Last updated: February 2026
You moved into your Stuart home, changed the locks once, and figured you were covered. Then you heard about a break-in two streets over near Salerno Road and suddenly that builder-grade deadbolt feels a lot less reassuring. We get that call constantly. Stuart Locksmiths has performed over 1,400 residential security upgrades across Martin County, and the pattern is always the same: people wait until something almost happens before they act.
Home security upgrades in Stuart, FL typically run $75 to $450 per door, depending on what you're replacing and what grade of hardware goes in. A full-home upgrade covering 3 entry points with high-security deadbolts, reinforced strikes, and smart lock installation usually lands between $350 and $850 total. Most jobs take 2 to 4 hours. Same-day appointments are available 7 days a week.
Why Stuart Homes Need a Real Security Assessment
Stuart sits at a crossroads. The waterfront areas east of US-1 and the neighborhoods pushing toward Kanner Highway see very different crime profiles. Coastal communities get opportunistic theft during tourist season. The western corridors near Indian Street see more residential burglaries tied to vacant properties. Neither type of crime cares about a $15 Kwikset.
Florida's humidity is also a security issue most people overlook. Salt air off the St. Lucie River corrodes standard lock cylinders in 18 to 24 months. When a lock cylinder corrodes, it doesn't just get stiff. It becomes pickable in under 60 seconds because the internal tolerances loosen. A Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA-rated deadbolt with a corrosion-resistant finish lasts 3 to 5 times longer in our coastal climate. That matters here specifically, not just in general.
Our Residential Locksmith services cover every entry point on your property, not just the front door. The back slider, the door from the garage, the side gate, the shed. Burglars know homeowners fixate on front doors. So they go around back.
What a Home Security Upgrade Actually Includes
This isn't just swapping one lock for another. A proper upgrade addresses every failure point a burglar would target. Here's what Stuart Locksmiths evaluates and upgrades on every job.
- Deadbolt quality and grade. Most homes have Grade 3 locks. We install Grade 1 deadbolts rated for 250,000 open-close cycles and 10 kick-in attempts per ANSI standards.
- Strike plate and framing. The lock is only as strong as what it's anchored to. Standard strike plates use 3/4-inch screws into the door jamb. We install heavy-duty steel strike plates with 3-inch screws that bite into the structural framing. This single upgrade can increase kick resistance by over 200%.
- Door frame and hinge reinforcement. Hinge bolts and door frame wraps prevent hinge-side attacks, which most homeowners don't think about at all.
- Smart lock integration. Keypad, fingerprint, or app-based access on existing doors. No keys to copy or lose.
- Sliding door locks and security bars. Glass sliders are a common entry point in Stuart waterfront homes. We install secondary locks and Charlie bars that don't require replacing the door hardware.
- Rekey of existing locks. If your hardware is solid but you want to change who has access, Lock Rekey Service costs far less than full replacement.
Home Security Upgrade Pricing in Stuart, FL
Every job is different, but here's the honest range of what people pay at Stuart Locksmiths. These are all-in prices including parts and labor, no hidden service call fees.
| Upgrade Type | Price Range | Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Single deadbolt upgrade (Grade 1 ANSI) | $75 - $150 | 30-45 minutes |
| Smart lock installation (per door) | $150 - $280 | 45-90 minutes |
| High-security lock upgrade (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) | $200 - $450 | 60-90 minutes |
| Full home security package (3+ entry points) | $350 - $850 | 2-4 hours |
Pricing fluctuates based on door prep work needed, hardware brand, and whether existing hardware can be salvaged. We quote before we work. Always.
Burglary Statistics That Should Concern Stuart Homeowners
Numbers put this in perspective fast.
| Statistic | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential burglaries involving forced entry | 56.7% of all burglaries | (Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report) |
| Average time to complete a break-in | 60 seconds or less | (Source: ALOA Security Professionals Association) |
| Homes without deadbolts vs. with: relative break-in risk | 2.7x higher risk without | (Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics) |
| Average loss per residential burglary | $2,661 | (Source: FBI UCR) |
A full home security upgrade at $600 versus a $2,661 average loss. The math isn't complicated. And that's before factoring in the psychological cost of feeling unsafe in your own home.
Our Process for Home Security Upgrades
- Walk-through assessment. We start outside. Our technician checks every entry point including garage doors, gates, and sliders. Most homeowners discover 2 to 3 vulnerabilities they didn't know they had.
- Written quote by entry point. You get a clear breakdown of cost per door before any work starts. You decide what gets done and in what order. No pressure.
