Where to install a lock on MDF doors. Installing locks on interior doors
After an apartment is renovated, new doors are often installed. However, canvases are often delivered without handles and locks. In this case, you can install the fittings yourself. In addition, the apartment owner has the opportunity to choose the lock that will be most suitable and convenient.
Interior door design.
And well-chosen handles will complement the interior well and make it complete. appearance interior door. In some cases, it is impossible to select a blade with ready-made fittings, and a separate installation of a lock becomes the only option.
Why are locks needed on interior doors?
Many people are perplexed as to why lock the door to a room. However, there are situations when this is simply necessary.
Lock diagram for an interior door.
- If the apartment has small child, it may accidentally damage, break or break valuables, expensive electronics or documents. A locked door will become an insurmountable obstacle for the “destroyer.”
- The need to close the door may arise if you have pets, which are not always neat.
- If the room is used as a study, then a door lock will prevent accidental visits from uninvited guests. Nobody stops a person from concentrating on work.
- A locked door will provide privacy in a crowded apartment. In this case, no one is allowed to mind their own business.
- Locks and latches are important at the entrance to hygiene rooms: bathroom and toilet. Then the possibility of a sudden invasion will be excluded.
- When using interior doors in offices, locks will prevent the loss of valuable property and important papers.
Required materials and tools
In order not to be distracted from work, you need to prepare everything you need in advance:
Tools for installing a lock for interior doors.
- Lock on an interior door.
- Pencil for marking. It is advisable to use a furniture one, as it is designed for working with wood.
- Drill.
- Drills. The diameter must be selected depending on the size of the lock.
- Feather drill.
- Core drills.
- Roulette.
- Square.
- Screwdriver. Splined or Phillips can be used depending on the type of screws.
- Chisel. It must correspond to the size of the planned recesses; different widths and shapes may be needed: flat and semicircular.
- Hammer or mallet.
- Self-tapping screws (usually supplied with the lock).
- File with coarse and fine notches.
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When everything is ready, you can start working.
Choosing a location for the castle
First of all, you need to look at what material the door is made of. If it is a solid piece of wood, then you can install the lock in any convenient place. Recommended height 90-100 cm from the floor. But someone may find it comfortable at 80 cm or 110 cm. To determine the optimal location, you can simulate the opening of a door. It is advisable to ask family members about this. The optimal height should be marked on the door.
Replacing the door handle.
If a different material is used, then you need to determine where the additional beam is located, since the fittings will be embedded into it. For doors made of MDF it is located at a height of 1 m from the floor.
Before buying a lock, you need to measure the thickness of the door.
If the lock does not fit in size, it will be impossible to install it. The minimum thickness of a door for a lock is 4 cm.
It is necessary to check whether the box can withstand the load and whether there is any damage on it in the place where the lock is supposed to be installed.
Marking the door and preparing the hole for the key
Installing a lock on interior doors begins with markings. The canvas is removed from the hinges and laid on its side. The place where the latch is inserted is marked on the end part. A lock is applied to the sides and outlined along the contour. A special mark is made where the key will be inserted: here you will have to drill through the door. The height of the lock and fastening strip is marked on the end side.
To make an even round notch in the canvas, you will need a drill with a crown. The diameter of the drill must be selected depending on the locking mechanism: it must fit freely in the recess. But you also need to take into account the size of the decorative overlays: the hole must be completely hidden by them. The amount of space should allow for the possibility of attaching the fittings to the door using the self-tapping screws included in the kit.
Using the previously made markings, we drill a hole for the bar connecting the handles. This must be done on both sides so as not to damage the blade when the crown comes out from the back side.
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Drilling holes for the locking mechanism
Marking diagram for installing a lock on an interior door.
First, the place for the locking mechanism is prepared. To do this, use a feather drill to make a hole with a diameter slightly larger than it. As a result, the entire lock should fit in there easily, fit freely, but at the same time not dangle. In order not to make a mistake with the depth, you need to measure the length of the locking mechanism on the drill and make a mark.
Insulating tape is suitable for these purposes: it is wound in several layers in the right place. When the drill sinks into the door, the tape will rest against the edges and prevent the hole from being made deeper than necessary.
