A deadbolt is only as good as what it throws into. We fit the lock and reinforce the strike, because the strike is what fails and the deadbolt almost never does.
Typical range: $150–$550 CAD. Ranges are typical for the GTA and depend on the door, the hardware and the time of day. We confirm the price before dispatching.
Grades and what they mean
ANSI/BHMA grades deadbolts from 3 to 1 based on cycle testing and force resistance. Grade 3 is the basic residential tier and is what most builder hardware is. Grade 2 is a meaningful step up and is the sensible minimum for an exterior door. Grade 1 is commercial specification.
For a home, a Grade 2 deadbolt with a one-inch throw and a reinforced strike is a well-balanced specification. Going to Grade 1 on the lock while leaving a standard strike plate in a softwood jamb is spending money in the wrong place.
Single versus double cylinder
A double cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides, which stops someone reaching through broken glass to turn a thumb-turn. It also means anyone inside needs a key to get out.
That is a genuine life-safety concern in a fire, and it is why double cylinder deadbolts are restricted or prohibited on required exits in many contexts. On a house with glazing next to the door, the better answer is usually laminated security film on the glass plus a single cylinder deadbolt — you get the protection without creating a door your family cannot open in smoke.
We will fit a double cylinder where you want one and the context permits it, but we will raise this first.
The strike is the whole job
A deadbolt with a one-inch throw into a strike plate held by three-quarter-inch screws is defeated by a kick, because the screws only reach the jamb. The deadbolt does not break; the jamb splits.
A full-length reinforcing strike with three-inch screws into the framing stud transfers that force into the structure. It costs very little, it takes under an hour, and it is more effective than upgrading the deadbolt itself by a wide margin. We fit it as standard on every deadbolt installation rather than offering it as an extra.
Hardening the rest of the door
- Three-inch screws through the hinge plates into the stud — minutes of work, near-zero cost
- Hinge-side security pins on outward-opening doors, or non-removable hinge pins
- A wide-angle viewer, so the door is not opened to identify a caller
- Laminated security film on adjacent glazing and sidelights
- Secondary locking on sliding patio doors, which on older stock are frequently liftable out of their track
- Exterior lighting on the approach, which affects behaviour more than most hardware does
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best deadbolt for a front door?
A Grade 2 or Grade 1 deadbolt with a full one-inch throw, fitted with a reinforced strike anchored into the framing stud. The strike matters more than the lock brand. A moderately priced deadbolt with a proper strike outperforms an expensive one screwed into a softwood jamb, every time.
Should I get a double cylinder deadbolt?
Consider it carefully. It prevents someone reaching through broken glass to turn a thumb-turn, but it also means nobody inside can get out without a key — a real hazard in a fire, and restricted on required exits in many contexts. Where there is glass beside the door, laminated security film plus a single cylinder usually gives you the protection without the risk. We will fit either, but we will raise this first.
How much does deadbolt installation cost?
Fitting a deadbolt to an existing prepared hole is the low end. Installing where no deadbolt exists requires boring the door and mortising the frame, which takes longer. Reinforced strike plates add very little and we include them as standard rather than as an upsell, because a deadbolt without one is not doing the job.
Is a reinforced strike plate really worth it?
It is the highest-value security upgrade available on a door, and by a considerable margin. Almost every forced entry we attend succeeded by splitting the jamb, not by defeating the lock. Three-inch screws into the framing stud move the load into the structure and change the outcome. It costs a small fraction of the lock and does more.
Deadbolts across the GTA
We provide deadbolt installation & door hardening throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Pick your city for local detail, or call and we will tell you straight away whether you are in range.
Related services
Home Rekeying
New home, lost key or a tenancy change — existing locks re-pinned to a new key at a fraction of replacement cost.
Smart Locks
Smart deadbolts and locksets supplied and fitted properly — with honest advice on which ones are worth having.
Door Frame Repair
Split jambs, corroded steel frames and torn-out strikes repaired and reinforced — because no lock is stronger than the frame holding it.
Post-Burglary Upgrades
A structured review of every opening after an incident, with upgrades prioritised by what actually gets exploited.