Need help drilling deadbolt lock hole

[23ford]

Bought a steel door from Lowes that has a hole in it for the handle but not the deadbolt lock. How high above the handle do i drill the hole for the deadbolt?

 

[The Cobbler]

residential is usually 5-1/2"
commercial is usually 6"
those measurements are center to center

 

[casmurbax]

Not to sound stupid, but did they not a have a door in stock pre-dilled?

http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/content/BDHHI/drilling-instructions_deadbolt

http://www.allaboutdoors.com/Articles/Doors-and-Their-Hardware/Guide-to-Door-Lock-Measurements

If your door has a window make sure you leave enough for your deadbolt.

Good luck!

 

[DCarr2]

You could add extra level of security, drill a deadbolt hole in the top corner, and bottom corner...

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

Is there enough wood to drill the extra hole? I was told that the metal doors do not have a thick perimeter wood frame and there wasn't enough meat to drill additional holes. The doors pre drilled with 2 holes have a different frame. Maybe I was told wrong. Just thinking out loud.

 

[58Yeoman]

I've lived here for 9 years, and this year I noticed that the steel door on my shop had a hole for the dead lock bolt, but not a hole in the metal for the lock. Easy peasie to see where to drill the hole for me.

 

[The Cobbler]

Is there enough wood to drill the extra hole? ....

there is always blocking for deadbolt preps. I say always cause I have never run across one that didn't

 

[archirelic]

there is always blocking for deadbolt preps. I say always cause I have never run across one that didn't

That's not always the case I've seen. If it's a simple "utility" steel door, then it only has the blocking for the handle, which is a predrilled hole. Many steel utility doors don't have blocking to accommodate a deadbolt...that's why they sell exterior steel doors with both holes already prepped.

 

[n20junkie]

Get the door template. Easy button.

 

[The Cobbler]

any residential door I've seen has had blocking in it. hollow metal commercial doors? different story

 

[brownbagg]

just buy the template, its only a couple bucks

 

[dogdog]

They sell a jig for that.... plastic but works well...

I have this look a like. kit... but from a different company... when I have to drill more than 1 doors in a project.... as well as the hinge route kit... worth it... time saving and accuracy wise, professional look....

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...-SearchPLPHorizontal1_rr-_-NA-_-204402141-_-N


http://www.homedepot.com/s/droor%20lock%20jig?NCNI-5

 

[nut_buster2017]

Sometime ago, a client needed a deadbolt in a residential steel-skinned door which was not intended to have a deadbolt, so no blocking.
I made a jig with hardwood and was able to drill it out for him; there was maybe 1/16 inch wood left on each side of the of the stile.
Not really effective, should someone have decided to give it a good boot, but presumably enough of a deterrent to make them think twice.

 

[Zeke]

IDK if the OP's door has the blocking or no, but after locating the hole and drilling a pilot from layout marks on both sides (don't forget the bevel if there is one) and then drilling out the main hole with a hole saw, you can slip some blocking up inside using some fast glue or bondo. If it protrudes into the new hole, touch it up with the HS. Might heed a predrilled guide with no pilot.

If the edge is not wood that's where the fun begins making a depression for the bolt latch. It can be done with a pair of pliers and a cold chisel. There is little force laterally.