The situation
Picture a Brampton homeowner in Springdale who has just registered a basement second unit. The contractor added a side entrance with a new exterior door and a basic knob lock. The owner wants the entrance properly secured before the tenant moves in.
What the technician checks
New side entrances added during a conversion vary a lot. Some use solid exterior doors in properly framed openings; others use lighter doors in frames that were built quickly. The technician checks the door's construction, the frame, the hinge screws and how the door closes. A deadbolt is only as strong as the frame it locks into.
The work
The technician installs a Grade 2 deadbolt with a reinforced strike plate, secured with long screws into the wall stud. The hinge screws are replaced with longer ones for the same reason. The new deadbolt and the existing knob lock are keyed to the tenant's key, and the owner receives a copy for emergencies, to be used with proper notice under the lease.
Why it matters
Side and basement entrances are among the most common points of forced entry in suburban homes, because they are out of sight from the street. Securing them protects the tenant and the owner's property alike.
If this is you
See our deadbolt installation and door reinforcement pages, the Brampton page, or call (416) 240-0593.