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Both ecosystems work. They suit different buyers, and choosing wrongly costs a lot of after-sales time.
Read the article →Using a Smart Lock Installation Template and Cut-Out Drawing
A cut-out template is a full-size drawing of the hole a lock needs. It costs almost nothing to produce and it prevents the single most expensive error in this trade: a door prepped to the wrong dimensions.
What the template contains
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| Body outline | Full-size, at 1:1, so it can be laid against the door |
|---|---|
| Bore centres | Where the spindle and keyhole or cylinder have to sit |
| Backset | From the door edge to the centre line |
| Faceplate and screw positions | Including the fixings that hold the body |
| Handing note | Which way the template faces for a left or right door |
Mortise sets ship with a template so the installer can check the opening before drilling. Where a body is non-standard, the template is produced from the confirmed drawing rather than from a catalogue.
How to read it against the door
- Lay the template flat on the door face and align the edge line with the door edge
- Mark the bore centres through the template, not beside it
- Check the backset against the door edge before any material is removed
- Confirm the handing by standing on the hinge side of the door
If the template and the door disagree, the door wins. Stop and send us a photograph before drilling, because a body produced to the wrong size cannot be reworked.
When a template is required rather than optional
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| Retrofit onto an existing bore | Helpful but not always needed |
|---|---|
| New doors, no prep yet | Required before the joiner drills |
| Non-standard mortise length | Required; produced from your drawing |
| Multi-unit projects | Required per door type, not per door |
| Stainless or unusual faceplate | Required, because the fixing pattern differs |
How a non-standard body gets a template
Send the drawing, or a photograph of the door edge with a ruler, or the old body itself. We confirm the dimensions in writing, then produce the template and the sample together so the installer can test the opening before the production run.
- Drawing in PDF, DWG, DXF or STEP
- Or a measured photograph with a ruler visible
- Or the existing body, which we measure and return on request
- We list anything still open on the quotation rather than assuming it
The boundaries of what a template can fix
A template confirms the hole. It cannot confirm that the door closes, that the frame is square, or that the strike aligns. For a multi-unit project, the first door fitted is the real test, which is why we ask for a first article check before the batch continues.
Who checks the opening
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| Template production | Us, from the confirmed drawing |
|---|---|
| Opening check before drilling | Your installer, on site |
| First article fit | Jointly, from photographs or a returned sample |
| Record keeping | The confirmed drawing and the first-article result stay on file |
The template is the least expensive part of the order and the one that prevents the most expensive mistake. Ask for it even when you think the door is standard.
Buyer Questions
Three questions this guide usually raises.
On this topic
Do you supply a template for every mortise order?
Yes. Mortise sets ship with a cut-out template, and for a non-standard body it is produced from the confirmed drawing rather than from a catalogue size.
What if the template does not match the door?
Stop and send a photograph. The door is the authority, not the drawing - we will re-confirm the dimensions before anything is produced.
Can we get a template before placing the production order?
Yes. Send the drawing or a measured photograph and we will confirm the fit and produce the template as part of the sample round.
Related Reading
Active Unlock vs Request-Based Unlock in Smart Locks
The single most expensive misunderstanding in app-connected locks, and how to avoid it.
Read the article →Choosing a Mortise Body and Door Thickness for a Smart Lock
The four measurements that decide whether a smart door lock order works.
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