Life Safer With Deadbolts

By Frank G. Ross

Burglars don’t just pick locks; they also attack by crowbar, hammer, wrench, saw, and kicking in the door. A deadbolt goes a long way towards foiling them.

During a home inspection I always check the deadbolts on the doors of a home.  One thing that I find is that the deadbolt will not extend to its fullest length because the mortise in the door frame is not deep enough. A carpenter could easily correct this problem for the home owner.

The main problem I feel with a deadbolt that doesn’t extend fully when the door is shut is the false sense of security it is offering the occupants.  When a deadbolt is installed properly it offers many times more security than the ordinary door knob latch and it may also help keep some unwanted visitor out of your home.

If an exterior door doesn’t have a deadbolt and a home owner wants the added protection that a deadbolt offers it can be added to most doors.  A choice must be made about the type of lock to install – a traditional keyed deadbolt or a new keypad entry system.

In simple terms this is how a deadbolt is installed. Two holes must be drilled in the door, one for the lock assembly and the other for the cylinder. The strike plate covers a deep hole, called a mortise, in the jamb. The lock will come with paper templates that make drilling easy. Then you just screw everything together. It’s a simple job in a wooden or steel door, but if you have any qualms, hire a professional to do the job for you. The cost of a new deadbolt is just pennies compared to what kind of damage an intruder can do to person or property.

Frank Ross is a Certified Utah Home Inspector for Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspection and a full member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors.  Readers may contact Mr. Ross at (435) 867-6400 or frank.ross@pillartopost.com.  You can learn more about Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection at www.pillarposthomeinspection.com