How to Choose a Deadbolt Lock

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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One way to keep a home safe is by installing deadbolt locks. Deadbolts are easy to operate and make excellent theft deterrents. Choosing the right kind of deadbolt for a particular door is important.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

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.

Step2

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.

Step3

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.

Step4

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.

Step5

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.