Strike Plates 101: Which One to Choose for Your Door

 Doors have been around for much longer than you think and so has one of the most important components, the lock. A door without a lock is not as secure or as functional and the lock itself is made of three different parts. These include the bolt, box and cylinder.

The bolt, better known as the latch is what engages with the door by holding a piece of metal extending from the door into place and thus the door stays closed. The box is what extends from the cylinder and goes into a hole made to fit the bolt. The cylinder is the body of the lock which is where the key goes in order to lock or unlock a door. A strike plate, is the metal plate on the door frame that makes it more secure.

Types of Strike Plates

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Standard

The standard or basic strike plate is quite a thin on and it's made to offer the most minimal level of security. These door strikes are found on the majority of locksets and make for the most affordable lock keep plate.

Reinforced

With reinforced plates, you get a solution that is slightly stronger and thus more secure than a standard lockset. Reinforced strike plates are also longer and provide a larger surface area for the screws to go on the door frame.

High-Security

A high-security strike plate is made with heavy-duty materials in mind and reinforced screws. They make for the most secure strike plates as they are resistant to brute force attacks.

Full Lip

A full lip door strike plate is one that is available in both a square and round corner design which makes it quite a versatile solution. This solution is essentially a piece of metal with a hole in it that can accommodate the piece of metal from the lock so it slides into the frame.

Extended Lip

With an extended lip strike plate, you get a piece of hardware that looks similar to a full lip strike plate. Extended lip strikes are able to accommodate wider doors than full lip strikes.

T-Strike

Both easy to install and quite reliable, T-strike plates are unfortunately not as common due to their design. They are not able to accommodate wide doors as the door needs to be made according to the plate and not the other way around.

Deadbolt

A deadbolt strike plate is able to not only make the door more secure but visually appealing too. These strike plates are thus more common than some of the aforementioned solutions.

Circular

While similar to T-strike plates, circular door strikes are actually more common as they can accommodate extra wide doors but like T-strike plates, they are easy to install.

Adjustable

If you are after a truly versatile door strike then you should go for an adjustable one since it allows you to make the opening as large as you want without moving the plate or making a cutout.

Electric

An electric door strike is the most advanced solution as it's operated by current instead of a key and it's often regarded as more secure than a mechanical door strike.

 What Matters in a Strike Plate

Material

There are different materials a lock keep plate comes made of and stainless steel and brass are the most common ones. Both materials are sturdy but the former is stronger and heavier than the latter which is also quite a durable and more affordable option.

Size

The size of the door strike depends on the door and the level of security you want. Make sure the strike is compatible with the door however large enough to keep it in place under heavy impacts.

Location

The placement of the screw matters too and it should be placed so that it's able to go deep into the door so that it makes it more secure. The door should also allow for this deep penetration otherwise the screw won't be compatible.

Installation

A simple installation process is one that often reflects the capabilities of a secure and long-lasting door strike. Make sure the strike is able to fit on the frame wit no gaps and that you are able to align it with the latch hole precisely.

Why You Should Replace a Strike Plate

Security

There are many reasons to replace a door strike plate and one of the most common ones is the security of your home. If you want a safer entry then a larger and beefier strike plate is the way to go.

Damage

Sometimes you can end up damaging your door's strike and this alone can call for a new one to be installed.

Appearance

With a new door strike you can definitely make the door have better appeal but not in a drastic way.

Longevity

Installing a new door strike makes it so that the door itself lasts longer as the hardware is the core of it all.