Deadbolt & Lock Installation

Deadbolt and Lock Installation in Longwood, FL

A deadbolt lock is only as strong as the door and frame it is installed in. The bolt on a good deadbolt extends a full inch into the door jamb, which is the part of the door frame that the door shuts against. In many homes, a thin metal strike plate and two short screws are all that hold it there. One hard kick can split that trim and open the door with the lock still engaged. A deadbolt installed with a solid strike plate holds far better, and deadbolt and lock installation is one of the core services at Lion Locksmith & Security. We are a mobile, family-owned locksmith serving homes and businesses in Longwood and across Seminole County.

Deadbolts and Door Locks We Install

We help you choose hardware that suits the door, the way you use it, and your budget. Independent testing grades locks for strength, and Grade 1 and Grade 2 models are the ones worth putting on a front door or any other exterior door. Here is what we install.

• Single-cylinder and double-cylinder deadbolt locks
• Doorknobs, lever handles, and front-door handle sets
• Keypad deadbolts and smart locks
• High-security locks that resist picking and drilling
• Sliding door, patio door, and mailbox locks
• Commercial lever locks, storefront door locks, and heavy-duty mortise locks set into the door's edge

We work with established brands, and we can get almost any model a customer wants. If you have a specific style or finish in mind, tell us when you contact us so we can have it ready.

Why a Deadbolt Protects Better Than a Doorknob Alone

The latch on an ordinary doorknob is spring-loaded, which is what lets the door click shut behind you. That same spring makes it possible to push the latch back with a thin tool or a firm shove. A deadbolt has no spring, so the bolt stays put until a key or thumb turn moves it. Pairing a deadbolt with the knob or handle on every exterior door is one of the most effective ways to improve your home's security.

Deciding Whether You Need a Double-Cylinder Deadbolt

Most homes use a single-cylinder deadbolt, which takes a key outside and has a thumb turn inside. A double-cylinder deadbolt requires a key on both sides of the door. That design helps when glass sits next to the lock, because a burglar cannot break the window and reach the thumb turn. It also slows your exit in a fire, so we talk through the trade-off before we put one in. For most front doors without nearby glass, a single-cylinder deadbolt is the practical choice.

How We Install a Deadbolt on a Door That Never Had One

A first-time deadbolt installation means cutting into the door, and there is no undoing a hole drilled in the wrong place. Before we drill, we check that the door and door frame line up, because a door that sags will fight the new lock. We then drill the face hole through the side of the door for the lock body and a smaller edge hole into the edge of the door for the latch bolt. We recess the latch plate so it sits flush, and we do the same careful work on the door jamb so the bolt slides in without rubbing.

Not every door is ready for a new lock as it stands. Metal doors, doors with narrow frames around glass, and doors with decorative panels can limit where a lock will fit. We look at the door first and explain your options before we drill anything.

Why the Strike Plate and Door Jamb Matter

The strike plate is the metal plate on the door jamb that the bolt locks into, and it is where most deadbolt installations succeed or fail. A heavy metal strike plate fastened with long screws that reach through the jamb into the wall framing gives the door far more resistance to forced entry. The short screws included with many locks only reach the trim. Proper alignment matters too, so the bolt should throw fully without any lifting or pushing on the door.

Replacing an Old Deadbolt or Existing Lock

Swapping an old deadbolt for a new deadbolt is usually faster because the holes are already in the door. It is worth doing when the bolt feels gritty, you have to force the key, or the finish has started to corrode. Most deadbolts use one of two standard backsets, which is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lock. We confirm the new hardware matches before removing the existing deadbolt. With lock rekeying, we can set the new lock to work with the key you already carry. When several locks in the house are worn, a full lock replacement may be the smarter project.

Who Will Be Working on Your Door

Our owner is a second-generation professional locksmith who performs each installation personally. The business is bonded, insured, and background-checked, and our standard warranty covers parts and labor for one year. We give a flat price before drilling anything, and we can walk you through it in English or Spanish. Deadbolt and lock installation is part of both our residential locksmith and commercial work.

Schedule Your Deadbolt Installation

We install deadbolts and other door locks in Longwood, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, and Sanford. Tell us how many doors need work, what each door is made of, and what kind of lock is on it today. Contact us for a free estimate, and send a photo of each door if you can.