Replacing rim lock with mortise lock

heyrob · 1 Jan 2018

Hi,

I currently have a rim lock on our back door that needs replacing. I was planning on fitting a mortise lock but obviously the existing holes for the key and spindle will not line up.

Is it better to Install another rim lock or do a mortise and fill the existing holes with some dowel and filler?

Will also add a dead bolt at the top.

Thanks

big-all · 1 Jan 2018

easier to fit a mortice lock centrally and leave the cylinder where it is assuming its higher up

heyrob · 1 Jan 2018

Unfortunately it’s in the middle

Pic attached

JohnD · 1 Jan 2018

that an external door?

how thick is it (in mm, precisely)?

It looks like a moulded fire door to me (or even hollow) but perhaps it is M&T panelled

please photograph the edge of the door at the level of the horizontal rail. And the top edge, seen from above. It may have a label, plastic indicator dots, or stamped text.

You can't put a mortice lock where tenons are.

The pressed steel rimlock you have in unsuitable for an external door as not secure.

There are a few secure rimlocks on the market. To meet insurance requirements you will probably need to supplement it with rackbolts top and bottom.

heyrob · 1 Jan 2018

Yes it’s external. The previous owner wasn’t that bothered about security which is why I’m looking to replace it. Also have some rack bolts to fit.

It’s a solid wood door. 44mm thick so would fit a mortise lock.

JohnD · 1 Jan 2018

any chance of those pics?

heyrob · 1 Jan 2018

Pics attached

JohnD · 1 Jan 2018

thanks

no tenons visible so perhaps it is dowelled. It looks to be made of "engineered wood". The cut edges are bare so if it is an external door they need to be well-painted, especially the top and bottom, to protect from rain and damp.

If you want to chisel it out for a mortice, avoid the area close to any of the horizontal rails, where there will be dowels holding it to the vertical stile, which you don't want to cut into.

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Replacing rim lock with mortise lock

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