Depending on the size of the locking mechanism, you may need to drill 2, 3, or more of these holes. When they are all ready, they need to be connected. Using a chisel, you need to remove the partitions between the recesses. You can use a file. Then you need to align the recess for the lock. A file with a large notch is suitable for these purposes. The final processing is carried out with a tool with a finer notch. After carrying out the work, you need to clean the recess from sawdust.
Preparing the site for the plank, final stage and check
When the hole is ready, the lock face plate is applied to it so that the holes for the lock on the door and on the bar coincide. Its outer contour is outlined. Using a hammer and chisel, a recess is made equal to the thickness of the overlay. The bar will be inserted here. It should not stick out from the door leaf. If necessary, you need to deepen the recess, otherwise the door will not close.
Diagram of drilling holes for the locking mechanism.
Now the locking mechanism is being checked. It should be inserted without distortion, fit freely in the recess, and the strip should overlap without interference and not stick out from the door.
A lock mechanism with a tongue is installed in the prepared holes. The plank is fixed using two self-tapping screws. According to the attached diagram, the entire lock on the interior door is assembled, handles are attached and that’s it decorative elements. The mechanism is ready.
There is one detail left. In order for the door to close, there must be a recess on the jamb for the lock tongue. First you need to determine its location. To do this, mark the place where the latch touches the jamb, its lower and upper boundaries. A recess is made in the center where the tongue will fit. The notch should be longer than the latch by 2-3 mm. Then a fixing strip is applied and outlined along the contour. Using a chisel, a notch is made to the thickness of the lining. If there is a plastic pocket, install it first. A decorative overlay is attached on top using self-tapping screws. If the bar sticks out and prevents the door from closing, the recess needs to be deepened a little.
Installing a lock on an interior door will increase the comfort of your stay. This is very convenient, as it allows you to limit a small child’s access to those rooms where he could disturb adults or get injured. Embedding a lock is quite easy; almost any homeowner can do it. Having a full set of tools will allow you to complete all stages of the work quickly and accurately. If something is missing, it is better to ask friends or acquaintances for a tool than to try to do without them, as this will lead to poor quality work and unsatisfactory appearance. Usually the handle is located at a height of about a meter from the floor, so it will be convenient for use by people of any height. Therefore, we measure 95 - 100 cm from the bottom edge of the canvas and make a mark. Then, at the selected level, using a square, we mark the centers of future holes. On the end plane the center of the lock will be in the middle, and on the side plane it is necessary to retreat 6 - 10 cm from the edge. This is the place of the future lock and handle. Drilling holes for the lock starts from the end. A feather drill is installed in the drill and a hole about three centimeters deep is drilled exactly at the marked center. This is the place for the lock tongue. After this, a core drill with a diameter of 5 centimeters is installed in the drill. Use it to drill holes on the sides. If you are not sure that you will be able to drill the hole horizontally, without distortion, then you need to mark it and drill on both sides. In this case, the drilling depth is equal to half the thickness of the door. If everything is done correctly, you will get a round through hole with a diameter of 5 centimeters, which has a side hole with a diameter of 23 millimeters. Before installing the lock, you must cut out a recess for the latch. To do this, the lock is inserted into the door and the latch plate is outlined with a pencil. Along this contour, using a chisel and hammer, a recess with a depth of approximately 3 - 5 mm is selected, depending on the thickness of the plate. At the same time, a recess for the tongue is cut out on the door jamb according to the size of the special trim. This is where the lock tongue will go and hold the door closed. When both recesses are ready, the lock and recess are fixed to the jamb using the self-tapping screws that usually come with the kit. The further process does not cause any difficulties. The handle with screws is put into place first. The screws are unscrewed and the handle is inserted into the lock. To do this, the handle has a special square-section rod, which passes through the corresponding hole in the lock. After that, a second handle is put on this rod on the other side and secured with screws. Then decorative overlays and the handles themselves are put on. This completes the installation process. After this, all that remains is to remove the debris and tools. Even if you are confident in your abilities and know how to drill, it is better to work with a core drill from both sides. This will ensure a neat cut and there will be no chips or burrs on the surface of the door that will spoil its appearance. It is better to drill a recess for the lock in the end of the door after the hole for the handles has been drilled. This way you will be sure that the hole is completely connected to the main one. Otherwise, you may need to drill out a hole for the lock. When choosing a recess for the lock plate, work must begin with the outline. The entire contour is outlined with gentle blows, and only after this the wood is selected. This will prevent chips and cracks from appearing. Do not over-tighten the screws on the handles. The fixation should be tight, but not excessive. Otherwise, dents may appear on the surface of the door, spoiling its appearance.
