HOME & FAMILY

Shimming Exterior Latches

Exterior doors with a keylock knob often have a security latch with a semicircle piece on the side — the deadlock. When engaged properly, it stops the latch from being pushed back into the door by hand.

If you find that you can shim an exterior latch, fix or replace it so no one else can get lucky. Make sure the deadlock plunger engages properly so the latch can't be pushed inwards with a shim releasing the lock. - Grandpa TJ -

How-to videos

Shim an exterior latch (when the deadlock fails)

If you are locked out and can shim an exterior door latch, consider it lucky. The video covers opening a door whose deadlock is not properly working, and checking that your deadbolt still does its job.

Thanks to ACME Locksmith for the YouTube video.

Watch on YouTube

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