The strike plate, not the lock
Almost every forced entry into a home succeeds the same way. The strike plate is held by two screws around three-quarters of an inch long, biting only into the jamb — a thin piece of softwood nailed to the stud behind it. A kick concentrates several hundred pounds on that small area, the jamb splits along its grain, and the door opens with the deadbolt still locked and undamaged.
The lock was never tested. So the highest-value upgrade available on any residential door is not a better lock: it is a full-length reinforcing strike fastened with three-inch screws through the jamb into the framing stud, plus three-inch screws in the hinge plates. It costs very little, it fits in under an hour, and it changes the outcome. We fit it as standard rather than as an upsell.
Rekey on possession, always
When you take over a home you have no idea how many keys exist — previous owners, family, a cleaner, a contractor, a former tenant, an agent. Rekeying re-pins the cylinders you already own and kills every existing key, at a fraction of the cost of new hardware.
It matters more on newer builds than people expect. Builders routinely key an entire phase to a handful of key profiles so trades can move between houses, and that construction keying is frequently still in place at closing. In fast-built areas like Milton, Mount Pleasant and Vellore Village it is common.
Where smart locks earn their place, and where they do not
Smart locks are genuinely useful for rentals and short-term lets, for households where keys get lost, and for letting in a cleaner or a contractor when you are not there. If none of that applies to you, a good conventional deadbolt with a reinforced strike is cheaper, needs no batteries and is not less secure — and we will say so.
Where one is the right choice, the door matters more than the lock. A motorised bolt has limited torque, so a door that needs a shoulder to close will jam it and drain batteries fast. We correct the alignment as part of the fit, which is why an installation from us behaves differently from the same lock fitted out of the box.
Residential Locksmith — questions
How much does a house lockout cost?
It is one of our least expensive calls. The variables are the time of day, where you are, and whether the lock can be opened non-destructively — which it usually can. We quote on the phone before dispatching, and we are wary of the practice some operators have of advertising a very low figure and quoting properly only on arrival.
Should I rekey or replace locks when I buy a house?
Rekey, unless the hardware itself is worn out or inadequate. Rekeying gives you exactly the same security outcome — every old key stops working — at a fraction of the cost of new locksets. Put the savings into a reinforced strike plate on the doors that matter, which does more for your actual security than a new lock body would.
Are smart locks secure?
Reputable ones are mechanically as strong as conventional deadbolts, and the electronics on established brands are reasonably well hardened. The realistic weak point is not the lock at all — it is the door and frame. A smart lock on a door with an unreinforced strike is defeated by one kick exactly as a conventional lock would be. Fix the strike; then the lock choice is about convenience.
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.
How do I stop someone lifting my patio door out of its track?
Fit an anti-lift block or drive screws into the upper track so the clearance above the panel is less than the height of the bottom rail. The panel then cannot be raised far enough to clear the track. It costs very little and it closes off what is, on a lot of older doors, the easiest way in. Test yours by lifting firmly — if it moves noticeably, you need this.
Can you replace my mailbox lock?
On a privately owned mailbox, yes — house mailboxes, building mailbox banks owned by the property, and commercial lobby boxes. Community mailboxes operated by Canada Post are their responsibility and we cannot legally work on those; contact Canada Post directly. If you are not sure which yours is, tell us where it is and we will tell you.
Are you open 24 hours?
No. We are open 7 days a week, 8 AM to 11 PM. Outside those hours, leave your number and we call you at 8 AM — first thing, before the day’s bookings. If you are unsafe, or a child or an animal is locked in a vehicle, call 911.
Can you open a safe without damaging it?
Often, yes. Mechanical dial safes can frequently be manipulated open, and electronic lock failures are often in the keypad or wiring rather than the bolt work, which allows a bypass. Where the lock has genuinely failed, opening requires drilling in a precise location for that make and model, followed by repair and a new lock — the safe remains fully serviceable afterwards when it is done by someone who knows the unit.