Single-cylinder vs double-cylinder
Single-cylinder: key outside, thumbturn inside. The usual residential setup. Fast egress in a fire.
Double-cylinder: key both sides. Sometimes used on doors with glass right next to the lock. It also means you need a key to get out. That is a real tradeoff, not a default upgrade.
The strike is half the lock
A 1-inch throw into a loose strike on 3/8 inch of jamb is theater. Longer screws into the framing and a strike that lines up with the bolt do more for the door than a heavier brand name on a crooked install.
Questions people actually ask
Should every exterior door get a deadbolt?
Every exterior door you actually use should have a proper lock. A back door with only a cheap knob is the door people forget about. We can look at the whole set of doors, not just the front.
Related work
Served from Taylor
Based in Taylor, City Locksmith Taylor provides mobile service throughout Downriver and nearby communities. Taylor neighborhoods we cover, then the rest of Downriver:
Educational process notes
How this type of job is typically approached — not a write-up of a specific completed job.
