7 Ways to Improve Your Home Security in Garland TX

1. Upgrade to ANSI Grade 1 Deadbolts

Most homes have Grade 3 deadbolts - the cheapest hardware a builder will install, rated for the lowest level of pick and kick resistance under ANSI/BHMA standards. Upgrading to ANSI Grade 1 (brands: Schlage B60N, Kwikset 980) makes your door significantly harder to kick or pick, and it's the single upgrade that shows up most often in break-in prevention research. Cost: $80-$150 per lock installed; high-security cylinders like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock run $150-$300 per lock.

2. Reinforce the Door Frame

The weakest point in most doors isn't the lock - it's the door frame. A standard 1-inch strike plate with 3/4-inch screws will fail under a single solid kick, even with a Grade 1 deadbolt installed above it. A reinforced door frame kit (Door Armor, StrikeMaster II) with 3-inch screws driven into the wall stud, not just the door jamb, makes the frame near-impenetrable to a kick-in attempt. Cost: $30-$100 DIY, or we can install it during a rekey or lock-change visit.

3. Rekey After Moving

When you move into a house, you don't know who has keys. The seller, real estate agent, previous tenants, contractors - all may have copies. Rekeying all exterior locks - typically 3 per Garland home - is a $75-$120 job that gives you complete control over your keys from day one.

4. Add a Smart Lock

Smart locks let you see who enters and when, grant temporary access codes to contractors or a house sitter without cutting physical keys, and lock your door remotely if you forget on the way to work. Paired with Grade 1 hardware underneath, it's a meaningful security upgrade, not just a convenience feature - see our smart lock guide for Texas-specific picks.

5. Secure Sliding Doors

Sliding glass doors are a common entry point because the factory latch alone does very little to resist force. A simple Charlie bar (a metal or wood rod in the track) prevents sliding even if the latch is defeated. For higher security, install a secondary pin lock or auxiliary lock at the top of the door frame, which stops the door from being lifted out of the track entirely - a trick that bypasses the Charlie bar alone.

6. Add Exterior Lighting

Motion-activated lighting deters opportunistic burglars significantly, since most break-ins rely on not being seen. Garland TX backyards and side yards are common blind spots - add one or two lights on motion sensors covering the back door, side gate, and any window not visible from the street, for under $100 in hardware total.

7. Get a Security Assessment

A licensed locksmith can walk through your home and identify weak points in 30-45 minutes - not just locks, but sightlines, lighting gaps, and hardware that looks secure but isn't. GLC Locksmith offers security assessments in Garland TX and surrounding DFW areas, usually as a quick add-on when we're already there for a rekey or lock change.

Frequently Asked Questions