Removing An Old Door Lock

If the rose doesn t come off with the knob you ll need to remove it separately.

Removing an old door lock.

Gently pry it off or pull and twist it away from the door. If there is paint on the lock face then when you remove the mechanism the paint may stick to the lock face and peal off the wood of the door. In just three quick steps you can remove an existing cylinder lock for re keying or replacement. Start by using your phillips head screwdriver to remove any visible screws from the interior side of the door.

On most modular through the door knob sets the screws are visible in the decorative faceplate on the side of the door that faces into. Check for small notches or depressions in very old door knobs. Slip a screwdriver in to release the knob which will expose a length of wire wrapped around the remaining trim. Undo the two mounting screws holding the doorknob in place.

Before you remove the lock mechanism from the door you may want to score the gap around the lock front with a razor to free any paint that may be attached to the metal. Press this wire with your screwdriver to release the interior half of the lock then pull the exterior half off by hand. Wedge a pin or the tip of your flathead screwdriver under the small opening between the rose and the surface of the door.