Deadbolt locks are an absolute essential tool for maintaining a secure and safe home, office, store – or any form of building, lockbox, or area you want to keep safe. There’s so many different types of deadbolt locks on the market though- making it can be very confusing understanding which one to purchase as replacement for an existing deadbolt. Of course, anyone would want to ensure that they buy the deadbolt lock that’s best suited to their needs. In this blog entry, the expert lock replacement team at Top Locksmith will go into detail regarding the essential questions that you need to ask your professional locksmith before replacing your deadbolt lock.
Why do I need to replace my deadbolt lock?
There’s a few reasons people replace their deadbolt locks. If their lock is malfunctioning or broken to the extent that it can’t be repaired, or will likely keep breaking due to inferior construction, it’s a good idea to totally replace it. Another reason for deadbolt lock upgrades is security upgrades, increasing the level of security in an existing property. The final reason for replacing deadbolt locks is simple aesthetics, wanting to change your lock with one that suits your personal tastes better.
What type of door are you working with?
If it’s a glass or partial glass door, you will need a double cylinder deadlock in order to achieve strong security. If you have a hollow core door, there’s little point because the door is so inherently insecure. In this case, we urge you to replace the door as well.
Are you adding an additional lock to the door?
It’s important to understand the variable aspects of whatever door you are working with, as many doors don’t have pre drilled crossbored holes for deadbolt mounting – like the previously mentioned inferior hollow core doors. If you’re adding deadbolts to a door and cutting holes in the door in the process – which weakens the door exponentially – make sure to remember to have metal slipcovers and heavy locks installed to make up for the missing aspects of the door with strong metal.
Have you taken door measurements?
If you’re changing the type of deadbolt lock that you’re using, you need to know the size of the pre drilled holes in the door, the width of the door, and the length of the crossbored hole. Of course, important measurement considerations will vary depending on if you’re installing a mortise lock or a euro cylinder deadbolt.
Are you installing additional security upgrades?
When installing a new deadbolt lock we recommend adding additional protective hardware like strike plates or long screws that reach directly into the door jamb. Plastic strike screws are a big no, so we recommend replacing them with metal ones.