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I just moved into a new house, from one I was renting.
The house I was renting had no deadbolt on the garage-access door. (it got one, and the landlord better not mind)

Also, the house I bought didn't have one.

This seems quite short sided, so I'm just curious:
How many of you with houses either have or don't have a deadbolt (or other security device) on your garage-house access door?

It did not when I bought it but had one before we moved in. Also have a "drive way alarm" across garage door entry. This way if I am working in the garage with the main door open and go into the house for some reason, I can tell if someone enters the garage.

.....

I won't say about my home.

However, my wife and I looked at MANY new homes in late '01-'02 by many different builders, and none of them had dead bolts on the door from the garage to the house.

No house I ever lived in the past had one, nor do I recall ever seeing one on someone else's home.


When we bought this house (new) in '03, the backdoor had a single cylinder deadbolt. (key on the outside, lever on the inside). The upper panel of the door was glass. I replaced that before we moved in with a double keyed deadbolt.

The alarm systems has all of the downstairs windows wired, but for some reason only a couple of the upstairs windows. That too, was remedied, and I added a couple of extra devices as backups.

Yes, both the house I'm in now and the previous one have a deadbolt (lever on the inside) between the garage and the living area.

And both deadbolts were installed directly below a 2 ft. square single strength window in the door.........pretty pointless security-wise.

I am in New home construction in Texas and a Builder can not put double keyed deadbolts in a home due to building code. Something about fire and having to have a key to get out. Kinda a catch 22 thing.

Ever wonder why you shower door opens out?

Nintylx wrote:I am in New home construction in Texas and a Builder can not put double keyed deadbolts in a home due to building code. Something about fire and having to have a key to get out. Kinda a catch 22 thing.

AGREED.
I subcontract door and window installers and I do not allow them to install double-cylinder when they are on a jobsite. I reccomend them to anyone, but I inform my customers that they must install them on their own. It is a liability issue (with everyone sue-happy now) incase some one can't find their key to get out in case of an emergency. Let me also reccommend the Larson Secure Elegance storm doors for your entry doors as well. You can beat the glass with a bat and it will not shatter out of the frame. Pretty expensive for a storm door, but well worth it.

I didn't respond to the poll because my garage and house are not attached.

I think it's a good idea to have a deadbolt lock between an attached garage and house. Furthermore, if the door is one of those things made of recycled boxes that you can put your foot through, it should be replaced with a solid door.

Garages are much easier than houses to break into. Frequently the garage door is left open. Then a burglar can lower the door and get into the house at his leisure.

- Jim

razoraggie wrote:Let me also reccommend the Larson Secure Elegance storm doors for your entry doors as well. You can beat the glass with a bat and it will not shatter out of the frame.

Thanks! How did you know I was thinking about storm doors?

I had Medeco locks and extended striker plates installed on front, back, and garage entry doors last year. They were recommended by a locksmith I know, so after a little research, I told him to fire away...as it were. I had the same back door as txinvestigator, but rather than getting a double cylinder jobbie, I replaced the door with a solid one. The garage entry door is a plain-jane steel exterior door.

Oh, and I live in Midland.

I answered "no", but I have to elaborate.

My garage is no longer a garage; it's enclosed, and does have a deadbolt on the outside door. The door between garage and kitchen has a barrel bolt, and opens outward, so it wouldn't be easily kicked in. But because it opens out, a burglar who gained access to the garage could get in exactly like I once had to: by using the tools in the garage to drive the pins out of the hinges and remove the door.

As for double-keyed deadbolts: I'm against 'em. Either everyone has to keep a key around their neck at all times, or the key has to be hung right beside the door, which defeats the purpose.

And in most installations, they're useless anyway. They only keep someone out if there's a door with small windows and a very narrow sidelight. I have to laugh when I see them on French doors. When I've asked, people typically say, "If they had a turnbolt, someone could break the window and unlock the door!" As opposed to breaking the window and just walking right through without bothering to unlock, as would be the case with most "big glass" doors.

Kevin

I replaced our original door from the garage to the house with a steel door with a good dead bolt lock, that is levered from the inside...Access to the house is through that door, into a utility room, then the rest of the house...

I thought about it and didn't see the need to key it from both sides...

The setup (was in my opinion) is to slow anyone down just long enough to call the law, and advise the intruder(s) that it might be a good idea to stop...

Also, if it can be done, it would be worth looking into beefing up the door jamb, and frame work around that particular entry...

The best door and lock system is only as good as the structure around it...Again, if it can be done...

Nobody said home security and improvement was cheap and easy...Its not even reasonable...

But it is priceless...

mine does not and I've never really thought about it! I will check into getting one!

When house was being built, builder put single key deadbolts on all doors. After we moved in all were changed to double key deadbolts.

Another thing to consider is your attic stairway if it is in garage.

I had a buddy who had BG break into garage, pulled pickup inside, closed door and dropped through ceiling of house by way of attic stairs.

Spent lots of time picking what they wanted.

Hit several houses in the neighborhood before getting caught.

Attic stairways are hard to secure. I have put a lock on one but it would not slow most BG's down.

When I had an attached garage I did have double keyed locks.