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Have a standard door leading out to the garage, the door is latching but the lock is not locking.
I think there is a misalignment with the strike plate, and had to pull the door inwards in order to lock it previously but it wasn't smooth. Now it got to the point where I can't even lock it but I can still close the door fine.
Wondering if adjusting the strike plate position will help bringing the door inwards?
Appreciate any advice on this matter, thanks in advance.
Hello @aton5
Thanks for sharing your question about your door not locking. Would it be possible for you to post a few photos of your entire door with the door frame included. This will give our members a chance to assess the doors condition and the way it is currently sitting on the frame. There are number of possible reasons your door is not closing properly. It can range from misalignment, loose hinges, moisture contamination and latch misalignment.
Can you also please tell us if the side of your door has any dragging scratches or that you feel that the door is catching on the frame itself. Any extra information you can share with us will be very much appreciated.
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Eric
Hi Eric,
Thanks for your reply. I have attached pictures of the garage door.
Noticed that when I removed the screws of the first hinge bracket (with the screws of the other 2 door hinges remain), I am then able to lock the door.
Hi @aton5,
It does sound like you’re dealing with an alignment issue. You can usually address this by making small adjustments to either the door or the striker plate. From your description, it seems that shifting the striker plate slightly might be enough to resolve the problem. If you were also having trouble closing the door, that would point more towards the door itself needing adjustment, but since it closes fine, I’d start by carefully moving the striker plate over a little to allow the lock to engage smoothly.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Hi @aton5,
You should only need a Phillips head screwdriver or a drill driver to remove and reattach the strike plate, and possibly a hammer and chisel if you need to remove a little timber to reposition it. To figure out which direction to move it, close the door and watch where the latch meets the plate — if it’s hitting above or below the opening, you’ll need to move the plate in that direction; if it’s hitting to the side, adjust accordingly. Remove the screws holding the strike plate, reposition it slightly in the needed direction, and check the fit before securing it again. If you need to shift it more than a couple of millimetres, use the chisel to carefully remove a little timber so the plate sits flush in its new position.
Mitchell
Thanks, when I removed the lock strike plate, the door can be locked. Recalled that a tradie removed some timber in the lock plate slot when he did the repair years ago for the same issue. Have attached a pic of the lock strike plate. Should I remove the bits of timber (circled)?
Thinking about it @aton5, if the door locks when the striker plate is removed, then it's likely the plate itself that is the issue, not that timber. Removing the wood might not have an effect unless it allows the strike plate to move further.
Mitchell
