Deadbolt Installation in Collingdale, PA

A bolt that never fully extends may be meeting resistance because the opening in the frame is out of alignment.

It may feel locked even though it has not reached its intended position. In Collingdale, we install deadbolts on entry doors and position the strike so the bolt has room to extend fully. If your door has only a locking knob, a separate deadbolt adds another point of security.

Glass near the door can affect your choice. Both types use a key outside, but inside, a single cylinder has a thumbturn while a double cylinder requires a key. The double cylinder makes it harder for someone to reach through broken glass and turn the lock, but you also need the key to get out. For a door in Collingdale, we can match the new lock to what you use on your other doors if the locks are compatible. That gives you one less thing to carry and keeps you from having to sort through several keys at the door.

When we arrive, we look at your garage or basement entry, including its thickness, existing hardware and the space available for a deadbolt.

We check how the door meets its frame so we can choose a position where the bolt has room to extend. Before starting, we explain where the new opening and strike will go and whether the existing setup limits your choices. If you want the new lock to match others, we check whether the hardware is compatible with your existing keys and explain the options if it is not.

A single cylinder has an outside keyway and an inside turn, while a double cylinder requires a key on either side. Near glass, the latter makes it harder to reach through and operate the lock, but it also means you need that key to get out. Once installed, we operate the hardware with you, first with the door open and then closed. We check that it turns smoothly, extends fully into the frame and lines up with the strike, so it is not stopping short against the edge.

With glass beside the lock, a single cylinder has an inside turn that someone may be able to reach through broken glass.

A double cylinder uses a key on both sides, so consider how you will get out if it is not within reach. Keep it in a consistent place that you can find easily, while weighing that against its accessibility from the glass. Make sure everyone who uses the door understands how it opens from inside.

Test the deadbolt with the door shut and open. The bolt should move smoothly and extend fully into the frame without needing a hard turn. Avoid forcing a stiff key or turn, and keep paint and dirt away from the lock. If the bolt stops short, scrapes the strike, or works only with the entry open, contact us to check the alignment. Growing resistance is another reason to have us take a look.