Door Strike Plate

Hardware · Easy

The metal plate on the jamb that receives the latch and deadbolt. A misaligned or loose strike is why doors don't latch, rattle, or need that shoulder shove.

Tools you may need

• Screwdriver
• Chisel (if deepening the mortise)
• Lipstick or chalk (fit check)

Steps

1. 1Rub lipstick on the latch bolt and close the door slowly to mark where it hits the plate.
2. 2If the mark is off-center, loosen the screws and shift the plate up, down, or in-out.
3. 3For a persistent miss, deepen the mortise with a chisel and refit the plate flush.
4. 4Drive the screws snug, then test ten latches — the bolt should drop in with no lift.

Maintenance

Check strike screws yearly — the door's slam vibration backs them out. (Suggested interval: every 1 year.)