Why Secondary Entrances Are Often the Weakest Point in Gilbert Homes
Side doors and back entrances tend to get less foot traffic, which means problems go unnoticed longer. A worn lock, a loose strike plate, or a door frame that has shifted from Arizona’s heat and soil movement can all create real vulnerabilities. Many Gilbert homes also have RV gates or side yard access points that connect directly to the backyard and, in some cases, to a rear door or sliding entry. When these areas are left with basic hardware, they become the path of least resistance.
Gilbert has grown quickly over the past two decades, and many neighborhoods feature homes with attached garages and interior garage entry doors. That interior door is a secondary entrance and deserves a solid deadbolt just like any exterior door. A residential locksmith can assess all of your home’s entry points and identify where hardware upgrades are most needed.
What Locks Should You Use on Side and Rear Doors?
The same lock grades that apply to front doors apply here. An ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt is the standard recommendation for any exterior door, including side entries and garage doors leading into the home. Grade 2 hardware is common in new construction but offers less resistance to forced entry. Common signs your side door hardware needs upgrading include:
- Only a knob lock with no deadbolt installed
- A Grade 3 deadbolt that came with the original construction
- Visible wear, rust, or looseness in the lock cylinder
- A door that does not sit flush in the frame when closed
For homeowners who want added convenience without sacrificing security, smart locks are a practical option for secondary entrances. A keypad or app-controlled lock on a side door lets you grant temporary access to a contractor or housekeeper without cutting a spare key that could be copied. It also lets you check whether the door is locked from your phone, which is useful for entrances that are easy to forget.
How Can You Reinforce the Door Frame and Strike Plate?
Even a quality deadbolt can fail if the door frame around it is weak. Standard residential strike plates are typically held in place with short screws that only reach the door casing, not the structural framing behind it. Replacing those screws with three-inch versions that anchor into the stud gives the strike plate significantly more holding strength. This is one of the most cost-effective security upgrades available for any door.
Door frames on side entrances are also more likely to show wear from weather exposure. Gilbert’s climate puts real stress on exterior wood and composite frames over time, and a frame that has swelled, cracked, or shifted may not hold hardware the way it should. A professional lock installation includes checking that the door and frame are properly aligned and that hardware is seated correctly for maximum effectiveness.
Should You Rekey Side Door Locks When Moving Into a Gilbert Home?
Yes, and this applies to every keyed entry in the house. When you move into a previously owned home, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the original keys exist or who has them. Previous owners, contractors, neighbors, or real estate agents may all have had access at some point. Rekeying changes the internal pins of the lock cylinder so that only your new keys will work, without requiring full lock replacement.
One Gilbert homeowner who recently moved hired Anderson Lock & Safe to rekey their entire new home and described us as a company “highly trusted around the valley for decades.” Lock rekeying is a straightforward service that covers all entry points, including side doors and garage entries that are easy to overlook.
Are There Additional Security Options for Side Gates and Exterior Access Points?
Side yard gates and RV access points are common features in Gilbert homes, and they often have basic padlocks or simple latches that offer minimal resistance. Upgrading to a quality padlock with a hardened shackle, or adding a dedicated gate lock with a deadbolt-style mechanism, improves the barrier significantly. For homeowners who want a more integrated solution, access control systems can extend keypad or credential-based entry to exterior gates, keeping your entire perimeter consistent.
A few additional steps that support side entrance security:
- Install motion-activated lighting along side yards and rear pathways
- Keep vegetation trimmed so entry points remain visible
- Make sure gate hardware is rated for exterior use and weather exposure
Securing Every Entry Point in Your Gilbert Home
Side doors, garage entries, rear doors, and yard gates all deserve quality hardware, proper installation, and regular attention. The goal is to make sure there is no easy path into your home, regardless of which direction someone approaches from.
Anderson Lock & Safe has been helping Gilbert and Valley homeowners secure their properties since 1966. We are a family-owned company built on honesty, dependability, and doing the job right. Whether you need a full security assessment, lock upgrades, rekeying, or smart lock installation, we are here to help. Contact our Gilbert locksmith team today or reach out online to schedule service and get a free quote.