Deadbolt Installation in Malvern, PA

A front door with only a knob lock has a latch, but no separate bolt to secure it to the frame.

We install deadbolts on entry doors in Malvern to add that separate point of security. The bolt needs to extend fully into the frame rather than stop short against the strike. We set the strike to line up with it, so it can throw cleanly when the door is closed. A lock that turns smoothly with the door open may still bind when the door is shut.

A single cylinder uses a key outside and a thumb turn inside. A double cylinder uses a key on both sides, which can make it harder for someone to reach through nearby glass and unlock the door. The tradeoff is that you need a key to get out, so think carefully about access from inside. We can also check whether your new deadbolt can use the same key as your other locks in Malvern. That choice depends on whether the existing hardware is compatible with the new lock.

We look at your entry door, its thickness and material, and the space in the frame where the bolt needs to land.

A knob lock may be the only lock in place, or an existing deadbolt may stop short because its opening and strike do not line up. We explain where the new hardware would sit and whether the frame opening needs adjustment. If you want one key to work your other locks, we check whether the hardware is compatible. A match is not always possible.

We also explain the choice between single and double cylinders before starting. Near glass, a double cylinder makes it harder to reach through and unlock from inside, but you need a key to get out. A single cylinder gives you an interior thumb turn instead. Once the hardware is installed, we check it with you. With the door both open and closed, we make sure the bolt reaches its full extension and turns without binding.

If your door has a glass panel near the lock, think about where you keep the key.

A double cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides, so keep one accessible for an exit but out of reach through the glass. A single cylinder model has a thumbturn inside, which is easier to use but may be reachable if the glass is broken.

Test the bolt with the door open, then with it closed. It should extend fully and turn without resistance in both positions. If it stops short, scrapes the strike, or works only when you push or pull the door, stop forcing it and call us to check the alignment. Keep glass cleaner out of the keyway, and use only a lock lubricant recommended by the manufacturer if the key starts to feel sticky.