Adjust Exterior Door Strike Plate

Insert either a triangular file or a flat file that s small enough to fit inside the strike plate.

Adjust exterior door strike plate.

If your filing action is shaking the strike plate remove the plate and secure it in a vise for your repair. To snug the door up you would move the strike plate toward the center of the door jamb. The strike plate is the piece of door hardware that attaches to the door jamb and receives the latch. First shut the door and take a look at how far off the strike plate is in order for the latch barrel to align with the plate hole.

Step 4 add cardboard shims between the hinges and the frame on either the top or the bottom depending on whether you need to raise or lower the door. From inside the room begin closing the door while keeping an eye on the latch bolt and the strike plate. If it only misses by 1 8 inch or less the problem can likely be solved by tapping the plate in the right direction with a hammer. Bend the strike plate s latch pocket tab straight with the pliers.

Adjust strike plates to close doors securely. Move it away from the center if the strike will not seat when the door is closed. Then reinstall the plate with longer screws. What you didn t know you could adjust a door strike.

The stripped hole repair kit from king s original ha. 4 score the outline. Need to drill a new hole really close to the original one. Tighten the screws on the hinge plate that holds the door onto the frame.

The strike plate may need to move in or out slightly to allow the strike to seat correctly. Thankfully the door latches and knobs don t have to be moved to correct these problems. Have a door out of alignment due to settling. File off enough metal to allow the latch to catch inside the plate and secure the door.

You should be able to get an idea without the door being closed fully if the strike plate. Place the strike plate against the door jamb its the new location then trace around the plate with a pencil.