A fresh lock installation refers to the process of cutting the housing for a lock on a brand new wood or metal door. It requires planning, precision, and expertise in order to ensure that your home or office is properly protected.
Here at Reliable Locksmith in Minneapolis, we’ve installed new deadbolts, mortise locks, and smart home locks in a variety of different settings. In this article, we’ll talk about different kinds of fresh lock installations, lock grades, and when to call in a professional locksmith.
Wondering what kind of lock to install in your home or guest house? Take a look at these common types of new lock installations for residential settings:
The world of commercial fresh lock installation is broader than the residential side simply because there are so many different kinds of security systems for businesses! Here are a few typical lock installations that we see regularly in Minneapolis:
When searching for locks to install on your metal or wood door, you’ll have your choice between Grade 1, 2 and 3 locks. This grading system refers to the longevity and durability of the lock.
Grade 1 locks offer the highest level of security and are typically only installed on high strength doors such as metal doors. Grade 2 locks are appropriate for many residential and commercial settings and can be installed on both wood and metal doors. Finally, Grade 3 offers the lowest level of security and durability, but can still be suitable for many residential security needs.
Wondering what a fresh lock installation looks like from start to finish? Here’s the rundown for installing a new lock on a wood or metal door:
In a commercial setting, this will mean referring to local building codes to ensure that door handles are installed at the appropriate height for accessibility laws.
Fresh installations require you to create the holes in the door where the lock will be housed, and where the latch or deadbolt will extend, as well as in the door frame where the strike plate will be mounted. This can be done with a hole saw drill bit and chisel.
Now the lock hardware can be placed in the newly cut holes in the door. The strike plate can also be secured to the shallow housing in the door frame.
For electric strikes, this will be the time to wire the lock to the power source and hide the wiring within the door frame.
Before packing up the tools, it’s important to test the lock to make sure everything turns smoothly and closes securely. Anything that wiggles or is misaligned needs to be addressed.
Smart locks will also need to be programmed and tested to ensure proper installation!
If you have the tools and know-how to do most home improvement projects, you can probably install a basic lock yourself. Installing locks on fresh doors requires careful measuring to ensure that the housing perfectly aligns with the strike plate. But, if you’re confident with your drilling skills, this can be a DIY project.
That being said, for commercial projects, electric strikes, panic hardware, or anyone who simply would rather leave their security in the hands of a professional, we would definitely recommend calling in a trusted locksmith. Our team here at Reliable Locksmith in Minneapolis can oversee fresh lock installation for all kinds of security needs.