Deadbolts, Why for Homeowners

You want deadbolts, first of all, that will protect you against someone trying to pick them open or break them. You want them to thwart criminals. Unfortunately, there are some deadbolts that have flaws in their design, so they are relatively simple for someone to manipulate if they really want to. But if you get the right deadbolts for your property, you will appreciate having the extra theft deterrent. 

The top deadbolts available on the market are ones that use brass or hardened steel, at least according to experts. Some will use hidden steel plates to reinforce the cylinder. This type of lock would take so long for a criminal to drill through that it would be more likely they would give up or not bother to begin with. 

An important component of a deadbolt is the strike plate. This is a piece of metal which secures the throw in a doorjamb. It is used when the door is locked. Each component is important, equally as important as some of the features that come along with deadbolts, for instance, the ability to get smartphone alerts, to use voice control and so on. 

Deadbolts for Added Security

One type of deadbolt lock that is very highly rated is the Medeco Maxum 11*603. With its hardened cylinder and long screws, it passed tests in which testers attempted to break it open. Who wouldn’t want the added security at their home? Essentially, deadbolts are important for homeowners because they add another layer of security to the mix. 

Deadbolts Are a Theft Deterrent

Deadbolts also act as a theft deterrent. If it looks frustrating enough to try to break open, a criminal might just give up on it and move away from your home. Have you heard of the Kwikset 980? This is a great lock that comes at a good price. When experts attempted to pick it open, they couldn’t, partially because of the long screws. Essentially, there is protection from a break in because of how securely the striker plate goes to the framing. 

In a nutshell, a deadbolt is just a name for a kind of lock that comes with a steel bolt. This bolt is one which extends into the door jamb as well as the door frame’s strike plate. There are different kinds of deadbolts, such as a single-cylinder deadbolt. This is a kind of lock which is operated using a twist knob on the interior of the door, in addition to a key on the exterior of the door. Another kind of deadbolt is the double cylinder deadbolt. This is one differs from a single cylinder because it does not have a twist knob. Moreover, a key is used to operate it inside and out of the house. 

An article published recently on Angie’s List covered the importance of deadbolt locks and what FBI statistics looked like regarding this type of security feature. Back in 2013, in the United States alone, there were close to 2 million burglaries which occurred. This number is scary and very alarming as it resulted in a great deal of property loss. The vast majority of the burglaries mentioned happened due to forced entry. Just as frightening is the fact that many of these occurred during the day. 

Deadbolts Protect Against Forced Entry

So how could they have been prevented? A deadbolt lock might have helped. But this would have only helped if correctly installed, which is why it is a good idea to have a locksmith come out to do the job for you. The bolt portion of the deadbolt needs to extend completely into the door jamb’s hole. Then, the hole needs to have a metal strike plate for reinforcement. The door frame and lock will be able to potentially be manipulated or otherwise compromised if there is a problem with the bolt failing to extend completely into the hole. 

It is important to bear in mind that the top deadbolts available on the market are ones that use brass or hardened steel, as previously mentioned in this article. Some deadbolts will employ hidden steel plates to reinforce the cylinder. This type of lock would take an excessive amount of time to break open – as a matter of fact, it just might take so long for a criminal to drill through that it would be more likely they would give up or not bother attempting to break in to your home to begin with. 

We strongly believe that deadbolts should be used if you have a residence, whether you are in an apartment, duplex, condo, townhome or single-family home. Protect your family. Protect your belongings. Protect what you have worked so hard to build. Consider having a deadbolt installed to better protect your home. You won’t regret it. Thank you for reading!