A smart lock works only as well as the door it is mounted on, so check the door before you choose a product. Check how the door closes and latches, and fix any sticking or misalignment before buying. Then note what lock and hardware are already on the door, and decide who needs to get in and what should still work if the electronics fail.
How does the door behave right now?
You need no tools for this part. Close the door the way you normally would. A door in good shape latches with an ordinary push. If you have to lift the handle, lean on the door, or slam it before it catches, make a note of that.
Next, close the door and throw the deadbolt, the solid bolt you turn with a key or the inside knob. The bolt should slide into the strike, the metal plate with an opening on the frame, without scraping. If the bolt only goes in when you push or pull on the door, the bolt and strike are out of line. Look for rub marks along the edges, and notice whether the door sticks only in certain weather. Then turn the key. Grinding or jiggling points to wear inside the lock or a bolt that binds.
These checks matter more for a smart lock than for a manual one. When a bolt drags, your hand pushes a little harder without you thinking about it. A small motor cannot. A motorized bolt that meets resistance can stall short of a full throw and leave the door unlocked when you believe it is locked.
A door that closes cleanly, with a bolt that slides freely and a key that turns smoothly, is fine as is. Rubbing, a bolt that needs help, or a stiff key means adjustment or repair comes first. A sagging door, a cracked frame, or damage around the old lock needs a professional's opinion before you buy anything.
What is already installed on the door
Smart locks meet existing hardware in a few different ways. Some replace the deadbolt entirely. Some keep the existing bolt and swap only the inside part, so the outside of the door looks the same and your current key still works. Others replace the handle and lock together as one unit.
Take stock of what you have now: a single deadbolt, a handle with its own lock, a second lock higher or lower on the door, a mail slot, or glass near the lock. Anything close to the lock limits the room for new hardware. A mortise lock, a boxed lock body set into a pocket cut into the door's edge, usually needs a different approach than a round deadbolt.
Fit also depends on how the door is prepared, meaning the holes already cut through its face and edge, and on how thick it is. Both vary from door to door, so confirm fit rather than assume it. If you have a high-security deadbolt you want to keep, decide early whether the smart lock replaces it or sits beside it.
Decide in this order: fix, choose, then install
- Settle the door first. A new lock will not cure a door that drags.
- Decide whether the current lock goes or stays. Keeping it gives you a separate keyed lock, but also two locks to work each time you leave. If old keys are unaccounted for, rekeying makes sense either way.
- Decide who needs access and how. Family members, tenants, cleaners, staff, and guests have different needs. Think about whether each person gets their own code and whether you will need to remove someone's access later.
- Decide what should still work if the electronics fail. A key cylinder on the smart lock, or a separate keyed lock, gives you a way in when the batteries run down. Not every model has a key cylinder, so make this call before you pick one.
Shared entrances, rentals, and business doors
If you rent, ask the owner or manager before changing the hardware on your door, and find out whether the entrance you use is shared.
Property managers should plan how codes will change between tenants and check whether an intercom or access control system already runs the building entrance, since that decides whether new unit locks need to work with it.
On a business door, look at the door closer, the arm at the top that pulls the door shut. A closer that slams the door or stops short of latching will cause trouble for any lock.
What to have ready for the installer
Clear photos of both sides of the door and its edge help, along with these details:
- The door material and type, as best you can tell: wood, metal, or glass, and whether it sounds solid or hollow when you knock.
- The lock and handle on the door now, including any second lock.
- Any sticking, rubbing, or stiff key you noticed.
- Who needs access, and how they will get in.
- Whether you want a physical key as a backup.
To have the door and hardware looked at first, or to plan a smart lock installation, call Nostrand Locksmith at (516) 644-8976. Nostrand Locksmith works in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Clinton Hill, and elsewhere in Brooklyn.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my existing key as a backup when I add a smart lock?
Yes. You can leave your current deadbolt on the door as a separate keyed lock, or choose a smart lock with its own key cylinder. A new cylinder comes with new keys, but some cylinders can be rekeyed to match the keys you already carry, so ask about that when you plan the change.
Does a smart lock need a specific kind of door?
A smart lock needs a sound door, with openings that suit the lock and enough thickness for its parts. A standard exterior door with a working deadbolt is the simplest start. Metal, glass, hollow, or mortise-lock doors take more thought, so describe yours to the installer before choosing a product.
Should I fix a door that sticks before or after installing a smart lock?
Fix a sticking door before installing a smart lock. Sticking usually comes from loose hinges, a sagging or swollen door, or a strike plate that has shifted on the frame. Correcting any of those moves the door's edge, so a lock fitted first would meet the strike in the wrong place.
What if my building has an intercom or shared entrance?
A building intercom or shared front door is often a separate system from the lock on an individual unit door. Adding a smart lock to your unit door does not automatically connect it to the buzzer or the front entrance. Some access systems can be linked to unit locks and some cannot, so ask whoever manages the building's entrance before you buy. Nostrand Locksmith also works on intercom and access control.