Get matched with top door pros in Lyons Falls, NY

You should rekey your house every three years to minimize the chances of someone gaining access to your home. You can do it more than that, but it depends on the level of foot traffic and visitors you get. Businesses, for instance, routinely rekey their locks every six months to a year. If you experience a break-in or a house key has gone missing, rekey the locks immediately. The same goes if your lock becomes damaged.

Security experts recommend deadbolt locks as the most secure option for a house's exterior or entry doors. Deadbolts provide the best security because they can prevent most types of forced entry and are harder to lockpick. Common types include the standard single-cylinder deadbolt, which is often found on front doors. For enhanced security, you can opt for a double-cylinder deadbolt, which requires a key to operate from both the inside and the outside.

Most modern door knobs will all fit in standard, modern doors, so if you know your door was made in the last 50 years or so, you should be fine buying a standard replacement door knob. The only exception would be a thumb latch handleset for an exterior door, as this type of door knob may not fit your door without drilling a mounting hole for the bottom of the handle. Antique or custom doors might also have different sizes and knob mounting holes, so call in a professional if you don’t believe your door is a standard one.

The vast majority of hinges are symmetrical, and either side of the hinge can go on the door or the frame. Occasionally, you'll find a hinge specifically made for right or left-handed doors with different attachment hardware or larger plates on one side. In most cases, the large side of the hinge goes on the frame.

It is possible to install hinges backward, so be careful when placing them. Position the hinge so that the hinge pin faces the direction the door will swing. For example, if you're standing on the side the door will open into, the pin should be visible. Be extra careful when installing exterior doors, as placing the hinges on the outside for an outward-facing door makes your home much easier to break into.