Do I need a locksmith to install a deadbolt on an exterior door?
Not always. If your door is already drilled for a deadbolt and the frame is sound, a careful handy person can swap or fit one. If the door needs new holes cut, or the frame or door is weak, a locksmith is the safer choice.
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The nuance is the frame. A strong deadbolt in a weak door or jamb gives way at the frame, so the strike plate and screws matter as much as the lock.
What's involved in fitting a deadbolt
A deadbolt is only as strong as what it is fixed to. Fitting one properly means the door and frame are assessed first, the deadbolt is fitted with a reinforced strike plate, and long screws go through the jamb into the stud behind it. Short screws into thin trim are the usual weak point.
The door itself also decides what can be fitted. Door material and the era the house was built affect which locks suit it, and glass beside a door changes what makes sense. An older or hollow door may need reinforcing before a deadbolt adds anything.
Nothing in the information we work from says a locksmith must fit a deadbolt on your own home. Rules for rentals, condominiums and insurance policies differ, so check your lease, your landlord or association, and your insurer. Locksmith licensing also varies by state: some states license or register locksmiths, others leave it to cities or counties, and some do not regulate the trade. Check with your own state or city.
What you can check yourself
- Is the door already prepared?Look for an empty hole above the handle, with a matching hole in the door edge. If it is there, a like-for-like fit is much simpler than cutting a new one.
- Look at the frameCheck the jamb where the bolt will sit. If the wood is cracked, split or soft, it needs repair or reinforcing before any new lock goes in.
- Check the door material and thicknessSolid wood, metal and hollow doors take locks differently. Check the lock's packaging lists your door type and thickness range.
- Note any glass nearbyGlass in or beside the door affects which lock is sensible. Make a note of it to mention when you call.
- Check your lease or association rulesIf you rent or live under an association, ask before changing locks. You may be required to give notice or supply a key.
When to call a locksmith
Call a locksmith if the door needs new holes, the frame is damaged, the door is hollow or old, you want the handle set matched, or you want a smart or keypad lock fitted and set up. A lock that goes in loose, or a bolt that does not meet the strike plate cleanly, is also worth handing over.
Call One Call Locksmiths on (866) 690-5848 and we arrange the visit with an independent locksmith. The estimate is free. The locksmith looks at the door and lock, gives the price, and work starts only once you have agreed it.
What the locksmith will do
- Assess the door and frameThe door and frame are looked at before anything is chosen, so the lock suits what it is going into.
- Fit the deadbolt properlyThe deadbolt goes in with a reinforced strike plate and long screws into the stud, so the frame holds as well as the lock.
- Match the handle setThe handle set is matched to the deadbolt so the door works and looks as one.
- Reinforce weak pointsWhere the door or jamb is the weak point, it is reinforced as part of the job.
- Set up smart or keypad locksIf you want a smart or keypad lock, it is fitted and set up so you can use it before the locksmith leaves.
Related questions
- Does the strike plate really matter that much?
- Yes. The strike plate and the screws holding it are what take the load when the door is pushed. A reinforced plate with long screws into the stud makes the whole door stronger.
- Can I add a deadbolt to any exterior door?
- Most solid doors can take one, but it depends on the material, thickness and age of the door. A locksmith can tell you what suits yours once they have seen it.
- What affects the cost of fitting a deadbolt?
- The type of lock, how many doors, whether the door needs new holes or reinforcing, parts, and the time of day all play a part. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed before work starts.
- Should I have a new lock rekeyed or replaced?
- It depends on the condition of the existing lock and what you want from it. A locksmith can advise on the options when they look at the door.
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