Security & Access · Middle Tennessee
Home Security Lock Upgrade
Instant Locksmith TN walks your home’s doors with you and upgrades the weak points: deadbolts, strike plates, sliding door locks, garage entry doors and old keys in circulation, across Middle Tennessee. You approve each recommendation and its price before we do any work.
- Door-by-door walkthrough
- You approve every item
- Upfront pricing
Most entry doors fail at the frame
When a door is kicked in, the lock usually holds. What gives way is the wood around the strike: a thin jamb held by short screws. That’s why the most useful upgrade on many Tennessee homes isn’t a fancier lock but a stronger strike.
A reinforced strike plate fastened with long screws that reach the wall framing spreads the force of a kick into the structure instead of a strip of trim. It’s a quick job that makes a real difference.
Strike reinforcement
Heavy-duty strike plates and long screws into the framing behind the jamb, on every exterior door with a deadbolt.
Better deadbolts
Grade matters. ANSI/BHMA grades locks 1 to 3, with Grade 1 the most durable. We help you choose based on the door, not a sales pitch.
Key control
If you don’t know who has keys, rekeying resets that list. A high-security cylinder adds pick resistance and restricted key copying.
What we check on a walkthrough
Front and back doors: lock grade, bolt throw, strike, hinge screws, and whether a glass panel near the deadbolt makes a double-cylinder lock worth discussing. Garage-to-house door: often the weakest door in the house, frequently with no deadbolt. Sliding patio doors: the latch is easy to lift, so we look at auxiliary locks and blocking bars.
Windows within reach of the ground, see window lock installation. Side gates, sheds and detached garages, see garage lock service.
A note on double-cylinder deadbolts
A deadbolt keyed on both sides stops someone from breaking glass and reaching in to turn the thumbturn, but it also means you need a key to get out. In a fire, that can be dangerous, and some local codes restrict them. We discuss the tradeoff and alternatives rather than installing one by default.
After a move, a breakup or a break-in
Many upgrades are triggered by a change: a new house with unknown keys, a former roommate or partner, or an attempted break-in. In each case, rekeying or replacing locks immediately is the first step, and reinforcement comes next. If the door is damaged, see break-in lock repair.
We verify authorization before changing locks on any property. Our access to investigative verification resources gives us an unusual additional capability when identity or ownership needs to be confirmed.
- Book a visit. Order online and list the doors you’re concerned about. Want the full door-by-door walkthrough? Choose the optional $50 walkthrough add-on at checkout.
- Walk the doors. We check each door and explain what we’d change and why.
- Approve item by item. You choose what to do now; nothing is done without your approval.
- Install and test. We install, align and test every lock with your keys.
What does a home lock upgrade cost?
Standard price: from $50 for the optional security walkthrough, an add-on chosen at checkout; like the service call, the walkthrough fee is non-refundable. Upgrade work is priced item by item. The total depends on the number of doors, which items you choose (strike reinforcement, new deadbolts, rekeying, high-security cylinders, sliding door locks), and hardware grade. Each item is priced before installation; we supply the hardware or install hardware you bought, door prep on an undrilled door is $60, and old-lock disposal is $5.
- Standard rate: orders placed 7 AM–8 PM
- After hours (orders placed 8 PM–7 AM): 1.5×
- Federal holidays (calendar date and observed date): 2×
- Federal holiday, after hours: 3×
- No weekend surcharge
- Mileage: $1.25/mile beyond 5 miles from the city center
Multipliers apply to everything on the job (service, labor, parts and hardware) except the flat $15 (inside city limits) or $25 (outside city limits) service call and mileage. The after-hours rate is set by the time the order is placed. Holidays are U.S. federal holidays, billed on both the calendar date and the observed weekday.
Online orders pay the $15–$25 service call at checkout as the deposit: $15 inside city limits, $25 outside (plus a 4% online processing fee). It is a flat fee added to the service price, and the time-of-day multipliers never apply to it. See our Payment & Deposit Policy and Cancellation Policy. See how our pricing works.
Home security upgrade FAQ
Are Grade 1 locks worth it for a house?
Grade 1 is the most durable ANSI/BHMA rating and is common on commercial doors. For a home, a quality Grade 2 deadbolt with a reinforced strike is often a sensible choice. The right grade depends on the door and how much it’s used.
What screws should a strike plate use?
Long screws that pass through the jamb into the wall framing behind it, rather than the short screws that often come in the box. That anchoring is what helps the door resist a kick.
Should I rekey or replace locks after moving in?
If the existing locks work well, rekeying is usually the faster, less expensive way to make sure old keys stop working. Replace when locks are worn, low-quality or you want a different style or security level.
How can I secure a sliding patio door?
Sliding door latches are easy to defeat on their own. Adding an auxiliary lock, a blocking bar in the track, and anti-lift adjustments where possible helps. See our sliding door lock repair page for more.
Is a double-cylinder deadbolt safer?
It can stop someone reaching through glass to turn the lock, but it requires a key to exit, which can be dangerous in a fire, and some codes restrict it. We discuss alternatives first.
Do you install security cameras or alarms?
No. Our work is locks, strikes, keys and door hardware. We recommend a dedicated security provider for alarms and cameras.
Can I upgrade just one door?
Yes. Many people start with the front door or the garage-to-house door and add others later.
Find and fix your home’s weak points
Book a walkthrough; every recommendation comes with a price for you to approve.
