Kwikset Exterior Door Lock Removal

How Locks Work

• Kwikset locks consist of two halves joined together in the door cylinder opening. Between the two halves sits a door latch. On exterior doors, this latch is operated by a key from the outside and by a handle from the inside. When the latch is engaged, it slides into the door frame, locking the door firmly in place. Two long screws, inserted through the rear door face lock, hold the two halves of the lock together.

Door Positioning

• When removing an exterior door lock, you will need access to the inside portion of the lock. The door should be opened and positioned so that it doesn't close while it is being worked on. One way to do this is by inserting a block of wood in between the door and the door frame. Turn the latch so that it slides inside the door.

Preparation

• Many locks, exterior ones especially, sometimes get covered with a layer of paint. This can make removing the lock difficult. The best way to avoid this, when removing an exterior lock, is by scraping away as much paint as possible from the face of the lock. Pay particular attention to the part of the lock where it meets the door. Once you've scraped away as much paint as possible, run the edge of a sharp utility knife around the perimeter of the lock. This will help cut away any paint that might have seeped in between the door and the lock.

Door Lock Removal

• The screws on the interior side of the door should be removed by unscrewing them with a screwdriver or power drill with a screwdriver attachment. These screws can be very long; so if you have a weak grip, you may want to use a power drill and screwdriver bit. Once the rear screws are removed, the rear face of the lock can be pulled off, followed by the front face. The last part in removing a Kwikset lock is to remove the latch. This is located on the side of the door. The screws that hold this part of the lock in place are also quite long. After the screws are removed, the latch face can be pried out of the side of the door.