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Step 1
Research fire safety codes and regulations in your area. Fire departments have strict regulations regarding door locks. These regulations are in place to guarantee that the door offers an accessible, open exit from the building in the event of a fire.
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Step 2
Choose the between two deadbolts. Deadbolts can either be single cylinder, which locks from the outside and has a turn knob on the inside, or double cylinder, which locks from both sides with a key. However, the double cylinders often come under fire department bans.
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Step 3
Note any windows. Solid wood doors are ideal for single cylinder deadbolts that don't require a key to lock and unlock. A double cylinder deadbolt is a safer choice for doors that have windows that can be broken and allow an intruder to reach in and turn the knob of a single cylinder deadbolt.
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Step 4
Consider the latch. Replacing an old deadbolt is easy because you can just use a drive-in latch that can be secured by pushing into a 1-inch hole. A deadbolt that has already been mortised requires a latch that has a mortise in it.
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Step 5
Understand the proper procedure for installation. An improperly installed deadbolt won't be an effective tool for keeping your home safe, so take the time to ask lots of questions at the hardware store and guarantee that you know what you're doing.
Comments
jull14 said
on 6/29/2009 Excellent article. I enjoy reading this article so much. It was very helpful and the steps are very clear and easy to follow. Please continue writing article like this, thanks