Locks Explained · Deadbolts
Deadbolts, explained — for Kenner homes
What kind you need, why the strike plate matters more than the lock, and what a good deadbolt actually costs in Kenner.
Every exterior door in Kenner should have a deadbolt. Grade 2 is the honest sweet spot at $195 to $395 fitted. Single-cylinder is the default. The lock itself matters less than the strike plate — 3-inch screws through into the wall stud beats every consumer lock upgrade against forced entry.
What a deadbolt actually is
A deadbolt is a solid metal bolt that only moves when you turn a key or thumb turn. It does not spring-retract like a doorknob latch. This is why doorknobs alone can be defeated with a credit card and why deadbolts cannot.
Kenner exterior doors typically have two locks working together — a keyed doorknob (for day-to-day handle-turning convenience) and a deadbolt (for actual security). When you leave the house, you engage the deadbolt. That is what stops people getting in.
Types
Single-cylinder vs double-cylinder
| Type | Key outside | Key inside | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-cylinder | Yes | No (thumb turn) | Most Kenner homes — fast exit in fire |
| Double-cylinder | Yes | Yes | Doors with glass sidelights within reach of thumb turn |
Fire-safety note: double-cylinder deadbolts require finding the key to exit — a genuine hazard in a smoke-filled house. Most Kenner homeowners are better off with single-cylinder plus a laminated safety film on any nearby glass ($85 to $185).
Grade 2 vs Grade 1 — which does a Kenner home need?
| Grade 2 | Grade 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycles | 400,000 | 800,000 |
| Forced-entry resistance | Moderate | High |
| Pick resistance | Good | Better |
| Cost fitted | $195–$395 | $295–$595 |
| Where it fits | Most Kenner homes | Front door of targeted-risk or higher-end homes |
For 90% of Kenner homes, whole-house Grade 2 is the right answer. Whole-house four-door Grade 2 upgrade runs $645 to $1,145 fitted. Grade 1 on the front door is a reasonable premium; Grade 1 everywhere is usually overkill.
The strike plate is more important than the lock
This is the truth most locksmiths do not tell customers because it undersells the expensive hardware. Most forced entries fail the frame, not the lock. The lock holds. The strike plate rips out.
Two changes cost about $30 in parts and give you more real security than a $400 lock upgrade:
- 3-inch strike screws through the strike into the wall stud (not just the door frame)
- Reinforced strike plate with a wider plate distributing force across more of the frame
Fitting both across a whole house runs $85 to $325 per door if you have us do it. Or $30 in parts and 20 minutes per door if you do it yourself.
When we replace vs when we rekey your deadbolt
- Replace when the mechanism no longer works smoothly, when the finish has failed, when upgrading grade, or when you are moving from single to double cylinder (or vice versa).
- Rekey when the lock still works but you want to change which key opens it — after moving in, after break-ups, after keys go missing, at end of tenancy. Rekey is $95 to $185 for the first door and $45 to $85 for each door after.
Questions
Deadbolt questions
What is a deadbolt?
A solid metal bolt that only extends or retracts when you turn a key or a thumb turn. Unlike a spring latch in a doorknob, a deadbolt does not spring back when pushed. This is why deadbolts are the primary security lock on every exterior door.
Single or double cylinder deadbolt?
Single-cylinder has a key outside and a thumb turn inside — the default for most Kenner homes. Double-cylinder requires a key on both sides — more secure against someone breaking a glass sidelight to reach the thumb turn, but a fire safety concern because you cannot exit without finding the key. We generally recommend single-cylinder plus reinforced glass or sidelight securing.
What is a keyed-alike deadbolt system?
All the deadbolts on the house are keyed to the same key. One key opens front, back, side, garage. Standard on new construction, easily achieved with a rekey ($95 to $185 first door, $45 to $85 each after).
How much does a deadbolt cost in Kenner?
Grade 2 deadbolt $195 to $395 fitted, Grade 1 $295 to $595 fitted. Existing deadbolt rekey $95 to $185 for the first, $45 to $85 for each after.
My deadbolt will not throw all the way. Broken?
Almost certainly not — the door frame has moved. Kenner soil settles 0.2 to 0.8 inches a year and any house older than 20 years shows it. Re-cutting the strike plate to re-align with the bolt runs $85 to $145 and fixes 80% of these calls. If someone quotes a whole new lockset without checking the strike, get a second opinion.
What length screws should be in my strike plate?
3-inch minimum, through the strike plate into the wall stud behind the frame. Most factory installations ship with 3/4-inch screws which only bite the door frame itself — the very piece that rips out during a forced entry. Upgrading to 3-inch screws is $2 of parts and takes 5 minutes. Single biggest security improvement on a Kenner house.
Deadbolt questions for your Kenner home?
Ring us for honest advice. We do not sell you what you do not need.