High-Security Locks (Mul-T-Lock/Medeco): Are They Worth the Extra Cost?

Walk into a hardware store, and a deadbolt costs $30. Call me for a Mul-T-Lock, and it might cost $200 installed.

Is it a scam? Are you just paying for a brand name?

Absolutely not. But whether you need it is a different question.

As a locksmith in Houston, I sell both. Here is the honest breakdown of what you are actually paying for.

1. Key Control (The Big One)

Go look at your house key. Does it say "Schlage" or "Kwikset"?

If I take that key to a self-service kiosk at the grocery store, I can copy it in 2 minutes. Anyone you lend your key to (valet, babysitter, contractor) can duplicate it without you knowing.

High-Security keys are patented.

• The blanks are not sold to hardware stores.
• Only authorized locksmiths (like us) have them.
• We require ID and a signature to make a copy.

If you give your employee or house sitter a Mul-T-Lock key, you know for a fact they can't copy it. When you get the key back, your security is intact.

2. Drill and Pick Resistance

A standard $30 lock is made of zinc or soft brass. I can drill through it in about 60 seconds. A skilled thief can bump it open in 10 seconds.

High-security locks use hardened steel inserts and complex pin mechanisms (like sidebars or telescopic pins).

• Drill bits shatter against them.
• Bump keys don't work.
• Picking them requires extreme skill that 99.9% of burglars don't have.

So, Do You Need One?

YES, if:

• You own a business with employee turnover.
• You have expensive assets at home (jewelry, cash, guns).
• Your door has a window (glass) near the lock (you need a double-sided high-security deadbolt so they can't break the glass and turn the thumbturn).

NO, if:

• You live in a standard subdivision and just want basic deterrents.
• Your door frame is weak wood (reinforce the frame first!).
• You are prone to losing keys (high-security keys are expensive to replace).

The Bottom Line

For most residential homes in suburbs like Sugar Land or The Woodlands, a good Grade 1 Schlage deadbolt is sufficient if installed correctly.

But if you want the peace of mind that nobody—and I mean nobody—has a copy of your key, high-security is the only way to go. It's a one-time investment for lifetime control.