Deadlocks & DeadboltsCape Town
A hardened steel bolt going into a reinforced frame is the cheapest serious upgrade most doors will ever get. We advise on the right one and fit it properly across Cape Town.
Deadlocks and deadbolts
The first line of defence, and the one insurers ask about.
A deadlock has a hardened steel bolt fitted inside the door. When you lock it, that bolt throws into a secure point in the frame called a strike box, which can be strengthened further with a hardened steel plate. Simple, and extremely effective against forced entry.
Most deadlocks are built to a quality standard so they pass the tests that make them count as secure. That matters beyond the door itself: many insurance companies now only cover you if the deadlocks fitted meet those standards. Worth checking your policy before you buy the cheap one.
They come in a range of finishes and designs to suit the type and weight of your door. As a rule, exterior doors want a 5 lever deadlock and interior doors a 3 lever. The difference is inside the lock: the levers are cut at different depths, and turning the key moves those levers to operate the bolt.
Cylinder-operated deadlocks are either single or double. A single cylinder takes a key on one side and a twist knob on the other. A double cylinder takes a key on both sides with no knob at all, which stops somebody reaching the inside knob through a nearby window. Some have a lockable knob, where a key is always needed outside and the inside knob works unless a button has been pressed.
Call 073 444 3773
What to look for
The right deadbolt depends on the door, where it sits, and whether anything can reach the inside handle.
- Resistance to forceSteel bolt and steel strike to resist cutting, and a turn knob interlocked in the case to resist hammer attacks.
- A door beside a windowDouble cylinder, so nobody can break the glass and turn the inside knob. Keep a key where the household can reach it.
- Lockable turn knobA clutching device that lets the inside knob be locked out when you want it locked out.
- Special functionsExit-only with no external cylinder, classroom function, removable thumb-turn, and mechanical or electrical push-button deadbolts.
What happens when you call
Tell us the door and where it is. Half the value of a deadbolt is in choosing the right one and fitting it into a frame that will hold it.
- 01Describe the door
Interior or exterior, the material and weight, and whether there is glass near the handle.
- 02We recommend the lock
3 or 5 lever, single or double cylinder, and whether the strike box needs reinforcing.
- 03It is fitted properly
The bolt, the strike and the plate all go in together. A good lock in a weak frame is not a good lock.
- 04You test it before we leave
You lock and unlock it yourself, you get every key, and the work is covered for twelve months.
Hardware we are willing to put our name on
AAA Locksmiths has served the Cape Peninsula since 1999. We fit hardware that meets the standards insurers ask about, and everything we install carries its manufacturer warranty.
- PSIRA-registered security service provider
- Members of the Locksmith Association of South Africa
- Certified and registered BBBEE company
- Manufacturer warranty on the hardware we install
- Branded vehicles and identifiable technicians
Where we help
We work right across the Cape Town metro, out of the branch nearest to you. Pick your area to see who answers.
Cape Town CBD
The City Bowl, the Foreshore and the harbour, out through Woodstock and Observatory. Office blocks, flats and parking garages, at any hour of the night.
Common questions
If you are not sure which deadbolt your door needs, call and describe it.
What is the difference between a 3 lever and a 5 lever deadlock?
The levers inside the lock are cut at different depths, and more levers means more combinations and more resistance. As a general rule, 5 lever for exterior doors and 3 lever for interior doors.
Single cylinder or double cylinder?
Single takes a key outside and a twist knob inside. Double takes a key on both sides, which is the safer choice where there is glass near the door, because nobody can break it and reach the knob. Keep a key somewhere the household can reach in a fire.
Will my insurer care which deadlock I have?
Very possibly. Many insurers now only cover you where the deadlocks fitted meet the relevant standard. It is worth checking the wording of your policy before choosing.
Is the frame as important as the lock?
Yes. The bolt throws into a strike box in the frame, and that box can be strengthened with a hardened steel plate. A strong lock in a weak frame gives way at the frame.
Can you fit a deadbolt to any door?
Most doors, yes, but the design has to match the type and weight of the door. Tell us what the door is made of and we will tell you what suits it.
Tell us about the door
Interior or exterior, what it is made of, and whether there is glass beside it.