New locks for Washington County homes and property

Installing locks for town and country

Lock installation in Washington County, VA spans a wide range: a new deadbolt for a family home in Abingdon, heavier hardware for a hunting cabin up toward Clinch Mountain that sits empty most of the year, a gate lock at the entrance to a farm lane outside Glade Spring. A locksmith can match the hardware to the job and fit it so it actually holds, rather than just looking the part.

Mountain cabins nobody checks for weeks

A camp or cabin in the mountains may go weeks without anyone driving up to look at it. Solid deadbolts on every exterior door, reinforced strikes screwed deep into the framing, and a sturdy lock or bar on any sliding door make it much harder to break into. Because a break-in may not be discovered for a while, it also pays to keep valuables out of sight from the windows and to ask a neighbor down the road to keep an eye on the drive.

Barns, sheds and farm gates

Equipment, tools and ATVs often sit in outbuildings closed with light-duty hasps that come off with a pry bar. A heavier hasp, a shrouded padlock that resists bolt cutters, or a proper deadbolt on a walk-in door gives much better protection. For a road gate, a padlock with a hardened shackle and a chain that can't be slipped over the post are worth the extra cost. Keep outdoor locks lubricated with a lock-specific product so they don't rust shut.

Historic Abingdon homes

Older homes in and around Abingdon's historic district often have thick wooden doors and frames that don't match modern hardware sizes. A locksmith can adapt new locks to fit without chewing up original woodwork. If you plan visible exterior changes in the historic district, check with the Town of Abingdon first.

Choosing the grade

ANSI/BHMA grades rate lock durability: Grade 1 is heaviest duty, Grade 2 suits most homes, Grade 3 is basic. For an unoccupied cabin or a door that gets hard use, lean toward a higher grade. On a farmhouse where the side door off the mudroom is the one everybody actually uses, that door deserves the best lock on the house, not the leftovers.

Need something else in Washington County?

See everything on the Washington County locksmith page, or browse Virginia locksmiths.

Want the background first? Read our guide: Lock Installation & Replacement.