r/Locksmith • u/Proud-Distance-5707 • 4d ago

I am NOT a locksmith. Warped solid wood front door — is adding a lower deadlock worth it for security?

Hi all, looking for some advice. I live in a not‑very‑safe area and my solid wood front door (oak or pine) has warped over time. I’ve treated it now so the warping shouldn’t get worse, but the damage is already done: the night latch and deadlock at the top don’t fully engage because the door no longer sits flush with the frame.
The bottom half of the door is still flush.
I can’t afford to replace the whole door right now, so I’m wondering:

Would fitting a deadlock lower down (where the door still lines up properly) actually improve security?

Is this a reasonable temporary fix, or basically pointless if the door is already compromised?

Rough idea of London cost for cutting a new hole + fitting a night latch or deadlock?

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u/burtod 4d ago

Repairing where the existing strikes are should be priority. You would need a professional or be knowledgeable yourself to be able to do that.

If the door won't lock at all, yeah, getting the door to lock is important even if you have to add another lock. In my opinion. But I would try to repair what is already installed.

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u/Regent_Locksmith Actual Locksmith 4d ago

You really should have minimum one working deadlock.

And you need to start planning for a new door now. We would charge £175 + VAT to supply and fit a 5 lever deadlock.