Fortunately cutting out this mortise isn t nearly as difficult as it sounds.
How to replace a door jam for lock.
Place the door in the jamb and fasten it to the hinges.
In some cases door latch plate mortises might need to be cut or enlarged.
This allows you to pull the door knobs off the door from both sides.
In some cases the door lock jam can be resolved in a matter of minutes.
Hang the door in the jamb.
Knowing how to cut a mortise is essential for installing a deadbolt lock.
If the knob is to the right select a right handed door.
A proper diagnosis will help you figure out a course which course of action you should pursue.
Diagnosing the door lock jam.
Unless you are installing a prehung door you ll need to trace the outline of the hinges on the jamb and cut an indentation using a router or utility knife.
Remove the two screws from the latch plate on the edge of the door and remove the latch from the opening.
Begin by removing the screws from the door knob on the interior side of your door.
If the doorknob is on the left you need a left handed door.
The first step in learning how to fix a door lock that is jammed is diagnosing the cause of the problem.
Hopefully your not here because it happened to you.
The strike side the side with the lockset of these doors has a beveled edge so the door can swing freely.
If your door got kicked in due to a break in the most important thing is feeling secure again.
Coat your door key with powdered graphite or spray.
Screw the hinges onto the correct side of the jamb.
Open the door and stand with your back to the hinges.