How we help
Add security with a professionally installed lock that fits the door, frame and way you use the entrance. We plan the fit before making changes to the door.
Common situations
- New door with no lock holes drilled
- Adding a second lock to a front door
- Fitting a police lock on a steel door
- Frame damaged by forced entry needing reinforcement
What the service includes
- 01The door is measured (thickness, material, backset) to choose a location and lock type that fit the door and frame.
- 02The bore and edge holes are marked and drilled, or a mortise pocket is cut, using a jig so the lock sits square.
- 03The lock is installed, then the strike is cut into the frame and fastened with long screws into the framing.
- 04If needed, a door reinforcer, wrap-around plate or cylinder guard is added to resist kicking and prying.
- 05The bolt is tested from both sides with the door closed, extra keys are cut, and the lock is keyed to your other locks if you want.
Typical time: 45-90 minutes per lock
Options
- Bored deadbolt
- A Grade 1 or 2 single-cylinder deadbolt with a reinforced strike; the baseline for wood doors.
- Rim deadbolt
- Surface-mounted on the inside face, such as Segal or Medeco; practical on steel doors.
- Mortise lock
- A lock body set into the door edge, common on Minneapolis apartment doors.
- Fox police lock
- A steel bar braced into a floor plate; very hard to defeat by force.
- Door reinforcement
- Wrap-around plates, strike boxes, hinge reinforcement and anti-pry plates.
Locks we install
Compatibility and limits
- Large bores weaken steel doors, which is why rim or mortise locks are used there.
- Double-cylinder deadbolts can delay exit in a fire; check local fire and building rules first.
- A police lock needs a floor plate, and some buildings restrict door hardware.
How do I make a door harder to kick in?
Read the answer
Most forced entries defeat the frame, not the lock. The strike plate is screwed into thin trim, and one kick splits it. Replacing the strike screws with 3-inch screws that reach the framing, or installing a heavy-duty strike box, makes a large difference.
Wrap-around reinforcers cover the lock area of the door edge to stop splitting, and hinge-side reinforcement prevents the door from being forced at the hinges. For steel doors, an anti-pry plate or astragal over the gap protects the latch.
A locksmith can check the whole door system, not just the lock, and recommend the upgrades that matter most for your door.