The situation
Imagine a couple who have bought a 1950s brick bungalow in East York. After break-ins on the street, they want to buy the most secure deadbolt available for their front and side doors.
The assessment
The technician checks both doors. The existing deadbolts are decent, mid-grade locks in good condition. The problem is the frames: thin softwood jambs, strike plates held by short screws that only reach the trim, and hinge screws of the same length. A firm kick would split the jamb around the strike long before any deadbolt failed.
The work
Rather than new locks, the technician fits heavy-duty strike plates with long screws into the studs, a frame reinforcement plate on the side door, and long hinge screws on both. Both deadbolts are rekeyed so the previous owners' keys stop working. A door guard is added to the front door for answering the door safely.
The result
From the outside nothing looks different, but both doors now resist forced entry far better than before, at a lower cost than two premium locks.
If this is you
See our door reinforcement and deadbolt installation pages, the East York page, or call (416) 240-0593.