How To Install A Deadbolt On A Metal Door Properly

Why Is It Called a Deadbolt?

When you go to any hardware store, you will probably see a range of options when it comes to lock0 options. You’ll see deadbolts alongside spring bolt locks. So, why are deadbolts better than spring bolts?

Deadbolts cannot be rotated or opened without a key. In contrast to spring bolt locks with a spring that holds the bolt in place, you won’t be able to open a deadbolt if you don’t have a key. If you look at the design of a spring bolt lock, you’ll see a knob on one end. You can open the lock simply by turning the locking mechanism with your hand.

On deadbolts, however, there is no external mechanism that allows you to open the lock by hand. This means that if you don’t have a key, the only way to open the lock is by destroying everything. What’s more, the deadbolt lock’s design means that it is more difficult to pick even by experienced locksmiths.

How to Install a Deadbolt on a Metal Door

If this is your first time installing a deadbolt, it can be intimidating! However, if you have the right tools on hand, you should have nothing to be worried about. Here is how to install a deadbolt lock on a metal door in five steps:

1. Using a tape measure, measure the spot 42 inches from the bottom of the inside of your door. Add a mark using your hammer and center punch. Make sure that the distance from the edge is equal to the deadbolt’s backset. Add another mark at the same height and the center of the door’s edge.
2. Drill a hole on the door face using the two 1/8-inch hole saw, starting from your inside mark. Continue drilling until the bit penetrates through the door. Stop drilling and open the door partway. Wedge a doorstop to keep the door stable, then finish drilling the hole from the outside of your door using the pilot hole as a guide.
3. Using the 1-inch hole saw, drill a hole from your mark at the door’s edge. Stop once you insect the exiting hole.
4. Install the bolt assembly from your deadbolt set into your 1-inch hole, making sure to secure it with the screw included in the set.
5. Install the cylinder assembly. Place the keyed side on the outside of your door, with the thumb latch on the door’s inside face. Secure with the long machine screws.

After installing the deadbolt lock, make sure that you installed it correctly by putting in your key and trying out the lock. The deadbolt should open and close smoothly.

Benefits of a Deadbolt

According to home security professionals, particularly locksmiths, deadbolts are among the best ways to beef up your home security. A quality deadbolt is an amazing deterrent to thieves and home intruders. Even the sight of a deadbolt on a door is enough to discourage your run-of-the-mill burglar because many burglars are opportunists as opposed to people who take the time and effort to scope your home.

However, it’s more than just the appearance of a deadbolt that will prevent intruders from entering your home. The design of a deadbolt works by using the intruder’s force against them. When intruders try to force their way into your home, the steel bolt of the deadbolt will jam up against the strike plate inside the door frame. The more the intruder strikes to force their way into your home, the harder the deadbolt works against them.

The best kinds of deadbolts are those that are made from solid steel, brass, or bronze. Avoid deadbolts that are made from die-cast materials since they can break apart if enough force is applied. You can choose among three types of deadbolts: single cylinder, double cylinder, and keyless deadbolt.

Single cylinders have one keyhole for the outside and a twist knob on the inside. Double cylinder deadbolts have keyholes on both sides, which means that you need a key to open it no matter which side you are on. Keyless deadbolts have a keypad where you input a PIN code. Know more about Deadbolt Locks.