In this blog entry, our professional New Orleans lock repair team will detail the best ways to improve apartment door lock security.
Can I change apartment door locks?
You might have to check with your landlord and lease agreement before changing your lock some landlords or apartment management companies might let you change your locks, but many of them will not, as they have a master key system in place which allows them to access apartment to provide maintenance or in the event of an emergency if you’re not sure, try calling your landlord to ask.
Strengthening Apartment Door Security
There’s a few main types of locks commonly utilized with apartment doors:
- Deadbolt locks
- Door Knob Locks
- Mortise Locks
Deadbolts are the most popular choice for apartment door locks. Mortise locks consist of a few parts that latch into a pocket within the door, and are the second most popular choice for apartment door locks. Finally, the door knob lock is commonly used in interior bedrooms or bathrooms.
Choosing the Best Apartment Door Lock
We usually recommend installing a deadbolt for your apartment door, as they don’t have any springs or pins that a burglar can pick or break through. Deadbolts are made with cylinder bolts that extend directly into the wall, and require only a proper key to unlock the mechanism and retract the bolt. Some types of deadbolts include:
- Single Cylinder Deadbolts – The normal, standard type of deadbolt
- Double Cylinder Deadbolts – The standard deadbolt type but with two bolts on both sides of the door
- One Sided Exterior Trim Cylinder – Used on doors that cannot be opened from the outside, like those on the back areas of stores or restaurants
- One SIded No Trim Cylinders– Similar to the exterior trim deadbolts, except the deadbolt cannot be seen from the door’s exterior
Deadbolt locks come in different quality and security grades, ranging from 1-3, with Grade 1 deadbolts offering the highest level of security.
We recommend contacting a professional locksmith team for advice as to the best deadbolt to use at your property.
Apartment Door Reinforcement
If you like your apartment door lock, but otherwise want to improve your apartment security, we recommend reinforcing your apartment door. Even the strongest lock cannot provide robust security to a seriously damaged door. If you don’t want to replace your whole apartment door, you can take the following steps to bolster its strength:
- Replace door screws with solid, 7-inch long screws
- Reinforce your door jamb
- Add a security screen to your door