Interior door - lockset problem

I recently had my basement finished with a bedroom and a walk-in closet. The contractors installed pre-hung (white) 6 panel doors. I purchased Kwikset locks for the doors and installed them last night. The passage lock on the closet worked great. However, on the locking bedroom door, (that opens inside the room) when you shut the door and it latches, you can push on the door from the outside and it opens. My 20 month daughter was the one that brought it to my attention. Can anyone tell me what it causing this and how to remedy it? The hole for the strike seeems to be large enough to accomidate the latch and you can here the latch extend into the strike when the door is closed. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you

 

Hello: Alidar

Most likely the striker plate on the door frame is not properly lined up with the door knob deadbolt. Plate adjustment should resolve that problem.

May need to be moved in any one of the four possible ways. Might also need to be shimmed out some away from the frame.

In that case, a coin behind the plate may work. Works for doors which are not lined up properly too. Doors which tend to self close, a coin behind the hinge works.

Rare instances the hole in the door frame may not be deep enough to allow the locks bolt to fully enter it. In that case, remove the plate, chisel out some additional wood, reinstall the plate and presto...job done...

Regards & Good Luck
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You mentioned there is one of four ways I could move the strike, but when I do it, what exactly am I trying to accomplish. Do I want the latch to completely go inside the strike, partially, etc?

Thanks,

 

Hi: Alidar

Yes. The knob bolt has to be allowed to fully enter the hole in the striker plate. In partially will not hold the door closed correctly.

That is the reason why the door opens when pushed on. The latch does not fully enter the hole in the striker plate.

Slowly close the door and watch how the latch trys to enter the striker plate and then enter the hole. May not be lined up right or the latch not allowed to fully extend into the hole, etc.

The striker plate can be moved up, down, left or right. Which ever way is needed to allow the latch to fully enter the hole and be fully extended for the knob.

Providing the hole itself is deep enough to allow the latch to fully extend outwards into the hole. If not, the hole isn't deep enough. See the explaination in first reply for correctional details.

 

Hello, Check the gap between the door and the door jamb should be about 1/8 inch.if the gap is too big the door won't latch. I have also seen in rare instances where the latch is installed backwards so you have to turn the handle to close the door but you can push it open. Good Luck Woodbutcher