What is a keyhole escutcheon?
A keyhole escutcheon is the plate around a keyhole, and in its classic form it carries a small swinging cover that drops over the opening. You push the cover aside or lift it to insert the key; released, it falls back under its own weight. The cover itself is often called a keyhole drop or keyhole swing.
You find them mainly on doors with a traditional lever lock, where the keyhole is an open, through opening in the door leaf.
What it does
- Keeps out dirt and water. On an external door the cover stops rain, snow and dust reaching the lock case. Moisture in a lock means rust and a stiff or jamming mechanism.
- Reduces draught. An open keyhole is a small but noticeable air leak in an external door, right at hand height.
- Blocks the view. A through keyhole gives a view into the room and shows whether a key is in the lock.
- Finishes the job. It protects the timber around the opening from being struck with the key.
Versions
- Swinging cover — fixed at a single point above the opening and pivoting sideways. The simplest and most common version.
- Hinged flap — lifts and falls back, often sprung so that it closes reliably even on a door that does not hang perfectly plumb.
- Separate escutcheon or full backplate — the cover is usually part of a plate that also carries the spindle hole, in brass, bronze, iron or stainless steel.
Fitting points
- Follow the axis of the lock. The opening in the plate must line up exactly with the keyhole in the door; a few millimetres out and the key binds.
- Make sure the cover falls back. A cover that is pinched by its screw or does not hang free stays open and does nothing. Do not tighten the fixing screw — leave enough play for the plate to swing easily.
- Choose the right material outdoors. Near the coast and on the weather side, brass or stainless steel lasts far longer than zinc-plated steel.
- Replacing without changing the lock. The dimension that matters is the distance between the spindle centre and the keyhole. Measure it before buying new furniture, and check the backset of the lock at the same time.
Related terms
- Door stop bead
- Threshold
- Door sill
- Airtightness
- Glazed door
Looking for more DIY plans? Check out fredsdiyplans.com.