Are you tired of having to press down on the door latch to open your door every time? Well, if so, then you’re in luck. We’ve put together this thorough article on how to make door latch hole bigger using several household tools such as screws, woods, holes, screwdrivers, etc.
Firstly, it’s best to get one thing straight; a door latch is not an easy thing to enlarge. As we stated above, it’s made up of several parts, and sometimes it’s hard to find the part you need.
Basically, the latch on a door is what holds the door shut. It should be big enough to hold the door closed but not so big that the lock cannot be opened. The bigger the latch hole, the harder it is for a person to open or close the door. Besides, it’s elementary to make the door latch hole bigger.
We initiate the process by carefully cutting a wooden block close to 1.5-2 squares to fill up the contrasting flanks of the hole. Next, attach the wooden blocks or plywood sheets to the door and pin the central point on both sides. Finally, to close off the job, utilize the power drill to carve through one wooden block or plywood flank and then toil on the remaining flank to complete the ordeal.
Therefore, move to another place or renovate your home with an upgraded look by making the door latch hole bigger with a simple step-by-step guide with the aid of woodblocks, screws, and holes. Now, let’s take a look.
How To Make Door Latch Hole Bigger With Wood Blocks
When you’re working with wood, you really want to avoid gouging it and creating slivers, especially when working with a shakable moving mallet. Things can go awry and ruin your home decor in an instant.
Thus, an adequate in-depth guide comes in super handy to evade the outcome. So follow this guide to make your own custom door latch hole bigger without damaging the wood.
Necessary Equipment
- Wood Block
- DIY Door Latch
- Compass
- Tape
- Hole Saw
Step 1: Get some new wood blocks in different sizes and shapes. You can find these at any home improvement store or supermarket.
Step 2: Measure the length of the latch with tape and measure it.
Step 3: Find the center of the knob with a compass and mark the center position.
Step 4: In this step, we use the hole saw to enlarge the space a bit.
Step 5: Place the new smaller block inside the hole and see if it fits snugly. If it does not fit snugly or has gaps around the edges when pushed in all the way, you’ll need to get a bigger block.
Step 6: Now, put the bigger block inside the hole. If it fits snugly and there are no gaps around the edges when pushed in all the way, then this is the size block you should use for your DIY door latch hole.
Step 7: If there are gaps around the edges or it does not fit snugly in place, go back to step 7 and try another size until you find one.
Is There A Way To Get Rid of Door Latch Hole?
If you ever wonder how to get rid of a hole in your door latch, you are not alone. Even if you have a beautifully designed door, there are still those unsightly holes that many people dislike.
Luckily, there is a way to fix these problems, especially considering home improvement with interior doors.
A typical problem with interior doors has a large hole where the lock was installed or removed. While this might seem like a straightforward fix, it can be tricky depending on your situation and how much time you want to resolve the problem yourself.
The most apparent solution is cutting out a piece of wood from another part of the door to tackle this issue. Also, using it to fill in around where the lock was removed or replaced with other types of locks such as deadbolt locks or even keyless entry systems (these require drilling holes into your door frame).
If this isn’t an option for you, then you can always try using the drywall method.
The Final Step For Making the Door Latch Hole Lavish
The final step for making the door latch hole lavish is to add the finishing touches. The finishing touches should be applied after everything has been put together and it’s time to install the door.
There are a few ways to personalize your door, such as adding a decorative knob or handle, installing trim pieces inside of it, using different materials for the trim, or painting the door a unique color.
You might also want to consider adding locksets with keyed locks to increase the overall security of your house.
Besides, it’s important to remember that when installing any type of hardware on any surface of the door, there could be some issues with moisture getting trapped under it, which will cause rust over time if left unchecked.
It’s best practice not only from a safety standpoint but also aesthetically pleasing when installing these types of items inside an existing home – because you won’t have to worry about any sort of paint chipping off due to water damage caused by moisture build-up on top of what was already there originally before installation started happening in order for this new feature to look good and function properly.
FAQ:
How Do You Fill Existing Holes in a Door?
It depends on what kind of door you have. If it is a wooden door, you can fill the hole with wood putty. If it is a glass door, you can fill it with clear glass putty. Although, first, you need to remove the door’s existing holes.
How To Make Doorknob Hole Bigger?
Using a jigsaw, cut out a square hole in the center of the plywood. Cut corners off the plywood to create a clean, sharp edge. Make sure that the edges of the hole are straight. Now, it’s time to install the handle. Drill holes for the screws and then screw the handles to the door.
How do you make a hole bigger without a drill?
You can use a mandrel to make the hole bigger without a drill, but you can use a hand file if you want to save time and money. A hand file is an inexpensive option. Or, you can also use a jab saw.
How do I make my exterior door wider?
Drill pilot holes in the studs and then use a 3/8-inch screw to attach the studs to the wall. You can use a drill press or a hand-held power drill to make the pilot holes. Make sure you use a drill bit that is the same size as the screws. Next, use a Phillips screwdriver to tighten the screws.
Final Verdict
For many of us, drilling or otherwise enlarging the hole in a door frame to accommodate a door latch is a routine part of woodworking.
Therefore, a handful of you knows how to make door latch hole bigger immaculately and harmlessly. And if you’ve done it once, you may not be too worried about doing it again.
Though mistakes do happen, and if you enlarge the hole and make it too big for an all-important door latch to fit through, as is often the case with commercial doors that are locked at night, you can follow these above steps to repair the damage.
In short, you mustn’t make the door latch hole any larger than it needs to be. Unless you want individuals to be able to enter your house without a key, you’ll need to stick with 38-40 millimeters in diameter.
You’ll also want to avoid making the circle a perfect circle, as an imperfect circle will provide extra strength and give anyone who tries forcing their way into some trouble.