Smart deadbolt installation in Vancouver
Retrofit the deadbolt you have, or replace it outright.
Keyless entry by code or phone, on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Z-Wave models, anywhere in the Lower Mainland. We check your door's bore, backset and strike first, so the motor is not fighting the bolt.
Retrofit smart deadbolt versus full replacement on your door.
Rather open your door by code or phone? A smart deadbolt is a deadbolt with a motor and a keypad or radio behind it. Add the motor to your deadbolt, or replace the whole lock.
All smart lock servicesRetrofit smart deadbolt that keeps your existing cylinder and keys
Only the inside thumbturn is swapped for a motorized unit. From outside, your door looks the same, and the keys you already carry still work.
Full smart deadbolt replacement with new cylinder and strike
Your old deadbolt comes out and a complete smart deadbolt goes in, with a new bolt and strike. Choose it if you want a keypad at the door, not just an app.
When the old deadbolt is too worn to retrofit
A bolt that drags under your key. A loose cylinder. A retrofit motor turns the old tailpiece, so either one strains the motor, and it can stall. Then a full replacement is the sounder buy.
Door prep before a smart deadbolt goes in.
Smart deadbolts are fussy about the door they go on. If your bore is off-centre or the strike sits slightly out of line, the motor strains and the batteries drain early.
Bore size and whether your door takes a standard smart deadbolt
Most smart deadbolts expect the standard 2-1/8 inch (54 mm) face bore and a 1 inch edge bore. We measure both on your door. An odd-sized bore is dealt with before the lock is chosen.
Backset measurement and adjustable latches
Backset is the distance from your door edge to the centre of the bore, usually 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches (60 or 70 mm). Most smart deadbolts adjust to either. Set wrong, the bolt binds.
Strike alignment so the smart deadbolt throws under motor power
A bolt that rubs the strike still locks by key, because you push harder. A motor stalls instead, and drains the batteries. We line the strike up so the bolt throws freely under power.
Door thickness and the inside housing
Each model lists the door thicknesses it fits; a thick custom door may need a kit. The inside housing holds the motor and batteries, and needs room clear of the handle and trim.
What happens when the smart deadbolt battery dies.
A flat battery stops the motor, not the lock. You usually get a warning first, and a way in that needs no power.
Low-battery warnings before the smart deadbolt goes dark
Most models warn well ahead: a flashing light, a beep at the keypad or an alert in the app. Change the batteries then, using the type the maker specifies.
Nine-volt jump terminals on the outside of the smart deadbolt
Many keypad models have two small contacts on the outside. Hold a 9-volt battery to them and the lock wakes long enough to take your code. If yours has them, we show you where.
Using the keyed cylinder when the smart deadbolt has no power
Most smart deadbolts keep a keyway as the last fallback. The key only helps if you can reach it, so leave one with someone you trust, not inside the house.
Where the money goes on a smart deadbolt installation in Vancouver.
The $75 mobile service call is never the whole bill. The installation is quoted on top, and you hear the number before any work begins.
See starting pricesReplacing a deadbolt with a smart lock versus a retrofit kit
A retrofit works on the inside only, so it is usually the smaller job. A full replacement covers both sides, plus a new bolt and strike.
Rekeying the smart deadbolt cylinder to your existing key
Where the keyway is compatible, the new cylinder can be pinned to your current key, so the house stays on one key. Ask when you book. See rekeying.
Reinforced strike plate for the smart deadbolt
A reinforced strike with long screws into the framing stud does two jobs. It resists a kick, and it keeps the strike from creeping out of line with the bolt.
A door that needs work before the lock goes on
A sagging door, loose hinges or a swollen edge will fight any motor. Snugging the hinges or easing the door may come first, and that time is part of your quote.
Smart deadbolt questions to ask before booking in Vancouver.
Can I keep my current key after a retrofit smart deadbolt?
Yes. A retrofit leaves the outside cylinder in place, so your keys work as before. With a full replacement, the new cylinder can often be rekeyed to your current key.
Will a smart deadbolt fit a door with a handleset below it?
Often. On many handlesets the outside grip screws through to the deadbolt's inside plate, so the smart deadbolt must line up with that fixing. We check the spacing before any work begins.
Does a smart deadbolt work on a double-cylinder door?
Most smart deadbolts have a thumbturn inside, not a keyway, so fitting one makes the door single-cylinder. If the inside key was there because of nearby glass, we talk that through with you first.
How long do smart deadbolt batteries usually last?
It depends on the model, how busy your door is and whether it has Wi-Fi. On a well-fitted door a set often lasts many months. A dragging bolt can drain them in weeks.
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Z-Wave: which smart deadbolt should I pick?
Bluetooth works from your phone near the door. Wi-Fi, or a bridge, adds remote access, like sending a cleaner or rental guest a timed code. Z-Wave joins a home hub. See smart home integration.
What if the battery dies and I am locked out?
Try the 9-volt contacts or the backup key first. If neither works, call 778-655-1957. We use non-destructive entry first, wherever the lock allows. See home lockout.
Smart deadbolt fitting by a licensed locksmith.
We measure your door first: bore, backset, thickness and strike. We use the existing holes wherever the new lock allows, and cut only what the fit needs.
The lock goes on square, with the outside gasket seated to help keep rain out of the keypad. We run it by motor from both sides, with the door open and closed.
Then the setup: app paired, master and guest codes created and auto-lock timing set. We show you how to add, delete and share codes, and how to get in if the batteries go flat.
Our 929 Drake Street shop opens soon; every job is mobile until then, anywhere in the Lower Mainland. Evenings, weekends and holidays are by appointment.
Tell us what is going on, and we will price it first.
Call or book online. Tell us the model if you already have the lock, or we can recommend and supply one that suits the door. You get the price before any work begins.