Do you want to have your own space and be sure that no one will break into it? Then installing a lock on your interior door is the only right decision for you. You can do this yourself, without resorting to outside help. It is only important to choose the right accessories. It must be of high quality, match the interior in shape, color and design. Based on function and design, there are several types of door locks: This is the most primitive type of lock, which is used in almost all interior doors. It is a simple design consisting of a cylinder and a plastic or metal tongue. Often such a mechanism is mounted together with a handle that controls the tongue. The latch is the simplest mechanism installed on interior doors The purpose of a halyard lock is to keep the door closed. A conventional latch is simple, reliable in operation, and characterized by a wide range of designs. However, due to the overly simple mechanism, it has not found widespread use. Locking latch. It is considered a variation of a regular latch, which is equipped with an additional latch. It blocks the movement of the handle. There are two types: lever and push-button. The first type is more practical and reliable. A push-button lock is no worse, but it can cause such an unpleasant situation as accidentally slamming the door. The latch with a lock has a number of advantages: simple installation, simple design, wide selection of models. The disadvantage of this type of lock is its weak locking mechanism. When purchasing a product, pay attention to whether the movements of the tongue are smooth and whether the spring returns it inside the door. It was popularly called a mechanism with a key cylinder. Outwardly, it is similar to a lock for street doors, but has a simpler design. The device includes a cylinder and a lock block. There are two types of cylinder: “key-key” and “key-turner”. The first is installed if the lock is used occasionally. The second, on the contrary, is suitable for more frequent use. Mortise locks are used to close bedrooms, offices, and storage rooms. They reliably protect against penetration, are durable, and rarely break. If we talk about the disadvantages of the device, then this includes the complexity of installation and the dependence of the device parameters on the thickness of the door. If you can afford to splurge, then this type of lock is for you. It is intended primarily for rooms where it should be as quiet as possible: bedrooms, children's rooms, offices. Silent operation is ensured due to its design, consisting of a crossbar, a strike plate, a magnet, and a case for the magnet. The bolt is attracted to a strike plate with a magnet, which is located on the box. Along with the advantages of the product, there are disadvantages. Firstly, this is the impressive cost of the castle. Secondly, the lock case is not very compact in size, which is why it looks bulky. Rim lock. Products of this type can rightfully be called a rarity. However, despite this, the demand for it has not fallen to this day due to the simplicity of the mechanism and uncomplicated installation. Current models boast a comfortable body. The device is mounted on the inside or outside of the door, thereby providing protection against unexpected entry. The original purpose of the lock was to secure one of the double doors. Currently, it is installed mainly in the bathroom and toilet. The operating principle of this product is so simple that even a small child can handle it. Its installation does not require special knowledge and experience. Latch. This simplest form castle A latch is a metal plate with a retractable lever. It is installed as a main or auxiliary lock. The mechanism received widespread thanks to a high degree of reliability and protection. It is used for both street and interior doors. To fix the bolt in the mechanism, plates (levers) with grooves of various shapes are used. Each insert has a corresponding key bit profile. The lock will open only when the levers are in the correct position and the groove is free for the bolt to pass through. If you have made your choice in favor of a stylish but simple lock, you can get to work. To install the mechanism you will need the following materials: In addition to materials, you need a small set of tools for work: If you don’t have any of the listed tools at home, you will have to buy more. Their cost is low, and they are always useful on the farm.
