How To Install A Barrel Bolt On A Door With A Trim
When it comes to DIY projects at home, fitting a barrel bolt, or any sliding bolt for that matter, is one of the quickest and easiest jobs there is. However, even the simplest jobs require some precautions to be taken, and in this helpful article we aim to provide a full, easy to follow guide on how to install a barrel bolt on a door that features a trim around its edge.
While necked barrel bolts can make this process easier for doors that feature a flat trim around them that is not flush with the door, a curved trim around a door is something that may make fitting a barrel bolt seem difficult for a variety of reasons, but in our guide below we will outline a simple process for this part of the job!
Tools & Equipment Needed
In order to fit a barrel bolt on a door, you will need the following tools and equipment:
- The barrel bolt of your choice
- Screws
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Safety goggles
THE INSTALLATION PROCESS
- To begin, you must first decide on the height that you want the sliding bolt to be fixed. The bolt should be at a suitable height that provides easy access for all potential users.
- Use a tape measure and pencil to measure and mark the height you have decided upon. Once this has been done, align the main section of the barrel bolt with your markings, ensure that it is straight and then use the pencil to create marks where each of the screw holes are.
- Grab a drill and attach a drill bit which is slightly narrower than the screws you are going to use to fix the bolt. This is where we would advise you to equip a pair of safety goggles.
- Use the drill to drill shallow pilot holes in each of the hole areas you previously marked with a pencil.
- Switch your drill bit with one that is suited to drill in screws and attach a screw head to the end of the drill bit. Hold the main section of the barrel bolt up to the door so that the holes of it line up with your pilot holes and drill the first screw into position. Continue holding the bolt and repeat this process until you have drilled screws into all of your pilot holes and the bolt is firmly in position on the door.
- With the body of the bolt in position, the staple must now be fitted. Grab the staple and hold it up against the door frame or trim around the door, horizontally level with the sliding portion of the barrel bolt on the door. Use your pencil to draw an outline of the staple on the door trim.
- Grab your chisel and hammer, these will be used to carefully chisel out a shallow alcove in the door frame where the staple can sit, so that it is flush with the body of the bolt that has been installed on the door.
- Line up your chisel with a part of the staple outline you have drawn and use the hammer to force the chisel into the door frame, which will create a deep cut in the trim. Repeat this process all the way around the outline.
- Remove the chunk of wood that you have chiselled around and place the staple into the alcove you have created to check how it fits, if it doesn’t quite fit, continue to chisel out the area accordingly.
- With the staple placed into the alcove, use your pencil to mark each of the screw holes that need to be created.
- Drill the pilot holes required on these markings and then use screws to fit the staple in place, similarly to how the main section of the bolt was fitted on the door.
- Remove safety goggles and test the bolt to ensure that it slides across smoothly.
If you have any questions about fitting barrel bolts that aren’t answered in this article or you’re looking for further information, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with our friendly team!