Deadbolts Installed Properly, Strike and All
A spring latch keeps a door shut. A deadbolt keeps it locked. If your front door only has a knob, or the deadbolt you have feels flimsy, this is one of the most worthwhile upgrades you can make to a home.
Why the knob is not enough
The latch in a regular doorknob is beveled so the door can close on it. That same bevel is why it can be slipped or pushed. A deadbolt has a square-ended bolt that only moves when you turn the key or thumb turn. It sits deeper in the frame and does not retract under pressure.
Plenty of older Valley homes and apartments were built with only knob locks on secondary doors: the kitchen door, the door from the garage, a side door to the yard. Those are worth looking at too.
The part most installs skip
A deadbolt is only as strong as what it locks into. On many doors the strike plate is held by two short screws into soft trim. We use a heavier strike and long screws that reach the framing behind the jamb, which is the difference between a door that holds and one that splits at the frame.
We also make sure the bolt fully extends. A bolt that stops short because the hole is not deep enough is not doing its job.
On doors with old damage, like a split jamb from a past forced entry or a strike area chewed up by years of screws, we can fit a wrap-around reinforcement plate or a longer strike that spreads the load across more of the frame. It is a small piece of steel that changes how the whole door holds.
Picking the right deadbolt
Single cylinder deadbolts have a key outside and a thumb turn inside. They are what most homes need. Double cylinder models need a key on both sides, which helps on a door with glass right next to the lock, but they can slow you down getting out in an emergency, so think about who lives there before choosing one.
Keypad deadbolts and smart deadbolts are also an option. We can key any new deadbolt to match your existing house key, so nobody has to carry an extra one or remember which key goes where.
Getting it done
Text (657) 478-8248 with your ZIP and a photo of the door, inside and out. Tell us if it is wood, metal or fiberglass. We send a price and arrival time first, and we start when you say go.
Doors that need a deadbolt check
Often needed with this
Common questions
Can you put a deadbolt on a metal or fiberglass door?
Yes. Metal and fiberglass doors need different drilling than wood, and some have a reinforced area meant for the lock. We check the door first and confirm we have what we need before we start.
Will the deadbolt use the same key as my front door?
It can. We key the new deadbolt to your existing key when the keyway matches, or rekey the other locks to the new one at the same visit. Either way you end up with one key for the house. Just mention it when you text the door photo.
Is a double cylinder deadbolt allowed in a house?
Rules vary, and a lock that needs a key from inside can be a real problem in a fire. For most homes we recommend a single cylinder deadbolt. If you want double cylinder for a specific door, we will talk through the tradeoffs first.
My door already has a deadbolt. Is it worth upgrading?
If it is a light, builder-grade bolt with short strike screws, a better bolt and a reinforced strike is a meaningful improvement. Send us a photo and we will give you an honest opinion.