Door Lock Repair and Installation in Weston, FL

Why locks stick in South Florida

Humidity swells wooden doors and frames, which pulls the deadbolt out of line with the hole it slides into. The bolt drags, so the key feels stiff even when the lock is fine. Near the coast, salt air corrodes the pins and springs inside the cylinder as well.

A misaligned bolt is often fixed by adjusting the strike plate rather than replacing anything. A corroded cylinder is cleaned and lubricated, or replaced if the pins are too far gone. Skip household oil: it collects dust and grit inside the lock. Use a lubricant made for locks.

What makes a deadbolt strong

• The grade. Deadbolts are rated Grade 1, 2 or 3 under the ANSI/BHMA standard. Grade 1 is the toughest; Grade 3 is light duty.
• The throw. The bolt should extend a full inch into the frame.
• The screws. Long screws in the strike plate reach the wall framing behind the door jamb, so a kick has to break the frame, not just the trim.

Plenty of break-ins beat a good lock by splitting a weak door frame, which is why reinforcement hardware is part of this work.

Sliding doors and windows

Sliding glass doors and sliding windows are everywhere in South Florida homes, and their latches wear out. A worn latch lets the door rattle or lift. Replacing the latch, adding a secondary lock, and fitting child safety locks that limit how far a window opens are all quick jobs.