It’s all about one crucial component when it comes to the operation of a door lock, called the pin tumbler. This is essentially how most door locks work, by blocking the handle from turning using this cylinder as the main driver.
What it drives are various pins and springs, which are found on shafts, an outer casing and an inner plug. Unless a key is used to align the cylinder and plug to let the handle move freely, all of the above components work together to ensure that the mechanism stops the latch from disengaging from the strike plate.
Types of Strike Plates
Full Lip
Found on most standard door locks, a full-lip strike plate is easy to install, and it comes in two variations – rounder corner and square. If you’re after convenience and operability in the long run, a full-lip door strike plate is the way to go. However, if you want or have wide doors or a door that has been prepared for a different strike plate, you should consider other options.
Extended Lip
With extended lip plates, you get a wider solution that works well with wide and extra-wide doors. They are also quite common, but make sure that you only use them on the appropriate door width, as they won’t work with standard-width doors. They are also not able to fit on doors prepped for a different type of strike plate.
T-Strike
The design of a t-strike plate has made it quite a common occurrence on most newly designed doors. Because of this, they are more suitable for modern door designs as they have been prepared for it. Keep in mind, though, t-strike plates won’t work on wide doors.
Circular
Like T-strike plates, circular ones are also only meant for doors that are prepped only for them. A circular door strike plate makes for a more modern appearance, but know that they are not as easy to fit and not as common as any of the above-mentioned strike plates.
Deadbolt
Another type of door latch plate that makes a door more appealing is a deadbolt plate. With deadbolt plates, you also get a better level of security as it helps the bolt in the door to easily lock into place. Deadbolt strike plates are also available in different styles, making them more versatile than most other plates.
Adjustable
With an adjustable lock keep plate, you can have any kind of door in your home and not worry about whether or not the plate will fit on it. That’s because you can adjust the opening of the plate without the need to move the plate or chisel the cutout. While you don’t get much when it comes to appeal, adjustable plates are easily the most forgiving.
Electric
While not the same as any of the above strike plates, electric ones are known as the most secure. Relying on an electronic locking mechanism, you have one disadvantage here and it’s only prevalent during a power outage, as the door won’t unlock in this instance. This can easily be remedied with an emergency power supply.
The Importance of Upgrading a Strike Plate
Damage
With an upgraded strike plate, you can protect the door’s frame from getting damaged. That’s because a new plate helps distribute the force of the door being closed or, worse, the force of a kick or battering ram. In an emergency, the frame won’t get damaged as easily.
Security
Be it on a security screen door or not, you can make your door secure if you go for a larger and thicker door latch plate. This way, your door is going to be more resistant to forced entries than ever before.
Durability
With a high-quality strike plate, you can expect it to last much longer. No matter the weather conditions and how much you use the door on a daily basis, the plate will ensure everything functions properly for many years.
Longevity
With a durable plate, you can ensure that your door’s lifespan is also prolonged, as its hardware is meant to endure daily use. You won’t have to look into getting a new door, unless you want to change the styling of your home.
Appearance
Although it’s just a small piece of metal, a lock keep plate can make your door look a bit like new and with that, more appealing. While this isn’t a big change, a small detail like this goes a long way.
How a Strike Plate is Installed
1. The first step of installing a new strike plate is to remove the existing one and prepare the door for the new plate. The preparation includes making sure the hole is big enough to accommodate it and that the new door latch plate is level with the door frame.
2. Once the plate can fit in the hole, it’s lined up in the correct position and fastened in place with a screwdriver. This is done with a hand tool to avoid over-tightening the screws and warping the plate or damaging the frame.
3. When the new strike plate is installed, it’s tested by closing the door and locking it. This way, if any misalignment has occurred, it can be corrected so that the lock engages smoothly and doesn’t damage the plate or latch.
