Karlock

09/28/2026

Stop a Kicked-In Door for Under $20: Door Reinforcement Lock

If there's one upgrade I recommend to almost every homeowner who asks me how to harden a front door without replacing the whole lockset, it's a door reinforcement lock like this one. The Prime-Line U 10827 Door Reinforcement Lock isn't flashy, and it won't show up in a smart-home app — but it does one job extremely well: it stops a door from being kicked or shouldered open, even after the primary lock has failed....

If there's one upgrade I recommend to almost every homeowner who asks me how to harden a front door without replacing the whole lockset, it's a door

09/27/2026

Schlage B60 vs. B62: Which Deadbolt Actually Belongs on Your Door?

If you've decided to step up from a big-box-store deadbolt to something a locksmith would actually put on their own home, you've probably landed on Schlage. Good instinct. But before you buy, you need to pick the right side of their B-Series lineup — the B60 (single-cylinder) or the B62 (double-cylinder). They look almost identical. The difference matters more than most listings let on....

If you've decided to step up from a big-box-store deadbolt to something a locksmith would actually put on their own home, you've probably landed on Schlage.

09/26/2026

Why Use A Professional Locksmith

Pick up any newspaper with an article about public concerns and the subject of crime usually tops the list. It's therefore surprising that homeowners and building contractors often don't use the services of a professional locksmith to analyze security needs for their properties. For example, the most common practice in new home construction is to piecemeal the security precautions-using one company to set up an alarm system, an electrician to hook up outdoor lighting for crime prevention, and carpenters perhaps to install low--grade locks and door hardware almost as an afterthought....

Pick up any newspaper with an article about public concerns and the subject of crime usually tops the list. It's therefore surprising that homeowners and

09/25/2026

Best Smart Locks for Home Security in 2026

I've installed, serviced, and occasionally been called out to fix nearly every smart lock brand on the market. Here's my honest, field-tested take on the smart locks actually worth putting on your front door in 2026 — scored using my own criteria, not just spec sheets. How I'm Scoring These Every lock below is rated on four things that actually matter in the field: …...

I've installed, serviced, and occasionally been called out to fix nearly every smart lock brand on the market. Here's my honest, field-tested take on the

09/11/2026

Smart Lock vs. Traditional Deadbolt – Which Is Safer?

It's one of the most common questions I get asked as a locksmith: should you upgrade to a smart lock, or stick with a traditional deadbolt? The honest answer is — it depends on what "safer" means to you. Here's how they actually compare, based on what I've seen in the field over the years. Physical Security: Mostly a Tie…...

It's one of the most common questions I get asked as a locksmith: should you upgrade to a smart lock, or stick with a traditional deadbolt? The honest answer

09/10/2026

Why Those Tiny Strike Plate Screws Are a Security Risk (And How to Fix It in 10 Minutes)

Any professional locksmith will tell you one of the easiest ways to boost your front door's security is to swap the short screws in your strike plate for long 3" ones. It sounds too simple to matter — but it's one of the most common weak points I see on service calls, and it costs less than a cup of coffee to fix....

Any professional locksmith will tell you one of the easiest ways to boost your front door's security is to swap the short screws in your strike plate for long

06/20/2025