Most forced entries through a door do not defeat the lock itself. The door frame, the strike plate or the hinges give way first. A good deadbolt helps, but only when the parts around it are just as strong. This guide walks through the pieces of a secure exterior door, in the order that usually gives the most benefit for the effort.
Start with the strike plate
The strike plate is the metal plate on the door frame where the deadbolt sits when it is locked. Many builders install it with short screws that only reach the thin trim board. A hard kick can split that board.
- Replace the short screws with 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud behind the frame.
- Consider a reinforced or high-security strike plate, which spreads the force across a larger area of the frame.
- Make sure the bolt goes all the way into the strike. If the door has to be pushed or lifted to lock, the door or strike needs adjusting.
Check the hinges
On an outward-swinging door, the hinge pins may be exposed on the outside. Security hinges or non-removable pins stop someone from simply pulling the pins. On any door, swapping one short screw in each hinge for a longer screw adds strength to the hinge side of the frame.
Choose a quality deadbolt
Locks sold in the US are often rated to standards published by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA)[1]. In general, a higher grade means the lock was tested to tougher cycle and strength requirements.
- A single-cylinder deadbolt uses a key outside and a thumb turn inside.
- A double-cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides. Check local fire and building codes before installing one, because it can slow an exit in an emergency.
- A smart lock adds keypad or app entry, but it still needs a solid bolt, strike and frame to resist force.
Do not forget the glass and the sliding doors
Glass beside or in a door can let someone reach in and turn a thumb turn. Security film or relocating the lock may help. Sliding patio doors should have a secondary lock, such as a pin lock or a bar in the track.
Rekey after you move
If you have moved into a home, you do not know how many old keys are out there. Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware.
Get local help
Choice City Locksmith installs deadbolts, repairs door locks and rekeys locks for homes and businesses in Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor, Wellington, Timnath, Severance and Berthoud.
Choice City Locksmith · 112 N Grant Ave, Fort Collins CO 80521 · (970) 803-1100 · Open 5 AM–9 PM daily
References
- Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association: buildershardware.com
- U.S. Fire Administration, home fire safety: usfa.fema.gov
Written with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.
BHMA publishes the ANSI/BHMA standards that many residential and commercial locks are tested against. ↩︎