Have you installed security cameras, alarms, and smart devices at home? Now you think your home is the safest place on Earth? Yet, according to the FBI, over 62.8% of burglaries happen in residential spaces, and nearly 34% of attempted break-ins succeed due to weak or improperly installed locks. When doors stay unlocked, all your security systems are of no use. In 2019, burglary victims suffered an estimated $3.0 billion in property losses. The average dollar loss per burglary offense was $2,661, not including emotional impact and loss of peace of mind.
Residential door locks are more than metal and keys; they are the foundation of residential security. A lock looking aesthetically pleasing doesn’t matter without durability, proper installation, functionality, and long-term protection. What you should know is that a high-quality, professionally installed, certified lock can prevent most common burglary attempts.
Whether you are a homeowner looking to upgrade your door security, a renter interested in temporary or smart lock solutions, a DIY enthusiast wanting facts before attempting installation, or anyone curious about grades, certifications, and professional standards for locks, this blog includes a step-by-step guide:
- Understand your security needs
- Lean about lock grades and certifications
- Identify the best lock types for each door
- Analyze the material and durability of locks
- Hire a professional for installation
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to make informed decisions, improve your home’s safety, and protect your family and belongings effectively.
Step 1: Understand Your Security Needs
Your home is surely different in size, layout, location, and household activity from your neighbor’s home. Before choosing locks, you must know your home’s vulnerabilities and security requirements. Understanding your needs ensures that you invest in the right locks for the right doors, rather than wasting money on locks that don’t provide adequate protection.
1. Identify All Entry Points
Walk around your house, and what you have to do is:
Look for every door and access point your house has, including:
- Front door
- Back door
- Side doors
- Garage entrances
- Basement doors
- Patio or balcony doors
- Interior doors that may require restricted access (home office, storage, valuables)
Make a comprehensive list mentioning all of them.
Because missing even one vulnerable entry point can compromise your entire security system.
2. Know about Neighborhood Crime Rates
What level of security your home needs depends a lot on where you live. You must be aware of:
- What are the burglary statistics for your city or neighborhood?
- Are there any recent break-ins or attempted burglaries in the neighborhood?
- Factors like street lighting, visibility, and proximity to busy roads.
Homes in urban areas have higher foot traffic, so they are more likely to experience burglaries, while rural homes may face fewer break-ins. But if something like this happens, you have to wait longer for the police to respond.
Also Read: How a Locksmith Can Help After a Break-In
3. See the Usage and Access Requirements of Doors
Understanding who uses which doors and how often helps you choose the right lock type. Questions you should ask yourself to understand this:
- Do children, elderly family members, or guests who visit too often require easy access?
- Are delivery guys or cleaners visiting frequently?
- Do I need smart locks, or would physical keys alone work?
This will help you decide which doors need high security. Smart locks with temporary codes work best for short-term rentals or service personnel. You don’t have to worry about duplications or unauthorized access.
4. Assess Door Strength and Frame Quality
Do you think a nice high-security lock is enough to protect your home? Even the best lock cannot protect if the door or frame is weak. Below we have the door’s material and thickness that usually works well:
- Door Material: Solid wood, metal, reinforced fiberglass
- Door Thickness: Standard doors (1.75 inches) are easier to reinforce.
5. Prioritize Doors Based on Risk and Usage
Once all information is gathered:
- Take out your doors list and start ranking.
- Rank them in high to low order based on risk. That is the general risk level for most residential doors:
- High-Risk Doors: Front, back, side doors, doors with glass panels or adjacent windows
- Medium-Risk Doors: Basement, patio, secondary entrances
- Low-Risk Doors: Interior rooms without valuables
With this prioritization, you will spend your money on what matters most and requires the most protection.
Step 2: Learn About Lock Grades and Certifications
Not all locks are created equal, so once you have understood your security needs, try to learn about locks. There are different lock grades and certifications. Some locks are just decorative, some are functional, and others are engineered to resist high levels of force, picking, and tampering.
Here are a few things and differences you must know to make an informed purchase and ensure you are not wasting money on a lock that will fail during an attempted break-in:
1. ANSI/BHMA Lock Grades
In the U.S., residential locks are rated by ANSI/BHMA (American National Standards Institute / Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association). These grades indicate durability, strength, and performance:
| Grade | Description | Use Case | Durability |
| Grade 1 | Highest security, commercial-grade strength | Exterior doors, high-risk areas | Withstands one million cycles of operation and extreme force |
| Grade 2 | Standard residential security | Interior and some exterior doors | Withstands 80,000 cycles of operation |
| Grade 3 | Basic residential protection | Interior doors | Withstands 80,000 cycles; minimal force resistance |
Even if a lock looks strong, check the ANSI/BHMA grade. Grade 1 is recommended for all main entry doors, while Grade 2 can be used for secondary doors. A Grade 1 lock withstands 10 blows of 75 ft.-lbf force, while a Grade 3 lock may fail under just 2 blows of the same weight.
2. UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Certification
Your home has a Grade 1 deadbolt with UL 437 certification. The burglar attempted entry but gave up after 5 minutes because the lock was resistant to forced entry and manipulation.
UL certification ensures that a lock has been tested in controlled conditions for:
- Forced Entry Resistance: Can it withstand prying, kicking, or hammering?
- Lock Picking Resistance: Can common lockpicking tools defeat it?
- Drilling Resistance: Is the cylinder hardened against drilling attacks?
UL 437-certified locks are considered high-security and resist picking, bumping, and drilling attempts. Many professional locksmiths recommend UL 437 locks for main doors in high-crime areas.
3. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Standards
For those considering international-grade security, ISO standards define:
- Operational Durability: How many times a lock can be used before failure?
- Environmental Resistance: Corrosion, moisture, extreme temperatures
- Mechanical Strength: Force required to break or tamper with the lock
Locks meeting ISO 9001 standard are manufactured under strict quality control, reducing the risk of defects that could compromise home security.
Also Read: What Do Locksmiths Usually Do in Brooklyn?
Step 3: Identify the Best Lock Types for Each Door
Choosing the right lock type for each door is critical. Different doors serve different purposes, and each lock type has strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use scenarios.
Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used residential door locks and their details:
1. Deadbolt Locks
A deadbolt is the lock most people trust their front door with, and for good reason. A deadbolt extends a solid metal bolt into the door frame, making it nearly impossible to force open.
There are two types:
- Single-Cylinder Deadbolt:
This is the common one. You lock/unlock it from outside with a key, but from the inside, you simply turn the thumb-turn.
- Double-Cylinder Deadbolt:
This one needs a key on both sides, even from inside. It’s used when you have glass panels near the door, so a burglar can’t break the glass and turn the interior knob. It isn’t ideal in emergencies since you need a key to exit.
2. Knob and Lever Locks
These are the locks with the turning handle. You grip the knob or lever, twist it, and the latch pulls back to open the door. They are easy to install because they only need one round hole through the door face and one smaller hole on the edge for the latch.
Think of them as convenience locks, not security locks, because they are not strong enough to secure your main entry door alone. Someone can break the knob off with force. They are best for:
- Interior doors
- Bedrooms
- Laundry rooms
- Closets
3. Mortise Locks
Mortise locks are like the “old-school but powerful” locks mostly found in solid wooden doors. The locking body sits inside a pocket cut into the door edge, making it a single, durable unit that combines a latch, the lock body, and the cylinder. They are extremely strong, long-lasting, and stylish. You often see them in:
- Older homes
- Commercial buildings
- High-end entry doors
4. High-Security Locks (UL 437 Certified)
If you want the highest level of protection without going fully electronic, these are your go-to locks. These are the “elite” locks in the residential world. These are usually UL 437 certified, which means the lock has passed tough lab tests against picking, drilling, bumping, and advanced forced-entry techniques. They have features like:
- Hardened steel inserts
- Anti-pick pins
- Anti-drill plates
- Complex keyways
5. Smart Locks
Smart locks let you ditch traditional keys and use a PIN code, your phone, a fingerprint, a keycard, or even voice commands depending on the model. You can lock/unlock your door remotely, give temporary access codes to guests, and check who entered and when. But remember:
- They still need proper installation.
- They rely on a power battery.
- Most have a mechanical key backup in case the electronics fail.
6. Multi-Point Locks
A multi-point lock secures the door at three or more points along the frame, all controlled by a handle or key turn. They provide excellent protection because even if someone tries to force one point, the other points stay locked. These are especially common on:
- Patio doors
- French doors
- Large wooden or fiberglass entry doors
- High-security residential doors
7. Lock Type Comparison Table
| Lock Type | Security Level | Best Use | Pros | Cons |
| Deadbolt | High | Exterior doors | Strong, Reliable | Double-cylinder can hinder exit |
| Knob/Lever | Low | Interior doors | Easy, Cheap | Easy to bypass, Not for exterior |
| Mortise | Very High | Main doors or Historic doors | Durable, Resistant | Expensive, Needs professional installation |
| High-Security (UL 437) | Very High | High-risk areas | Anti-pick, Bump-proof | Expensive, Professional installation required |
| Smart Lock | Medium-High | Tech-savvy households | Remote access, Temporary codes | Battery/firmware dependent, hacking risk |
| Multi-Point | Very High | Patio, Side doors | Distributes force, Strong | Expensive, professional install |
Step 4: Analyze the Material and Durability of Lock
It’s midnight, and someone is trying to break into your home. You have a beautiful lock that looks sturdy, but the metal is cheap, and the door frame is weak. Within seconds, he’s inside your house. That is why material and durability matter as much as the type of lock.
