Deadbolt Installation NYC — Supply, Install & Upgrade

A door with only a knob lock is a door that opens in seconds. Deadbolts are the baseline for NYC apartment and house security — and installing one right means full bolt throw, a strike anchored into the stud, and a door that closes smoothly enough that you actually use the lock. In June we supplied and installed a new deadbolt near Eastern Pkwy & Utica Ave in Crown Heights; in May we did a high-security deadbolt change near Broadway & 82nd St in Elmhurst. Both on our recent jobs page. Licensed NYC #2096389-DCA. Call (917) 495-1990.

Fresh Installs vs. Upgrades

Some doors have never had a deadbolt — only a knob latch anyone can slip. Fresh installation means boring the cross hole and edge hole, cutting the strike mortise, and mounting Grade 1 hardware. Upgrades swap a weak deadbolt for a stronger one and, critically, upgrade the strike plate with 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud. The Crown Heights job in June was supply-and-install; Elmhurst in May was a lock change to heavier hardware.

Single vs. Double Cylinder

Single-cylinder deadbolts use a key outside and a thumb turn inside — standard on solid doors. Double-cylinder deadbolts need a key on both sides; required by code near some glass panels, but they complicate emergency exit. We install both where appropriate and explain the trade-off honestly.

Jimmy-Proof and Surface Deadbolts

Apartment doors off public hallways often get jimmy-proof locks — surface-mounted vertical bolts that resist prying. We installed one near Clark St & Henry St in Brooklyn Heights in June. See house lock installation for when jimmy-proofs beat cylindrical deadbolts.

High-Security and Smart Deadbolts

Any deadbolt install can use a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock cylinder for restricted keys — see high-security lock installation. Or skip keys entirely with a keypad deadbolt — we did a from-scratch smart keypad install this April on a door that never had a deadbolt before.

Installation Quality Is the Product

A deadbolt that binds will not get used. We align the door, cut the strike accurately, and test full bolt throw before we leave. Strike reinforcement is offered on every exterior install — it costs a few dollars and stops the kick-in that defeats cheap hardware. Pair with rekey or lock change when moving in so every old key dies the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions