Why deadbolts matter
A spring latch on a knob or lever holds the door closed, but it’s easy to slip or force. A deadbolt throws a solid bolt into the door frame that can’t be pushed back without the key or thumbturn. On most homes, adding or upgrading the deadbolt on every exterior door, including the door from the garage, is the biggest security improvement for the money.
Deadbolt services we offer
- New deadbolt installation on doors that have never had one, including drilling the door and frame and mortising for the strike plate.
- Replacement of worn, sticky or cheap deadbolts with sturdier hardware.
- Keyed-alike setups so your new deadbolt uses the same key as your other doors (see rekeying).
- Keypad and smart deadbolts for keyless entry. See smart lock installation.
- Repair and adjustment when the bolt won’t fully extend, drags, or the door has settled and no longer lines up with the strike.
Single cylinder or double cylinder?
A single-cylinder deadbolt has a key outside and a thumbturn inside. It’s the most common choice because anyone inside can get out quickly in an emergency. A double-cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides. It can make sense next to a glass panel where someone could reach in and flip a thumbturn, but it can slow an exit during a fire, so it’s worth thinking through. We’ll talk through the trade-offs for your door before we install anything.
Installation details that make the difference
A strong deadbolt installed poorly is still weak. When we install a deadbolt we pay attention to the parts people don’t see: the bolt must fully extend into the strike, the door must close without forcing, and the strike plate should be anchored with long screws that reach the framing behind the door jamb instead of only the thin trim. Most kicked-in doors fail at the frame, not the lock.
For businesses
Commercial doors often take heavier hardware. We install commercial deadbolts and Grade 1 locks and levers, and can tie them into a master key system. See commercial locksmith services.