Need a new lock on your sliding door? In this how to guide, we explain the steps for replacing sliding glass door lock hardware in your tiny house or apartment.
Sliding glass doors provide a spacious form of entry into your tiny home, while offering an unobstructed view of your patio and garden. If you’re a parent, a sliding glass door will help you conveniently monitor your children playing outside, and allow natural light to flow into your living space.
Glass sliding doors are an excellent way of enhancing the perceived size and spaciousness of a tiny home, but they hold a big “come on in” sign to burglars like nothing else. And not just because they are easily breakable! Sliding glass doors usually feature standard mortise locks, which aren’t the best at keeping intruders out.
The solution is to install a more secure lock that will keep intruders out while letting that outside ambience in. In this article, we explain what you need to know about replacing sliding glass door locks yourself, in your tiny home.
Types of Sliding Glass Door Locks
There’s something undeniably modern about sliding glass doors, but the common dilemma is how to lock them. Since they don’t open and close like typical, latched doors, it’s important that you know the available types of sliding glass door locks.
Sliding glass door lock styles
Keypad Locks & Keyed Locks
Two of the most popular types of sliding door locks are keyed locks that allow you to operate the glass sliding door both from the outside and inside, as well as keypad locks which use a code for entry.
Keyed Lock
Keyed locks are a durable option if you want to operate the door from both inside and out. This is a traditional and reliable option, but you will need to give keys to whoever uses your residence, which can be a nuisance if you are renting out your tiny home as a holiday rental.
Keypad Lock
This is the style of lock we are predominantly focusing on in this article. A keypad lock for sliding glass door works similarly to your mobile pin lock. Instead of a physical key, you enter a numerical code on a keypad to lock and unlock the patio sliding door. You can get sliding glass door keypad locks with varying degrees of sophistication, ranging from very basic to those that sync with a mobile app.
Our recommendation is to purchase a good quality keypad lock or keyed lock, or security and convenience reasons. For more help on this, check out the following article:
RELATED ARTICLE: Key Lock vs Keypad Lock for Sliding Glass Door: What’s Better For Your Tiny Home?
Mortise Locks
One of the most common locks for sliding glass doors is mortise locks. An example of mortise locks can be seen on the Reflect Windows and Doors website. Mortise locks sit within the pocket of sliding doors, making them appear invisible from afar when you look at them.
Most sliding doors come with built-in mortise locks hidden inside the sliding door’s panel. However, you can only operate them from the inside, making them quite limited in use.
Double Bolt Locks
Another popular option is the double-bolt lock which is usually installed by the jamb and is kept intact through interlocking bolts. An example of this lock style can be seen on the Safe Slider shop website.
Double bolt locks are simple and low-cost door locks that feature two parts. One of these parts, the bolt, attaches to your door while the other is secured to your door jamb to interlock the bolt.
Great for security, but inconvenient to use. It is less likely you would use these on frequently used doors, but perhaps you could use them on doors that are used less often for additional security.
Spring Loaded Locks
Spring-loaded sliding door locks have a bolt that attaches to the door and a small plate with slots for holding the bolt that attaches to the door frame.
How to Choose a Lock for Your Glass Sliding Door
You should consider several features when selecting and buying a lock for your glass sliding door:
- Security. Keyed and keypad locks are usually the best for sliding glass doors as they offer the most security.
- Compatibility. Not all locks are compatible with glass sliding doors. Before settling on a particular lock model, make sure it’s compatible with sliding glass doors, and suitable for outdoor use.
- Door usage. Think about how you intend to use the door it is on. For example, is it for an Air BnB where a keypad lock might be easier for managing rotating guests? Or is it just for you?
- Comfort. Which style of lock are you more comfortable with? Do you want the convenience and freedom of a keypad lock? Or are you old-school, and prefer traditional keys instead?
- Easy Installation. Select a lock that makes easy installation a priority, so you don’t have to hire a professional. There should be clear instructions, and features that make it easy to install.
- Special features. If you’re opting for a keypad lock, explore the included features to see which ones you could truly benefit from, and which you don’t really need.
- Durability & Corrosion Resistance. Settle on a reputable brand such as Kwikset with good quality components and technology. Weak components are a security issue, and can become very frustrating to use over time due to jamming and rust.