Installing the mechanism yourself will not be difficult. You just need to forget about the rush and be attentive enough. The success of the business depends on many factors, including the type of door. The easiest way is to insert the lock into a piece of wood. It will be more difficult with a product made from MDF, since it already requires skills and knowledge. Therefore, in this case, it is better not to take risks, but to call for help from a master of his craft.. Otherwise, poorly performed work will lead to damage to the mechanism, which will require it to be repaired or even require a complete replacement of the product. Marking is the initial step towards installing a lock. The first thing to do is to prevent possible damage to the door. For this purpose, measure a distance on the canvas of 0.9 - 1.1 m from the floor covering - this is the location of the lock. Then apply masking tape in that place to the end and surface of the door. Similar procedure It will not only protect your product from scratches, but will also make it easier to take measurements. The template is sold with a lock included in the set. It allows you to accurately apply marks indicating the position of the holes. To do this, fold the stencil along the fold line and attach it to the end. Then use a self-tapping screw to mark the centers of the holes on the end and on the flat surface of the canvas. After applying the markings, proceed to the following stages of work: A small vertical machine is called a milling machine. It is easy enough to use, so even a beginner can operate it. To embed a lock into an interior door using a machine with your own hands, you must: Thus, an opening for the lock was created. To check if everything is done correctly, insert the device into the seat. The absence of a cutter is not a reason to put off installing a lock until better times. To perform the installation, the most common tools that can be found in any home are suitable. Although it should be noted that there are cases when you cannot cope without a professional machine. For example, installing a lock with a latch. Sometimes a lock is installed on a door that already has a handle. It is for such situations that mechanisms with a larva are designed. They have the shape of a rectangle, so this work will seem overwhelming for a self-taught master. However, you don't need any tools or skills. Only after trying, you will learn how easy it is to insert a lock with a cylinder into a wooden door. To do this, find a place for the lock (above or under the handle) and undertake the following points:
This is the final moment of installing the locking mechanism. To install the response part, follow these steps: Thus, you have come to the finish line. Installing a new lock or replacing an old one is not a very complicated process, but it requires care. When changing the previous mechanism, make sure once again that reinstallation is advisable. After all, the problem can sometimes be solved by simply adjusting the device. Before inserting a lock into an interior door, you should study the theoretical part of the process Your task is to insert a lock into the door. If you decide that the door is interior, keep in mind that you should not install bulky locks with linings. We will look at the most familiar type of lock with a handle and a latch and how to correctly and quickly install a lock on an interior door. Being completely ready to work, we move on to the implementation recommendations. When designing a doorway, you should pay attention to the choice of fittings. Fittings are a significant factor that guarantees the strength and durability of furniture. Its choice should be approached very carefully and attentively, not forgetting about the quality of all details. All necessary tools for inserting a lock, you can buy it at any hardware store or on the Internet The complete set of accessories consists of: To resolve the issue of inserting a lock into an interior door, the following materials and tools must be present. Measuring tape - in the process of work there will be quite a considerable number of measurements. A manual milling cutter for inserting locks is a device used by specialists to guarantee more reliable quality accuracy in the selection of mounting recesses. It will help not damage the wooden door. It is an optional tool; without a hand router, you can use a simple hammer and chisel. A hammer and a writing device for markings - a simple pencil is best to avoid leaving marks. A screwdriver or screwdriver - Phillips or flathead, depending on the screws provided with the lock. Crowns for cutting round holes - select the size based on the size of the lock you are going to insert. Chisels of various widths for cutting out recesses for the lock bar and drilling drill. Before you begin assembling and installing the lock, you should decide on the procedure and their purpose. You can make a hole for the handle using a drill equipped with a special attachment. All complete work includes the following processes: Having everything you need for work and assigning tasks, you can begin development! Let's begin forming the locking mechanism for the interior door and perform the following operations. To more reliably install a lock and handle/latch on an interior door, it is necessary to determine the location of the finished door. You should consider which side the hinges are on and which side the lock will be located on. It is better to place the door against the wall near the opening and visually resolve this issue. Typically, locks and handles intended for doors made of MDF are placed at a distance of 90-100 cm from the bottom border of the door