Residential service
Strike plate and frame reinforcement in Ottawa
Most forced entries do not defeat the lock.
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Typical starting price
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How it works
Most forced entries do not defeat the lock. Instead they split the door casing around the strike plate. Consequently reinforcing the frame is the cheapest meaningful security upgrade available. Urban Locksmith fits reinforced strikes across Ottawa, usually in under an hour.
- Step 1
Frame inspected
Casing depth and stud position.
- Step 2
Long screws fitted
Three inch, reaching the structural stud.
- Step 3
Box strike installed
Encloses the bolt rather than catching it.
- Step 4
Hinges reinforced
Because that side fails just as easily.
Why doors fail at the frame
A standard strike plate is thin steel held by two screws barely an inch long. Consequently those screws grip only the decorative casing, not the structure. Therefore a single kick splits the trim and the whole assembly leaves the frame, lock intact. Furthermore, the deadbolt itself is usually undamaged afterwards, which tells you exactly where the weakness was.
What reinforcement actually means
Firstly, three-inch screws replace the short ones and reach the structural stud behind the casing. Secondly, a heavier strike plate spreads load across a wider area. Thirdly, a box strike encloses the bolt rather than merely catching it. Consequently the force needed rises dramatically. Moreover none of this changes how the door looks or operates from outside.
Typical starting price
Quoted
Yes, though the frame construction determines the method.
Hinges matter too
Everyone focuses on the lock side and forgets the hinges. However, hinge screws are equally short from the factory. Consequently the hinge side can fail just as readily. Therefore Urban Locksmith replaces hinge screws with long ones during the same visit. Additionally, hinge bolts prevent a door being lifted if the pins are on the outside, which older doors sometimes have.
Cost versus benefit
Reinforcement is inexpensive because it is mostly labour and screws. Consequently it is the highest-value security work available on most homes. By contrast, an expensive high-security cylinder in an unreinforced frame improves very little. Therefore we recommend doing the frame first and the cylinder second. Above all, spend where the door actually fails rather than where the marketing points.
Questions about strike plate and frame reinforcement
Is this really more useful than a better lock?
On most doors, yes. Because the frame fails before the lock does.
Will it look different?
Barely. The strike is slightly larger and the same finish.
How long does it take?
Usually under an hour per door.
Do the hinges matter?
Yes. Factory hinge screws are just as short.
Does it work on steel doors?
Yes, though the frame construction determines the method.
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Where we cover
Across Ottawa and every community within an hour’s drive — 47 areas in total, from downtown out to Kanata, Barrhaven, Carleton Place, Kemptville and Rockland. You get an honest arrival window on the phone rather than a number chosen to win the booking.