Replacing Sliding Glass Door Lock
Parts of a Sliding Glass Door Lock
Before you start replacing sliding glass door lock hardware yourself, you should have a basic understanding of the parts that make up a sliding glass door lock, and how they work together to make the locking mechanism function properly. Traditional locks are usually composed of three major parts: the cylinder, bolt latch, and the box and strike plate.
Cylinder
The lock body, or cylinder, is the part of the lock where you typically insert the key. When locked, the cylinder activates a series of spring-filled pins, which prevents the cylinder from turning. When you put in a key, the uneven edge nudges the pins up to fit the height of the key in that particular location within the cylinder. It works so that it recognizes the right key when pins are moved into their places, thus, opening the cylinder, moving the bolt, and opening the door.
Latch or Bolt
The lock engages the bolt within the door. This metal piece extends from the door itself into the frame and then keeps it closed.
Strike Plate and Box
From the cylinder, the bolt reaches into a tiny square-like hole called the box. It keeps the bolt secure in the doorframe whenever the lock is engaged. On the other hand, the metal plate is the strike plate that guides the bold into the box, providing extra reinforcement to the lock mechanism.
Most sliding glass doors that are locked by latches are often anchored to the handles. There are plenty that also comes with unlocking keys or exterior locking mechanisms. But for safety purposes, it’s important to change your lock immediately if you lose the key. Here is a step-by-step guide on replacing sliding glass door lock and handle hardware.
Steps for Replacing Sliding Glass Door Lock
Step 1: Remove the door handle
- Open your sliding glass door to get access to the handle on either side.
- Take out the screws that secure the door handle using a slotted or a Phillips screwdriver, depending on the type of screw.
- Pull the door handle apart on both sides. Make sure to remove any sliding glass door handles that need to be replaced with new locks.
Step 2: Measure the handle requirements
Using a ruler measure the gap between screw holes. Measure the width and length of the slot that goes into the sunken handle into the frame. Measure its thickness as well.
These measurements will come in handy when you buy the replacement handles to make sure that you purchase similar sizes. When buying new locks make sure to get a receipt for any purchases, in case it is the wrong size and you need to return it.
Step 3: Install the new handle and lock
- Place the new handle on the bare screw holes or in the frame’s opening.
- Push the screws through the bare holes, and hand-turn them in so they start threading onto the exterior of the handle.
- Afterward, tighten the screw tightly with the right kind of screwdriver.
Step 4: Test the new sliding door handle and lock
Pull the door closed, lock the new lock, and test it by dragging the door open to see how it works.
Replacing Sliding Glass Door Lock Questions
Q: How difficult is replacing sliding glass door lock myself?
On a scale of 1 to 10, we would say the process has a difficulty level of 3 if you are familiar with the process. However, you will find the process much more difficult if you haven’t watched tutorials on installing and replacing sliding glass door lock first. In addition to this article, we suggest that you watch a couple of videos to see the process, as well.
Once you understand the process for installing a sliding door lock, it is not too difficult to do yourself especially if you already have some experience with basic home maintenance and repairs. Most locks should come with instructions explaining how to install the new key lock on your glass sliding door. We suggest you read the instructions in full before starting the installation, and make sure you can visualize and understand what is required in each step, before you start.
Q: When replacing a lock, do I have to get a whole new sliding door handle, or just the lock?
No, you don’t have to get a new door handle every time you change your sliding glass door lock. It is not necessary to buy an entire new handle and lock, if you only want to change the lock on your sliding glass door. Having said that, for ease and uniform appearance, many people choose to replace the entire handle and lock at the same time to match the surrounding decor, so it’s your choice. You can replace the whole handle, but you don’t have to.
Final Thoughts
That has pretty much covered what we’ve had to say about replacing sliding glass door lock in your tiny home. As you can see, the process for replacing a sliding door lock and handle is not too difficult; the trickiest part is measuring your handle requirements properly to ensure the replacement handle and lock you purchase will fit. Be sure to get a receipt and keep it, just in case the lock doesn’t fit as you intended, so you can return or swap it if needed.
To ensure your lock keeps working for many years, remember to clean and oil the tracks and clean the lock regularly, and attend to any potential door hardware issues as soon as you notice your sliding glass door acting abnormally.
NOTE: This article was originally written on 30 November 2022, and updated on 18 November 2024, to improve accuracy and readability.