base, since it is at this height that the door structure is designed to place a wooden beam to place the lock. We measure the required size. Having designated a place, fix it on the plane and at the end of the door. There will be a recess for the lock here. You can secure the lock to the interior door using ordinary screws and a screwdriver. When determining, do not forget that the location of the door handle should be convenient for everyone's use. We use a tape measure to measure the gap from the visible edge of the lock device to the eyelet, where the pin will be placed causing the structure to operate. We mark the resulting value at the designated height, fixing exactly the same distance from the edge of the door. Now you should select the necessary bit to use the drill. When selecting this part, be sure that it is suitable in size, so that the lock structure can be placed in the hole itself without difficulty and the door leaf is not damaged: the diameter must be suitable for the thickness of the lock, the depth of the hole must be suitable for the length of the structure itself - this is necessary for proper operation handles/latches. Next, place the bit on a drill with a drill bit and make a hole. It is safer to make a hole in two stages: drilling from both sides alternately. When working with a drill, do not forget about ensuring personal safety! We place the lock on the prepared markings and mark the recess for its decorative strip - we outline its visible part along the perimeter, then remove the lock from the recess. We cut out the pocket using a hand router, or, if one is not available, with a hammer and chisel. It is necessary to knock out the recess, taking into account the clear immersion of the outer plate into it. Having positioned the chisel vertically relative to the end of the door, we make nicks all over the bottom. The chisel should be used extremely carefully so as not to make an extremely strong notch and spoil the end of the door. At this stage, nothing can be returned to its previous form or remade; you just need to finish the work you started. Cutting a hole for the handle should be done with extreme caution, having previously studied the advice of experts There remain two final and most important processes: The intended work must be carried out clearly, following the instructions and using the necessary caution, which will ensure a satisfactory result and durability of the locking mechanism. If you need to insert a lock into a sliding door, you will need a special type of lock with a hook-like bolt. Handles for sliding doors are not anything special and are connected to the profile mechanism of the door leaves, which looks like a protrusion on them. The required tools and the work ahead are analogous to the process of inserting conventional door locks into interior doors, taking into account the needs of your type and size of the lock structure. When designing the counter part of the lock, turn the lock of the interior door in the closed state and place a mark on the doorway at the location of the lock tongue. Drill a hole to the depth of the latch exit. Remove the remaining material with a chisel and secure the striker with self-tapping screws. Before inserting a latch into an interior door, you should watch a training video A quality mortise lock or latch can only be installed with the right approach. It is necessary to make a plunge only after all measurements and calculations. It is better to cut holes for the lock using a drill attachment such as a crown. The insertion of hinges can be done both before and after insertion of the lock. But it is better to carry out work on a removed door. When taking measurements during work, do not rely on your own eye - it is better to be sure of absolute accuracy than to make a ridiculous mistake.
Inserting a lock into an interior door is an additional interior detail and an important condition of life. When performing this process, keep in mind that any action can only be performed once! Do not forget that when working you should be as careful and vigilant as possible. Similar materials Have you ordered the installation of interior doors, but for some reason did not install locks on them? Don't worry, you can do this kind of work yourself. Next, we will show you step by step how to embed a lock into an interior door, but since locks are different, you will learn how to correctly embed a lock in 2 options, with your own hands and with a minimum set of available tools. Fitting a lock into an interior door with your own hands is a very real task for a home craftsman. In specialized departments, the number of different types of locks and constipations dazzles the eyes, however, specifically for interior doors, there are only 2 types of locks: Latch locks are not intended for permanently locking doors. Major installation of a lock on an interior door requires a set of keys. Relatively recently, such a curiosity appeared on this market as magnetic lock. It is inserted in exactly the same way as a regular one, but it works a little differently. There are 2 magnets installed, one in the lock, the second in the strike plate. When closing the canvas, they are attracted and the doors click into place. To open such a mechanism you need to turn the handle or key. The solution is certainly interesting, but it is not in great demand among people. Firstly, the price of a magnetic door lock is higher, and secondly, not everyone likes such automatic locking, plus various metallic debris is attracted to them. Installing magnetic locks on interior doors is not yet very popular. We’ve decided on the locking models, now let’s talk about how to install