The deadbolt lock has a bolt that must be activated by a key or thumb turn. It offers good security because it is not spring activated and cannot be “jimmied” opened with a knife blade or credit card. For this reason it is best to install deadbolt locks on solid wood, steel or fiberglass doors. These doors resist forced entry because they are not easily battered or bored. Hollow core doors made of soft, thin wood cannot stand much battering and should not be used as exterior doors. Mounting a deadbolt lock on a hollow core door compromises the security of these locks.

A single cylinder deadbolt is activated with a key on the exterior side of the door and a thumb turn piece on the interior side. Install this lock where there is no breakable glass within 40-inches of the thumb turn piece. Otherwise a criminal could break the glass, reach inside and turn the thumb piece.

A double cylinder deadbolt is key activated on both sides on the door. It should be installed where there is glass within 40-inches of the lock. Double cylinder deadbolt locks can hinder escape from a burning home so always leave a key in or near the lock when someone is home. Double cylinder deadbolt locks are only permitted in existing single-family homes, town homes and first floor duplexes used exclusively as residential dwellings.

Both single and double cylinder deadbolt locks should meet these criteria to be a good security device: ✓ The bolt must extend a minimum of 1-inch and be made of case hardened steel. ✓ The cylinder collar must be tapered, round and free spinning to make it difficult to grip with a pliers or wrench. It must be solid metal – not hollow casting or stamped metal.

✓ The connecting screws that hold the lock together must be on the inside and made of case hardened steel. No exposed screw heads should be on the outside. ✓ The connecting screws must be at least one-fourth inch in diameter and go into solid metal stock, not screw posts.

With premium metal construction and plated keyways, Schlage mechanical and electronic deadbolts are made with durability in mind. Combine our wide range of unique finish and style options with our easy one-tool installation and you can give your door a stylish makeover in minutes.

Some locks sold at hardware stores have been graded according to standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). Product grades can range from Grade One through Grade Three, with one being the highest in terms of function and material integrity.

Also, remember some locks include strike plates that include extra-long three-inch screws for added protection against force. If your locks don’t come with them, other bolstering options for strike plates are available at your local hardware store.

Doorjamb reinforcement kits are also available, and can be retrofit into the existing doorjamb to reinforce key strike points (hinges, strike, and the door edge). The reinforcement plates are typically made of galvanized steel and installed with 3.5-inch screws. Adding doorjamb reinforcement significantly increases the strength of the door system. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the length of the screws going into your doorframe.

Smart home systems also feature keycode-style locks that are coming into more common use lately.

Not so strong: spring latch locks

Spring latch locks, also known as slip bolt locks, provide minimal security, but are the least expensive and easiest to install. They work by locking the doorknob of the door, thus preventing the release of a spring-loaded latch that fits into the doorframe.

However, this type of lock is vulnerable in several ways. Devices other than the properly fitting key can be used to release the pressure keeping the spring in place, allowing for release of the bolt. More forceful intruders can smash the doorknob and lock from the door with a hammer or wrench. A protective metal plate to reinforce the wood around the doorknob is recommended to prevent this.

Stronger: standard deadbolt locks

The deadbolt lock works by effectively bolting the door into its frame. The bolt is “dead” in that it has to be manually moved in and out of place by means of a key or knob. There are three basic parts of deadbolt lock: a key-accessible outside cylinder, the “throw” (or bolt) which slides in and out of the door jamb, and the thumb-turn, which allows for manual control of the bolt from the inside of the home. A standard horizontal throw extends one inch beyond the edge of the door and into the jamb. All deadbolt locks should be made of solid steel, bronze, or brass; die-cast materials are not fashioned for great impact and could break apart.

Strongest: vertical and double cylinder deadbolt locks

The main weakness of any horizontal deadbolt lock is that it is possible for an intruder to pry the door apart from the jamb or its strike plate in the jamb to disengage the throw. This can be remedied with a vertical (or surface-mounted) deadbolt, which resists the separation of lock from jamb. The throw of a vertical deadbolt engages by interlocking with a set of cast metal rings affixed to the frame of the door. The rings surrounding the bolt make this lock essentially pry-proof.

In the instance of a door containing glass panes, a double-cylinder deadbolt might be employed. This particular type of deadbolt lock requires a key to unlock the bolt from both the outside and inside of the home — so a potential thief cannot simply break through the glass, reach inside, and manually unlatch the thumb-turn in order to unlock the door. However, some fire safety and building codes forbid the installation of locks that require keys to open from the inside, so consult with a contractor or locksmith in your area before installing one.

Consider alternatives to the potentially hazardous double cylinder deadbolt. Try installing a supplemental lock that is completely out of arm’s reach (either at the top or flush to the bottom of a door); security glazing; or impact-resistant glass panels.

It’s important to remember that no lock is 100% guaranteed to deter or keep out all intruders. However, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of intruders by making sure that all exterior doors are fitted with some form of deadbolt locks and strike plates, and that you are diligent in using these locks while at home and away.