Deadbolt Installation in Bensalem, PA

A bolt that never fully extends may stop short because the opening in the frame is out of line with it.

The door can appear closed even though the locking metal has not reached its full position. If your Bensalem entry door has only a knob lock, adding a deadbolt gives you a separate way to secure it. We install the new hardware and position the strike so the bolt has a clear path and enough room to extend into the frame.

For a door near glass, the choice between single and double cylinder designs matters. The single cylinder uses a key outside and a thumbturn inside, while the double cylinder requires a key on both sides. The double cylinder makes it harder for someone to reach through broken glass and unlock the door, but you must have the key to unlock it from inside. We can also match your new deadbolt to your other locks in Bensalem if the hardware is compatible, so you do not need a separate key for it.

If your installation is on a door to a garage or basement, we begin by looking at its material, thickness and existing hardware.

A knob lock alone leaves you relying on one latch, so we check where a separate deadbolt can be fitted and how it will line up with the frame. Before starting, we explain the available placement and what the work involves, including any new openings needed in the door.

With a single cylinder model, you use a key on one side and a thumb turn on the other. A double cylinder model requires a key on both sides, which makes it harder to unlock by reaching through nearby glass but means you need that key to get out. We explain whether the new hardware can be keyed to match your other locks, since the parts must be compatible. After installation, we operate it with you while the entry is open and closed. We also check that the bolt extends fully into the strike rather than catching against it, and that you can turn it without forcing it.

If a glass panel sits near your lock, consider where you keep the key for a double cylinder deadbolt.

Keep it accessible from the door but out of reach through the glass. A key left in the inside cylinder could be reached through broken glass, while one stored too far away may make the door difficult to unlock from that side.

With the door open, turn the lock and check that the bolt extends and retracts fully. Close the door and check that it moves just as smoothly. Do not force a stiff key or thumbturn, since that can bend the key or wear the lock. Keep paint and dirt out of the key opening, and use only a lubricant recommended by the lock maker. If the bolt rubs, stops short, or needs a push on the door to lock, call us to check its alignment.