How to Adjust a Door Knob Strike Plate
- 1). Open the door and examine the strike plate. If it is simply loose, tighten the securing screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver. The strike plate must fit flush to the door jamb. If the plate is above the door jamb, the jamb requires some chiseling to seat the strike plate flush.
- 2). Trace the strike plate onto the jamb with a pencil. Remove the two screws securing the strike plate with the screwdriver.
- 3). Remove wood from the jamb on the inside of the tracing with a chisel. Place the chisel on the trace line and tap the end of the chisel with a hammer to cut away wood. You only need to cut deep enough for the thickness of the strike plate. Reattach the strike plate to the door jamb with the retaining screws.
- 4). Stand on the inside of the door and slowly close the door, if the strike plate is misaligned. Watch where the door knob latch comes in contact with the strike plate. Open the door and loosen the strike plate retaining screws. Move the strike plate up or down as necessary to line the hole up with the latch bolt. Retighten the strike plate.
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