Deadbolt Doors in West Chester, PA: Then and Now

Doors offered by Homecraft Inc. are among the most durable and secure in the market; steel-reinforced locks and frame, among a few others. Reinforced deadbolts can make the difference between a safe home and one prone to forced entry, and for good reason. Deadbolts are among the prime targets for thieves forcing their way inside a house. As Janelle MacDonald of Wave 3 News reports, the type of locks in place matters.

A deadbolt is a type of lock that consists of a latch and a cylinder locking mechanism, in which the only way in or out is to turn the cylinder to retract the latch. Deadbolts have been touted for their resilience, given that they keep the door shut more firmly than traditional knobs. A lot of deadbolts, especially the low-priced ones, are prone to damage as a result of forced entry. Deadbolts in West Chester, PA doors should tell thieves that these doors won’t go down without a fight.

There have been cases where reinforced locks and deadbolts thwarted break-in attempts, highlighting the importance of an upgrade. Locksmiths say most deadbolts in place today are old, dating back as early as the 1970s, where the strike plates are too short for today’s standards. Strike plates are pieces in the door frame that offer extra anchorage for the latch, reducing its chances of failing in the midst of a break-in attempt; thus, like the deadbolts themselves, strike plates also need to be reinforced.

Locksmiths say the typical strike plate today has longer screws; three inches compared to the three-fourths-of-an-inch ones in older deadbolts. An upgrade won’t cost you more than $10, but in some cases, it’s more prudent to simply replace the old door. Most doors in Wilmington, DE homes have deadbolts built into the system, in addition to the traditional knobs. Strike plates in deadbolts can keep doors shut, but with no reinforcement, they can be easy prey for a good kick.

Maj. Mark Fox, division commander for the Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky, doesn’t rule out the possibility of the thieves breaking in. However, when reinforced doors are holding the line, a good kick will send out enough noise to wake the neighborhood up. It’s not so much the deadbolts preventing crime as to hold out long enough for police to respond. Five minutes (estimated) is all the police needs.

Whether or not you’ve been robbed before, take the advice of folks from Louisville in securing your home. There’s more to doors than just intricate designs and high-end materials; the aesthetics will be for naught if it can’t fulfill its primary role, which is security. Get doors with reinforced frames and locks to stay safe day and night.