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Everyone likes to feel safe and secure when they are inside their homes. That’s why most people spend money on such things as sophisticated locking systems and home security alarms. These things are not only a good idea to have to help keep you safe but they are highly recommended. Despite having all these sophisticated locking devices and fancy alarm systems, there is one type of lock that you should always have in place on your exterior doors and windows as a last line of defense and that is a deadbolt style lock.
Why uses a deadbolt? It’s because they are the strongest type of locks available that can easily be installed on the exterior doors and windows on your home. They are virtually pick proof and very hard to destroy by means of drilling, smashing and prying. In general, the larger the deadbolt size the harder it is to destroy.
Why is a deadbolt lock so tough to pick? It’s because it uses a combination of a cylinder and subsequent cam in order to provide its locking function. The deadbolt cylinder is like a puzzle if it’s a keyed lock. That’s why only a certain key will be able to open and close it.
The key is used to turn the cam inside the deadbolt so it activates the strike to either allow the door to open or to lock the strike in place so the door is secured shut.
Most conventional locks are activated by a spring or some other mechanism. That means they are much weaker and easier to pick than a sturdy deadbolt lock. A deadbolt lock is made using a strong tubular piece of metal of metal that inserts into a reinforced forced plate. This makes it hard to smash and almost impossible to pry open too. Deadbolts often cross over a door frame much further than most other types of door locking mechanisms too.
Why don’t you see more deadbolt locks used as stand-alone locks? There are a few reasons for that. One, they are not a lock that can be incorporated into a door know configuration. Door knobs certainly have their purpose as far as opening and closing a door and having it seal up tight when shut. Deadbolt locks are somewhat harder to install than other types of conventional locks because they are usually slightly recessed and need reinforcing plates put on in most cases too.
Surface mounted deadbolt
As you probably can guess from the name, these are deadbolt locks that are not recessed or installed inside even partially into a door or door frame. Every piece of them is located on the inside surface of an exterior door and the door jamb.
They are said to be stronger and easier to install than other locks but, in some cases, do not offer the security that internally installed deadbolts offer. This is especially true if you do not need a key to activate them. Someone can break a window on the door or in the house and simply open them.
These can be as simple as thick metal strike that slides into a sturdy metal fame as it goes across your door jamb or they can be a fancy keyed type deadbolt locking mechanism.
Vertical deadbolt – these are used to help reinforce and exterior door so it cannot be pried or forced open. They install into the top of the door and not on the non-hinged side like most conventional deadbolts do.
Rim Deadbolt – this is a deadbolt that has the unique ability to lock itself automatically when you close the door behind you. Most deadbolt locking systems have to use a key or knob to lock and unlock them.
Internally installed deadbolt
An internal deadbolt locking mechanism also is placed on the interior of the door it goes on. The big difference between it and surface mounted deadbolt is that it performs its deadbolt locking action by its strike actually going into the door jamb.
Single cylinder – this is the most common type of deadbolt lock that you we see installed on exterior doors. It is licked and unlocked by using a key on the outside of the door and uses a knob to lock and unlock it on the inside of the door.
Double cylinder – This type of deadbolt needs a key to open and close it on both sides of the door. The advantage of these is they can be used on doors with windows because thieves cannot open them after breaking the glass.
One-sided – This is deadbolt that is only access from the interior side of a door. These are usually used as backup locking systems when the residence is occupied.
Digital/Keyless – even deadbolt locks have gone keyless now. They can be opened using electronic or mechanical keypads now too.
Mortise Deadbolt – this is an older type of deadbolt that works well but it’s hard to install because it gets recessed into the inside of an exterior door.