I recently bought a house and found that the front door originally just had a deadbolt with a handle attachment. I replaced it with a real latching handle and drilled a new hole above for a smart lock. However, the original deadbolt latch hole in the door frame is completely bored out, which prevents the new handle from latching securely. I attempted to glue in a piece of wood and then mount the strike plate to it, but it cracked, and the hole is too wide and deep, leaving it floating. What can I fill it with or do to make it solid enough for the strike plate and to drill a new latch hole?
2 Answers
Honestly, you might want to consider just leaving it as-is, but it really depends on how well you want everything to latch. If the screws aren't secure, it’ll be a hassle trying to close the door without a good fit. It's key to ensure your door closes properly without needing that 20-minute fiddling!
I recommend cutting out a section of the frame about an inch above and below the bored area and replacing it with new wood. You can glue or screw the new wood into place, then drill a new hole for the strike plate. Be sure to fill any gaps with wood filler, sand it down, and finish it with paint or stain. Don't forget to pre-drill your screw holes to avoid splitting the wood!
That makes sense, but I'm really looking for something that ensures a good, snug fit without that hassle. If it’s not secure, it’ll just keep causing problems.