Every door in your house that leads outside, including the one leading to the garage, should have a deadbolt lock.  Deadbolts come in different styles and various finishes.

One example of a new technology in dead bolt locks is digital.  The job of the deadbolt is to defeat the attacks of a thief, to make it tough enough that the thief will give up.  Lock manufactures in the US are graded by their ability to withstand attack by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  The locks are graded from levels 1 to 3 with level 3 being the least secure.  Be careful, some locks are imported from other countries and do not have an ANSI grade. 

Some of the features you should look for are at least a 1’inch bolt throw, solid metal tapered outside housing, reinforced strike plate that is fastened with long enough screws to attach to the underlying support framing, pin tumbler locking mechanism and the bolt should be solid and contain a hardened roll pin to resist sawing.

 

There are deadbolt locks on the market that exceed the ANSI standard.  Such as high security deadbolts, key control deadbolts and other high end or special use deadbolt locks.

You can customize to your needs, including the secret entry code, no keys required!  Deadbolt locks aren’t spring-loaded and canR

17;t be pried open after locking in place.

 

Installing a deadbolt lock is easy. Manufacturers provide a template to help you install the lock.  The template is designed to work with doors of different thicknesses and has reference points that can be marked with an awl onto the door.

 

After you mark the reference points from the template use the hole saw to begin cutting the hole for the deadbolt.  When the pilot bit on the hole saw comes through the other side of the door, stop cutting.  Finish from the other side of the door to prevent splinters.

 

Dry fit the deadbolt into the hole and trace the face plate, Use a chisel to mortise the area around the face plate so that it will be flush with the door.  When using the chisel keep the beveled side in toward the mortised area, and tap the tool deep enough to recess the face plate.  You may need to use a smaller chisel to mortise the rounded corners. When you are done fitting the face plate drill pilot holes and secure the bolt to the door with screws.  Attach the lock to the door and secure.  Mark the end of the bolt with lipstick or paint.  Close the door and turn the deadbolt several times to mark the door frame.  Use a spade bit to drill the hole in the door frame for the deadbolt.  Mortise the area around the hole so the striker plate will fit flush with the doorframe.  Drill pilot holes, and secure the striker plate to the door with screws.