them yourself in interior doors. But first, let's look at the tool, since in both cases the set is the same. To install a lock on an interior door, you don’t need a lot of tools, plus all the tools are relatively inexpensive; often every home craftsman has such a set. Installing locks on interior doors does not require a large number of expensive tools. We begin installation, as usual, with markings. The distance from the bottom edge of the door leaf to the core of the lock according to the rules is 950 mm. In office buildings, it is advisable to adhere to it so that the fireman does not get nervous, but at home it can be placed at any height. Often on such latches the distance from the side edge of the blade to the center of the mechanism is 60 mm. But it is better to clarify this parameter in the instructions for the mechanism, because the insertion depth may differ in different models. Information on the lock's insertion depth is in the instructions for it. Now, using a square or the same tape measure, we transfer the side mark to the center of the end of the door leaf and make a mark. To drill a strictly horizontal, even hole on an already installed door, it is advisable to firmly fix the leaf. The easiest way is to insert a couple of wedges on both sides between the floor and the canvas. Then insert a feather drill (23 mm) into the drill and drill a horizontal hole along the length of the mechanism. Be careful, the slightest misalignment to the right or left can cause the drill to come out from the side and irrevocably damage the blade. To cut a hole on the front of the canvas we will need a wood crown. Insert it into the drill and start drilling according to the markings. But at first the hole is not drilled all the way through, but only until the moment when the central drill of the crown comes out from the back side. After that, pull out the crown and do the same on the back side. The moment of drilling the blade with a crown on both sides is very important; if you try to go through the entire blade on one side, then when it comes out, the crown can seriously damage reverse side canvases. Now you need to insert the lock into the end hole and outline the perimeter of the lock plate. Make sure that the bar is in a strictly vertical position. The stock for the lock's end plate is cut out using a chisel. Be careful not to go too deep, often 1 - 1.5 mm is enough. If you accidentally choose a groove that is too deep, you can place a piece of cardboard or paper under the bottom. To firmly secure the mechanism, it must be inserted into the hole and secured with two self-tapping screws. Self-tapping screws will fit much better if you first mark the entry points with an awl or drill holes with a thin drill.
We will not repeat the marking technique for this type of lock again, since any locks on interior doors are installed at the same height. But it is highly undesirable to install permanent locks hanging, so you will need to remove the door leaf from the awnings, then install and secure it with the end up. Unlike a simple latch, a capital lock has a rather large mechanism. We will select the groove for it using the same feather drill; to do this, we need to mark the center line at the end of the blade. Then we select a feather drill according to the thickness of the lock and drill a series of holes to the depth of the lock. When the hole is completely selected, all we have to do is select the stock for the lock face plate. The sampling technology is identical and we have already talked about it above. Next, screw the lock, insert the handles into it and mount the decorative trims.
The technique for installing the strike plate for a small latch and a major lock is no different. If you have mastered the insertion of the lock into the canvas, then installing the strike plate on the lock will not cause you any difficulties. First, a hole is marked on the loot and drilled for the lock tongue. Then we apply the counter strip to the loot and trace it around the perimeter. Now all that remains is to cut out the stock under the bar with a chisel and screw it on with self-tapping screws. Installing a strike plate is often not difficult.
Fitting a lock into an interior door is not a tricky task and any home craftsman can do it. The main thing is not to forget about the little things that we pointed out in the article.Marking
Lock drilling
Installation of handles
Useful notes
Video How to make a lock on a door
Choosing a lock for an interior door
Mortise locks are reliable and durable 
The magnetic lock is quiet, but its cost is quite high 
Espagnolette installed in bathrooms 
Level lock has a high degree of security Tools and materials
Lock installation
Preparatory stage
The lock is mounted at a distance of about 1 m from the floor Making holes for the handle and lock mechanism
Mortising a lock with a router
The opening for the lock can be made with a router Mortise a lock without a cutter
Mechanism insert with cylinder
Locks with a cylinder are mounted in doors with an installed handle Installation of the lock mate
The lock mate is secured with self-tapping screws Inserting locks into an interior door: tools and materials
Installing a lock on an interior door: preparation
Step-by-step instructions for installing a lock on an interior door with your own hands
Irreversible result: inserting a handle into an interior door
How to install a latch on an interior door yourself
How to put a lock on an interior door (video)
Independent mortise of locks in 2 options
Minimum set of tools
Option number 1. Install a light latch
Option No. 2. Put a permanent lock
A few words about installing the strike plate
Conclusion