Wilton Manors is a small city surrounded by Fort Lauderdale, built largely in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s on land bounded by the Middle River. It is compact, walkable by South Florida standards, and full of mid-century homes — many of them beautifully maintained, and many of them still on their original door hardware.
The mid-century core
Most Wilton Manors housing is single-story concrete block construction from the post-war decades, on small lots. A significant share of these homes have been renovated, some extensively.
Locks you will find: Cylindrical knob locks from Schlage and Kwikset were standard when these homes were built, and deadbolts were not. Many houses had a deadbolt added later. On a renovated home, the front door has usually been upgraded while the side or rear door often has not.
Two things to check on a house of this era. Whether the deadbolt throws its full length — a partial throw provides little resistance. And whether the strike plate is anchored with long screws into the framing rather than short screws into the door jamb trim, which pull out easily.
Renovation and infill
Wilton Manors has seen considerable renovation and some new construction, including townhomes and small multi-family buildings.
Locks you will find: Modern hardware on renovated and new construction, deadbolts standard, and on post-2002 builds, impact-rated doors with their own hardware requirements.
Mixed-era hardware within a single house is common here. A 2015 renovation may have put a current lockset on the front door and left a 1956 lock on the back. The house is only as secure as the weakest opening, so a rekey should cover everything, not just the door that was recently updated.
Small lots, close neighbors, and the river
Wilton Manors compact lot pattern means neighbors are close, which is a security advantage. Homes backing onto the Middle River have a waterside exposure with less natural surveillance, and those properties frequently have a rear slider, a gate, and sometimes dock access — all openings that should be included in any rekey.
What we do
- House rekey — every exterior opening, not just the front door.
- Lock change — when hardware is worn, corroded, or damaged.
- Deadbolt installation and strike reinforcement.
- Home lockout — non-destructive entry, identification showing the address required.
- Sliding and patio door locks.
- Mailbox locks — cluster box cylinder replacement.
Call Broward County Locksmith
Broward County Locksmith serves Wilton Manors and the surrounding Broward communities. Licensed and insured. Flat-rate pricing quoted before we dispatch.
Call (954) 888-8800.
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