Top 5 Lock Upgrade Mistakes Toronto Homeowners

(And How to Avoid Them With Real GTA Examples) You’ve invested in your home, and keeping it secure should be at the top of your priority list. But every week across Toronto—from Leslieville to Etobicoke—we meet homeowners who made lock upgrade mistakes that left them vulnerable to break-ins, lock failures, or just wasted money. Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 lock upgrade mistakes we still see in 2025, with real customer stories from across the GTA to help you avoid the same traps.

Reusing Old Strike Plates With New Locks

Let’s start with the most common and underrated security mistake: replacing a lock but keeping the old strike plate. The strike plate is that small metal plate where the bolt slides into the doorframe. Cheap ones bend. Weak ones snap. The result? The lock gives way under even a mild kick-in attempt.

🔍 True Story:
Last month in Scarborough, a homeowner upgraded her front door lock to a high-security Medeco deadbolt—great lock! But she reused the 15-year-old strike plate. Within a week, someone tried to force the door. The deadbolt held up… but the strike plate didn’t. The doorframe split.

We replaced the strike plate with a heavy-duty one using 3-inch screws into the studs and reinforced the frame with a door latch guard. Problem solved.
Lesson: A strong lock is only as strong as the hardware it connects to.

Useful Advice Before Hiring a Locksmith

Buying Cheap Locks Online (Thinking They're 'Just as Good')

We get it—Amazon and discount online stores make it easy to order a $40 “high-security” lock set with next-day delivery. But the reality is, cheap locks fail. We’ve tested them. Their internal pins are weak, the metal can be drilled in seconds, and many are vulnerable to bumping.

🔍 Real GTA Example:
In Vaughan, a couple bought a shiny “smart lock” from an online marketplace. The brand claimed to be pick-and-bump-proof. But when we got called in for a lockout (they got locked out due to a battery issue), we opened the lock in under a minute—without damaging it.
The twist? Any thief could’ve done the same.

They upgraded on the spot to a Mul-T-Lock smart cylinder, installed by us, and synced it with their app securely.

Lesson: Spend a little more once, and you’ll spend a lot less in the long run.

Ignoring Side, Back, and Basement Entry Points

When most people upgrade their locks, they focus only on the front door. But burglars don’t. In fact, over 50% of break-ins in Toronto happen through side or rear entries—usually with older or lower-quality locks.

🔍 Example from The Beaches:
A homeowner proudly showed us their new keypad lock on the front door—but we noticed their side door had an old brass knob with no deadbolt. We asked, “If you were a thief, which door would you try?” He immediately saw the issue.

We installed a high-security deadbolt and reinforced the frame on that side entry, as well as added motion sensor lights. He thanked us two weeks later—someone had clearly attempted to tamper with that side door, but gave up.

Lesson: Treat your back and side doors with the same respect as your front door.

Choosing Locks That Don’t Match the Door Type

Not every lock fits every door. Storm doors, metal commercial-style doors, and modern oversized entryways all need specific hardware. Installing the wrong type of lock—either by forcing it to fit or compromising on strength—can weaken the door or lead to alignment issues.

🔍 Etobicoke Example:
A client bought a beautiful modern 44” front door and tried to install a basic single-cylinder lock on it. Problem? The alignment kept slipping because the door was slightly heavier and thicker than standard. They thought it was the lock’s fault—it wasn’t. It was a mismatch.

We recommended and installed a multi-point locking system built for oversized doors, ensuring smooth locking at multiple points from top to bottom.

Lesson: Always match the lock to the door—don’t settle for “one-size-fits-all.”

DIY Installations Without Proper Tools or Measurements

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of DIY—unless it’s your home’s first line of defense. Installing a lock slightly off-center, using short screws, or misaligning the deadbolt hole can create a false sense of security. We’ve seen locks that looked fine but barely latched when closed.

🔍 Downtown Toronto Scenario:
A homeowner installed a lock they bought online, but it kept jamming. Turned out the deadbolt hole wasn’t drilled deep enough, so the bolt never fully extended. Worse? The bolt had been ground down to “make it fit.”

We removed the damaged lock, resized the bore properly, and fitted a Grade 1 deadbolt with full bolt extension.

Lesson: It’s not just about installing a lock—it’s about installing it right.

Don’t Make These Mistakes – Call Enterprise Locksmith

At Enterprise Locksmith, we’ve helped thousands of Toronto homeowners avoid costly mistakes, break-ins, and headaches. We’re based right here in the GTA and offer fast, honest, and professional lock upgrades, including:

Deadbolt installations
Smart lock fitting
Reinforced strike plate upgrades
Back and side door lock retrofits
High-security cylinders
Multi-point lock systems for oversized doors

If you’re unsure about your home’s security or have even a single lock you don’t trust, call us today. We’ll inspect it, show you the weak spots, and offer real solutions—no upselling, no shortcuts.

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