Break-in Protection Package

Altic Lock Service is now offering the Door Devil (tm) reinforcement package, including jamb reinforcement, door edge guard, and hinge jamb pins. See our site for a limited time special offer!

Door Edge Reinforcement

To get the most out of your deadbolt locks, Altic Lock Service recommends the use of reinforced strike plates or door jamb reinforcement since most successful break-ins are a result of jamb failure. When the strike or jamb is reinforced, the next weakest point is the door edge where the bolt passes through. Keep in mind that most properly installed deadbolts will extend 1 inch from the edge of the door.

What you can't see is that the actual bolt is only about 1-1/2 inches long. When extended, more of the bolt is beyond the door than what remains in the door.

Exterior doors are commonly 1-3/4 inches thick, with a 1 inch hole drilled for the bolt. That leaves only 3/8 of an inch of material on either side of the bolt. Between the lock body and the bolt, there is only a hollow tube and the linkage connecting the bolt. Reinforcing this area is vital to protecting against forced entry. The jamb should be reinforced first, but don't ignore the vulnerability of the door edge. With the reinforcement shown below, the area is protected and the door edge is far less likely to split, as often happens during forced entry attempts.

Altic Lock Service currently provides a complete door protection package, which includes jamb, door edge, and hinge reinforcement. Optional savings are also available on door viewers and a sliding door deadbolt when you purchase the package. Package price available for a limited time only.

A Deadbolt is a Deadbolt is... NOT!

Not all deadbolts are created equally. Far from it, actually. In past posts, we have noted how cheap lock cylinders are secured to the lock body, and the questionable new lock designs being sold in the home improvement stores. This time, we'll take a quick look at the construction of the actual bolt from a common deadbolt compared to the bolt from the Arrow deadbolts we recommend.

The deadbolt shown at the top of the first photo is from an Arrow brand lock. The deadbolt on the bottom is from a Kwikset brand lock. Both are designed for the same 2-3/4 inch backset. Both have bolts designed to extend 1 inch. The first thing to note is that the Arrow deadbolt weighed 4.8 ounces, the Kwikset only 3.2 ounces, suggesting far heavier duty construction.

Neither of these deadbolts are designed to be disassembled or repaired (in case of failure, the whole deadbolt assembly would be replaced), but we disassembled them anyway.

The photo above shows the disassembled Kwikset deadbolt. It took about a minute to pry it apart. The actual bolt is the round part, standing on its end, on the bottom left. Yes, that is a big, square hole in it - it is virtually hollow.

The photo below shows the disassembled Arrow deadbolt. It took about 15 minutes to get it apart, and not without considerably more force than it took to break down the Kwikset deadbolt. You will note that its bolt has a smaller round hollowed-out section, but inside the cavity is a hardened rod designed to prevent someone from sawing through the bolt.

Finally, we compared the weights of the actual bolt sections. The Arrow bolt weighed 2.6 ounces, the Kwikset only 1.5. There seems to be no doubt which is better-constructed, heavier-duty, and more capable of performing its job. That is why Altic Lock Service recommends Arrow locks and door hardware.

Toy Locks

The photograph compares the disassembled parts of a common residential-style pin tumbler lock cylinder (to the right of the key) to the parts of a "rekeyable" lock cylinder (to the left of the key). Both are commonly available at hardware and home stores.

Is it any wonder that the new rekeyable locks are often failing for no apparent reason? Most people devote little or no attention to lock maintenance. The greater number of small moving parts and mating surfaces just means that many more things can fail. The design of the new locks would seem to make them far more susceptible to failure when they are fouled with dirt and debris. Regular cleaning and lubrication is needed to keep standard pin tumbler locks working properly, though they can often last through years of neglect. That won't be as true of the rekeyable designs.

New Year's Resolution: Protect Your Home, Family and Property

Take a few, simple steps to protect yourself from break-ins, burglaries, and home invasions in 2012.

1. Ensure entry locks and deadbolts are installed and functioning correctly.
2. Reinforce the door jamb, the weakest point of most doors.
3. Reinforce the door edge. After the jamb, the door edge adjacent to the locks is the most vulnerable area.
4. Reinforce the hinges. After the jamb and the door edge have been reinforced, the hinge area is the next most likely to fail.
5. Upgrade your locks. With your door properly reinforced to prevent forced entry, it only makes sense to use quality locks that cannot be easily bypassed.
6. Install and use a door viewer, and never open the door to a stranger.

Altic lock Service can install reinforcement to all vulnerable areas of the door - the jamb, the door edge, and the hinges. Galvanized steel reinforcement that will not rust, with a white powder-coat finish that can be painted, if desired. Complete single door reinforcement (jamb, door edge for two locks, and two hinges) can be had for $89 (plus tax) for parts and $75 installation labor.

Plus, for each door completely reinforced, you can opt to add a door viewer (U.L. listed, fire rated, 9/16 inch diameter, brass construction, glass lens, 200 degree viewing area) for just $12 (plus tax) with no additional charge for installation.

Plus, with complete reinforcement of at least one door, purchase a sliding door deadbolt ($40.60 plus tax) and we will install with no additional installation charges. These sliding door deadbolts prevent both prying and lifting of the door out of the tracks.

And finally, for each door completely reinforced, upgrade to Arrow brand locks available at list price with no additional charge for installation when installed at the time reinforcement is added.
Limited Time Offer!
See the Altic Lock Service website for more information.

Prosecutors give safety reminders during holidays

Altic Lock Service had a table at today's Burglary Prevention Forum presented by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office Burglary Enforcement Strategy Team (B.E.S.T.). These forums provide a lot of useful information. We had displays set up to demonstrate common lock problems, and one of the forum attendees won a free copy of our book, "A Homeowner's Guide to Residential Door Security." WTHR's Kris Kirschner's report is viewable here.

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