- Hardware selection. We carry Grade 1 deadbolts, Schlage, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and several smart lock lines in the truck. You pick based on your budget and preference. We advise based on your actual risk profile, not upsell potential.
- Installation and testing. Every lock gets tested 10+ times before we pack up. Strike plates get torqued properly. Smart locks get synced and app-configured on-site.
- Key management and documentation. You get every key, know every code, and have documentation of what hardware was installed. No loose ends.
Why Choose Stuart Locksmiths for Your Home Security Upgrade
There are a few locksmiths working Martin County. Here's what actually separates Stuart Locksmiths from the rest of them.
- Licensed and insured in Florida. Every technician holds a current Florida Locksmith License. Not every locksmith you'll find online can say that. Check before you hire anyone.
- Over 1,400 residential jobs completed in Stuart and surrounding areas. We've worked in Sewalls Point estates, Jensen Beach condos, Palm City subdivisions, and everything in between. Local experience is real experience.
- We stock hardware, we don't order it. No waiting 3 days for parts. Our vans carry Grade 1 deadbolts, smart locks, and high-security cylinders ready to install today.
- Honest assessments. If your current locks are actually fine and a rekey is all you need, we'll tell you. We're not going to recommend a $400 upgrade when $80 solves the problem.
- We serve all of Martin County. Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, and beyond. One call covers your whole area.
Considering adding smart access to your home? Our Smart Lock Installation and High-Security Lock Installation pages go deep on specific products and what they're actually worth at different price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my current locks are actually good enough?
Check the manufacturer name and look up its ANSI/BHMA grade. Grade 1 is residential best. Grade 2 is mid-range. Grade 3, which covers most builder-installed hardware, offers minimal real-world protection. If you can't find a grade rating, assume it's Grade 3 or worse. Our technicians can assess this on-site in about 10 minutes at no charge.
What's the most important single upgrade I can make to my Stuart home?
Strike plate replacement. Most homes have a 2-screw strike plate with 3/4-inch screws going into the door jamb, not the structural framing. A single kick at 100 lbs of force splits that jamb. A heavy-duty steel strike with 3-inch screws costs about $20 in parts and completely changes the equation. It's the highest-value upgrade per dollar we install.
How long does a full home security upgrade take in Stuart?
A single door takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on what's going in. A full home package covering 3 entry points typically runs 2 to 4 hours. We schedule a window and show up on time. If you need to be somewhere by noon, tell us and we'll plan accordingly.
Do I need to replace my locks or just rekey them?
If your hardware is Grade 1 and in good physical condition, rekeying makes complete sense. It costs $20 to $50 per lock versus $75 to $150 for replacement. If your locks are corroded, wobbly, or are builder-grade Grade 3 hardware, replacement is the better call. We'll tell you honestly which situation you're in.
Can you upgrade the locks on my sliding glass door?
Yes. Sliding doors are one of the most common entry points in Stuart waterfront homes. We install secondary bolt locks, security bars, and anti-lift pins that prevent the door from being popped off the track. These upgrades don't require replacing the door or its existing hardware in most cases.
Will high-security locks still work during a hurricane or power outage?
Mechanical deadbolts work completely independent of power. Smart locks with battery backup typically provide 4 to 8 months of normal use per battery set, and most will still operate manually with a physical key even if the battery dies. We'll walk you through backup access options for any smart lock we install.
Are smart locks actually secure, or are they easier to hack than regular locks?
Quality smart locks from brands like Schlage, Yale, and August use AES-128 encryption. They're not meaningfully more vulnerable to digital attack than a traditional lock is to physical attack. The real risk with cheap smart locks is firmware that never gets updated. We only install brands with active security update support, which is a question worth asking any installer.
How does salt air in Stuart affect my door locks?
Salt air accelerates corrosion of both the exterior lock casing and the internal pin stack. Corroded pins create loose tolerances that make picking and bumping much easier. In Stuart's coastal environment, standard locks degrade meaningfully within 18 to 24 months. Marine-grade or corrosion-resistant finishes like satin nickel or stainless are worth the small price premium here.
What's the difference between a security upgrade and just changing my locks?
A lock change swaps the hardware on one door. A security upgrade looks at the whole picture: lock grade, strike plate strength, door frame integrity, hinge vulnerability, secondary entry points, and access control. A $150 deadbolt on a weak frame with a cheap strike plate is still a weak door. The upgrade addresses the system, not just the part you