The standard Kwikset deadbolt is the most common lock in America.
Deadbolts
Deadbolts are arguably one of the most popular door lock types, and they are widely used in many residential properties. Due to their popularity, they are also a common fixture in commercial spaces.
A deadbolt lock is the most common option for home security, consisting of a thick metal bolt that protrudes through a strike plate and into the door frame to prevent the door from being opened. Simply enter the correct key into the keyhole and turn the key to open or close the deadbolt.
Single cylinder deadbolts are quite common in residential homes. Such locks use a key slot on one side with a thumb-turn mechanism on the other side; the key slot generally faces the outside of a door. This system also allows you to unlock and lock single cylinder deadbolts using a thumb turn from the inside.
Deadbolts are much more secure than a spring bolt, which is why most residential and commercial spaces opt for this kind of lock. A handset is a great option for homeowners who want a more stylish option than the classic doorknob.
Deadbolt door locks are the most secure type of key lock and are commonly used on exterior house doors. Single and double cylinder locks are classified by strength from Grade 1 to Grade 3. Grade 1 is the highest and provides the best security.
The 4 main types of locks are Key locks, Digital locks, Mechanical locks, and Biometric / Finger-scan locks. Almost all our safes come with a digital or key-locking option.
Basic Cylinder Locks
Deadbolts use a solid piece of metal to secure the door, while standard cylinder locks use a spring to help make it easier to lock the door. Unfortunately, the spring does not provide much security and it can easily be forced. Deadbolts, however, are still vulnerable to lock picking.
Schlage and Kwikset are two of the most popular lock manufacturers on the market. Both brands make excellent locks that homeowners can easily install, but Schlage locks tend to offer higher security and reliability and are trusted by big businesses.
Lock picking is the first and best method to unlock a deadbolt without a key. It is a popular choice for those who want to avoid damaging their door or lock. Lock picking is an easy skill to learn—the basics required to pick a standard pin tumbler deadbolt can be cultivated within 10 minutes.
Deadbolts provide the highest level of front door security. To ensure your door locks provide solid home security, choose locks and deadbolts that are pick-resistant and bump proof. Good locks use mushroom pins or pick shields to prohibit thieves from using picking tools to pry the lock and enter your home.
Best High-Security Door Lock
CR's take: The Medeco Maxum 11TR503-19 is the strongest deadbolt across all of our lock categories. It's top-notch for drilling, withstands kick-ins very well, and is designed in a way that makes it quite difficult to pick.
Traditional locks vary and some examples are mortise locks, knob locks, and deadbolt locks. These locking mechanisms function manually via a turning of a key, twisting of a thumb turn, or simply pushing a button.
The standard door measurements of an interior door are 80 inches by 36 inches. And the typical door width should be at least 24 inches, while the height should be 80 inches.
Because Schlage locks are made of stronger materials, are superior in their mechanism, and provide far greater security than Kwikset locks, it should be mentioned that they are more expensive compared to Kwikset. For example, let's look at the retail price for a deadbolt from both Kwikset and Schlage.
As you can see in the picture below, Schlage uses 4 security pins (called “Spool pins), while Kwikset uses only 2. Having 2 more security pins in a cylinder can make it significantly harder to pick, which can definitely be felt when trying to pick a Schlage lock.
Deadbolt Lock Disadvantages
Deadbolts are stronger and more difficult to compromise than other locks, but they're not entirely impenetrable. Break-ins can still happen no matter which type of lock your doors have.
Less than 2% of burglaries involve shimming or picking a lock. It's important to remember that burglary and robbery are different. Burglars intentionally enter a property without the lawful owner's consent to commit a felony or intent to steal.
Yes, a higher price can ensure a higher quality of the lock's material and the mechanism itself. In this way, your lock will have a much higher resistance level than a cheap door lock. In addition, even the appearance of a higher-quality and cost-effective door lock can cause thieves to bypass your door.
One of the most common (and easiest to pick) locks is the pin-and-tumbler, which is a type of cylinder lock. Cylinder locks are used in most deadbolts. When picking a pin-and-tumbler lock, put the tension wrench in the keyhole and turn it as if it was a key.
People say padlocks are those door locks which can't be broken apart. Some padlocks even have extended shoulders which make it difficult for bolt cutters to access them.