edge. Tap lightly with the hammer to avoid going too deep, or past the faceplate edge. Repeat this operation with the striker plate on the door jamb.