How do I fix a door that won't latch properly?

A door that won't latch either has a strike plate that's out of alignment (most common) or the door itself has sagged. Close the door slowly and mark where the latch hits the strike - if it's above or below the hole, either move the strike plate or shim the top hinge to lift the latch side back into place.

Are smart locks safe for a front door?

Yes - modern smart locks from established brands (Schlage Encode, Yale Assure, August, Level) are as physically secure as a comparable mechanical deadbolt and add real features: keyless entry, auto-lock, and a log of who came and went. Avoid the cheapest Amazon models and any lock without a physical key backup.

Doors & Windows · Locks & Hardware

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Deadbolts, smart locks, sticky doors, misaligned strikes.

All questions in this topic

How do I fix a door that won't latch properly?
A door that won't latch either has a strike plate that's out of alignment (most common) or the door itself has sagged. Close the door slowly and mark where the latch hits the strike - if it's above or below the hole, either move the strike plate or shim the top hinge to lift the latch side back into place.
Are smart locks safe for a front door?
Yes - modern smart locks from established brands (Schlage Encode, Yale Assure, August, Level) are as physically secure as a comparable mechanical deadbolt and add real features: keyless entry, auto-lock, and a log of who came and went. Avoid the cheapest Amazon models and any lock without a physical key backup.

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