1. Common Lock Materials and Their Strength
Brass
Brass is good because it’s corrosion-resistant, durable, and long-lasting. It’s perfect for all climates. Most high-end residential deadbolts are brass-based because they combine strength with reliability.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is extremely strong, tamper-resistant, and resilient against prying. Stainless steel locks withstand 2,000+ lbs of force, making them ideal for front doors in high-crime neighborhoods.
Bronze
Bronze locks are durable, corrosion-resistant, and aesthetically appealing. They are an amazing fit for historic or luxury doors where visual appeal matters, along with security.
Cheap Alloy/Plastic Locks
Cheap Alloy and Plastic locks look strong but fail easily under force or prying. Some alloy locks fail under just 50 lbs of force which means just a firm kick.
2. Strike Plates and Door Frame Reinforcement
Even the best lock can fail if the door frame is weak. Reinforcing strike plates and frames is critical:
- Use 3-inch screws instead of standard 1-inch screws to anchor strike plates into studs.
- Consider metal reinforcement plates for extra protection against kick-ins.
3. Environmental Factors
Locks are exposed to weather, temperature changes, and humidity. Material choice affects longevity and performance:
- Coastal Areas: Choose stainless steel or brass to resist salt corrosion.
- High-humidity Areas: Avoid cheap alloys that rust quickly.
- Extreme Temperatures: Ensure the lock mechanism operates smoothly in cold winters and hot summers.
Step 5: Hire a Professional for Installation
Choosing a good lock is only half of home security; the other half is how well that lock is installed. Even the strongest Grade 1 or UL 437-certified lock won’t perform the way it should if it’s fitted poorly, misaligned, or mounted on a weak door frame. That’s why professional installation matters just as much as the lock itself.
- Don’t DIY, DIY Installation Often Fails
Many homeowners try installing locks on their own, but a small mistake and even with that expensive lock, you house will be insecure. Common issues include:
- Misalignment
If the bolt doesn’t line up perfectly with the strike plate, the lock doesn’t work right. This reduces strength and can cause jamming.
- Weak Door Frames
A strong lock attached to a weak frame is practically useless. Intruders often target the frame, not the lock itself.
- Improper Screws or Hardware
Short screws or low-quality fasteners make the door easier to kick open. Exterior locks need long, sturdy screws that anchor into wall studs.
- Smart Lock Calibration Errors
Smart locks require proper alignment and setup. A small installation mistake can lead to battery drain, misreads, or device failure.
2. Look for a Certified Locksmith
When hiring someone to install high-security or smart locks, it’s important to choose a trained professional, not just a handyman. Here’s what to look for:
- ALOA Certification
A respected credential proving the locksmith is trained in residential and high-security systems.
- State or Local Licensing
Ensures they follow regulations and industry standards.
- Experience with Advanced Locks
Not all locksmiths work with UL 437, Grade 1, multi-point, or smart locks, so experience matters.
A qualified locksmith doesn’t just “fit” a lock. They evaluate the door, frame, hinges, strike plate, and overall structure, then install everything in a way that ensures maximum security performance.
3. Why Professional Installation Is Worth It?
When a trained locksmith installs your lock, you get:
- Correct alignment for maximum strength
- A properly reinforced frame
- Longer lock lifespan
- Reduced chances of malfunction
- Perfect calibration for smart locks
- Expert recommendations for upgrades
A professional handles the details most people overlook, making sure the lock performs exactly as the manufacturer intended. When it comes to securing your home, the right lock matters, but the right expert matters even more. If you are upgrading to better residential door locks, replacing old hardware, or installing high-security systems, having a trained professional handle the job ensures everything works exactly the way it should.
Susu Locksmith provides reliable and skilled service for homeowners who want their security done right. As a trusted residential locksmith, we make sure every lock is installed, aligned, and reinforced properly, giving your home the protection it actually deserves.
If you want dependable installation, clear guidance, and long-lasting security, Susu Locksmith is the team you can trust.
