For about $25, you can get a deadbolt installation kit with a 1-inch drill bit and a 2⅛-inch hole saw. Start by marking the door edge between 3 inches and 6 inches above the doorknob.

Install a strike box. A strike box strengthens the deadbolt by spreading the impact of a forced entry over a wider area and by helping tie the strike to the 2×4 frame, not just the jamb.

Deadbolt locks are the first line of defense in home security. Here is how to install a deadbolt lock in a steel exterior door for added security.

These are easy to install in about 30 minutes. Typical doors with a large round hole through them, that you see at most home center stores, are precut for cylindrical locksets.

The lock’s spindle bar should slide through the center hole of your deadbolt assembly (between the two now-empty screw holes). Now the exterior portion is in place.

Follow the directions on your deadbolt to install it, measuring to line it up with your template. It helps to drill the hole for the lock cylinder first, then drill your hole in the side of the door.