Mobile Locksmith. Mon–Fri 8AM–5PM · Raleigh & the Triangle
(984) 207-5553
Quality Locksmith Products

Locks

We help you choose the right lock for each door and budget, then install it correctly so it performs as designed.

Mon–Fri 8AM–5PM 5-star rated local service Upfront pricing

Keys

Quality keys supplied and installed by Locksmith Raleigh.

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Locks

Quality locks supplied and installed by Locksmith Raleigh.

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Safes

Quality safes supplied and installed by Locksmith Raleigh.

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Are Quality Door Locks and Deadbolts Supplied?

Yes. We supply and install residential and commercial locks, deadbolts, levers, smart locks, mortise locks, and high-security cylinders.

Understanding Lock Security Grades

Lock hardware is certified based on strict performance testing. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) establish these grading standards.

To receive a grade certification, locks undergo rigorous testing measuring physical strength, cycle count, and finish durability. Grade 1 represents the highest level of physical security and operational durability. These locks must withstand 800,000 cycles of opening and closing, heavy hammer strikes, and bolt-kick tests, making them the standard choice for schools, hospitals, and high-traffic commercial storefronts.

Grade 2 hardware is designed for heavy-duty residential use and medium-duty commercial entryways. These units must survive 400,000 cycles and moderate impact tests, providing excellent security for main home entrances. Grade 3 is the standard residential grade, tested to 200,000 cycles. While suitable for interior doors or low-risk residential entryways, Grade 3 hardware does not provide the same physical resistance against forced entry as Grade 2 or Grade 1 locks.

Residential Deadbolt & Entry Security Upgrades

Securing a residential property begins with the exterior entry doors. The most critical component of home security is a solid deadbolt. Standard latchbolts—the spring-loaded locks found on entry handles—only prevent a door from blowing open and can be bypassed relatively easily. A deadbolt requires a physical key turn or thumbturn to extend the bolt deep into the door frame, providing real structural resistance against forced entry.

A secure deadbolt should feature a full 1-inch throw bolt made of hardened steel, preferably with a free-spinning steel roller pin inside the bolt itself to prevent intruders from using a hacksaw to cut through it. The strike plate—the metal piece attached to the door frame—is equally important. Standard lock installations use short 3/4-inch screws that only secure the strike plate to the thin wooden door jamb. We install heavy-duty strike plates secured with 3-inch screws that anchor deep into the wall studs behind the jamb, significantly increasing resistance against kick-in attacks.

Homeowners must also choose between single-cylinder and double-cylinder deadbolts. Single-cylinder deadbolts feature a key cylinder on the exterior and a thumbturn on the interior. This is the most common configuration, allowing easy escape during emergencies. Double-cylinder deadbolts require a key to lock and unlock from both the inside and outside. These are recommended for doors with glass panes nearby, as an intruder cannot simply break the glass and reach in to turn a thumbturn. However, a key must be kept in a designated, accessible spot nearby to ensure safe egress during a fire.

Commercial Hardware: Mortise & Cylindrical Systems

Commercial doors face heavy traffic and must comply with strict building safety regulations. The two main commercial lock configurations are cylindrical locks and mortise locks. Cylindrical locksets are installed through a large hole bored directly through the door face, representing a standard, versatile option for office doors and restrooms.

Mortise locks are designed for maximum durability. They require a deep pocket—or mortise—to be carved into the edge of the door, housing a heavy cast-iron lock body. Mortise locks offer greater physical strength and allow for complex locking functions, such as integrated deadbolts, toggle switches, and latchbolt retraction with a single turn of the handle. These systems are highly durable, making them the standard choice for main entryways in commercial facilities.

Life safety and accessibility codes also dictate commercial installations. Commercial locks must incorporate lever handles rather than standard round knobs to satisfy accessibility rules. Egress hardware, such as panic bars or touch-bar exit devices, is required on main public exit doors to allow occupants to escape during emergencies by simply pushing the bar. We select and configure commercial hardware that meets all local building and fire safety codes.

High-Security Cylinder Mechanisms

Standard pin-tumbler locks can be bypassed by experienced lockpickers or through a technique called lock bumping, which uses a modified key to force the internal pins to jump above the shear line. High-security cylinders are engineered specifically to resist these methods. They utilize dual-locking mechanisms, requiring both the alignment of standard pin tumblers and the rotation of specialized pins to interface with an internal sidebar.

These cylinders also incorporate physical hardening features, including solid steel pins and hardened steel plates embedded in the cylinder face. These plates deflect drill bits and protect the lock plug from being drilled out. Additionally, high-security systems offer patented key control, ensuring duplicate keys can only be cut with proper authorization, preventing unauthorized duplicate creation. Upgrading to high-security cylinders is a cost-effective way to secure existing doors without replacing the entire handle or lock assembly.

What We Offer

Deadbolts

Standard and high-security deadbolts for entry doors.

Smart & keypad locks

Keyless convenience installed and configured.

Commercial hardware

Grade-rated levers, mortise locks, and exit devices.

High-security cylinders

Pick-, bump-, and drill-resistant locks with key control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lock bumping and how can I prevent it?
Lock bumping is a method where a specially cut key (a bump key) is inserted into a standard lock and struck with a mallet, forcing the pins to align briefly so the cylinder can turn. You can prevent lock bumping by upgrading to bump-resistant cylinders, high-security locks, or electronic keyless deadbolts.
Can you rekey my existing locks to use a single key?
Yes. In most cases, if your locks are from the same manufacturer or share the same keyway profile (such as Schlage or Kwikset), we can change the internal pin sizes so that one key operates all exterior doors. This simplifies access and reduces key ring clutter.
What is the difference between a mortise lock and a cylindrical lock?
Cylindrical locks are installed through a large circular hole in the door face and are standard for residential and moderate commercial doors. Mortise locks require a pocket carved into the door edge to hold a larger, heavier rectangular lock box, offering increased strength and durability.
Are smart locks as secure as traditional mechanical deadbolts?
Yes. From a physical security standpoint, quality smart locks use Grade 2 or Grade 1 deadbolt mechanisms that offer the same resistance to physical attack as mechanical locks. The primary differences are electronic convenience and digital monitoring, which do not compromise physical strength when installed correctly.