Right, I'm moving house on Monday into a house which currently has tenants in. They are leaving the day I get the keys, and as a precaution I want to change the lock on the front door and I'm just wondering if anyone on here can tell me if this is a diffficult thing to do?? It's a wooden front door with a normal key lock on there at the moment, and I can get a new lock from B&Q. So rather than pay a fortune for a locksmith, should I attempt this on my own??
It depends on how experienced you are generally with DIY. If you have no experience at all then i would suggest paying the money and getting it done properly. That way it is done correctly, saves you a lot of hassle and they do a good job of it. However if you like doing that sort of thing - more hand's on around the house, i say try it but do research first into the, hm, procedure.
It's simple. Just buy the same kind of lock and get your screwdriver out. The new lock comes with instructions but you won't need them.
1. Unscrew lock from door 2. Remove and measure where keyhole is in lock 3. Replace lock in door 4. Off to DIY shop 5. Buy new lock of identical size and key location 6. Replace old lock with new one. 7. Job's a goodun
Alternative to rpstewarts plan: Take lock out of front door Arm girlfriend heavily and stand her in doorway looking menacing Take lock to local lock or DIY shop and buy similar Return home and replace lock Unarm girlfriend and return her to kitchen or bedroom
All you need is a new barrel, not a whole lock, its a simple screwdriver job and a hacksaw to cut the lock shank to length... Done it many many times
