Installing a Schlage B62 starts with a safety decision, not a drill. A double cylinder deadbolt needs a key from inside, so confirm your exit plan and local rules before buying or installing one. The exact B62 installation dimensions weren’t confirmed from an approved manufacturer source for this guide, so follow the instructions packaged with your current lock.
What a double cylinder deadbolt is
A double cylinder deadbolt has a keyed cylinder on both sides. You use a key to lock or unlock it from outside. You also need a key to operate it from inside.
That interior cylinder is the defining feature. A typical single-cylinder layout has a keyed exterior and an inside thumbturn. The double-cylinder design replaces that thumbturn with another keyed side.
If the Schlage B62 package you’re considering says “double cylinder,” treat the inside key requirement as the main buying issue. Don’t rely only on an online listing or shelf label. Match the model number on the box, the lock, and the included instructions before starting.
“Keyed both sides” also doesn’t confirm every detail about key matching. We couldn’t verify from an approved manufacturer source whether every current B62 package uses one matching key for both cylinders. Check the package’s keying information or ask the seller before purchase. A licensed locksmith can also inspect the exact hardware.
Don’t borrow measurements from a Schlage B60 guide. The approved information available for this site covers the B60, not B62 installation dimensions. Door thickness, hole preparation, latch positioning, and included parts should all be checked against the current B62 instructions.
If those instructions are missing, pause the project. Get the correct guide for the exact model and package revision. A professional handling deadbolt installation can compare the hardware with your existing door preparation before making permanent changes.
Why people want one
The usual concern is glass near the lock. Many San Diego entries have a glass panel in the door or a sidelight beside it. A homeowner may worry that someone could reach an interior thumbturn after breaking the glass.
A keyed interior removes that thumbturn from the setup. That explains the appeal, but it doesn’t settle whether the lock belongs on that door. The same feature that changes interior operation also changes how people leave.
Start with the actual entry, not the product name. Note where the glass sits, which door occupants normally use, and whether another required exit depends on the same key. Include children, older relatives, guests, tenants, and anyone who may not know where the key is stored.
San Diego’s housing stock makes that inspection especially useful. About 49.6% of homes in the city of San Diego were built before 1978. That figure doesn’t tell you how any specific door is prepared. It does show why a package label can’t replace an inspection of the existing opening.
Current B62 pricing wasn’t confirmed from an approved source for this guide. Confirm the price, included components, keying arrangement, and return terms with the seller before paying. Don’t use a Canadian retailer result as a San Diego price.
If the door or existing lock is damaged, compare installation with full lock replacement. The professional should explain what fits the current opening and what changes would be needed.
The egress problem nobody mentions at the store
A keyed-both-sides deadbolt needs a key to get out. During smoke, darkness, or panic, that extra step can matter. The key must be available, recognizable, and usable by whoever reaches the door.
This guide can’t confirm that a Schlage B62 is permitted on your particular exit. No applicable California building or fire-code section was verified from an opened primary source for this page. Local rules govern required exits, and the answer can depend on the address and door.
Before installation, contact the building department or fire authority serving the property. San Diego County includes many separate cities and communities. Start with the authority for the actual address, whether it’s in San Diego, Chula Vista, National City, El Cajon, Encinitas, or elsewhere in the county.
Describe the situation precisely. Say that you’re considering a double cylinder deadbolt with an interior keyed cylinder. Identify the door’s location and ask whether it serves as a required exit. If the property is rented, managed, or part of a shared building, ask the responsible property representative before changing the hardware.
Don’t accept a general store answer as approval for your doorway. Retail availability doesn’t confirm local acceptance. An installer’s familiarity with the product also doesn’t replace an answer from the authority responsible for that address.
If a professional will install the lock, verify the company or individual through the California Department of Consumer Affairs license search. California locksmith licensing is handled by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, not the contractors board. Swift Key San Diego is a referral service and doesn’t perform the installation itself.
Where a single cylinder plus better glazing wins
A single-cylinder setup avoids the keyed-inside exit condition. The inside thumbturn can operate without finding a key. For many households, that difference deserves more weight than the appeal of a second keyed cylinder.
If nearby glass started the B62 search, consider addressing the glass separately. Ask a qualified door or window professional to evaluate the panel, frame, and available glazing options. This guide can’t promise that any particular glass product will prevent entry. The goal is to avoid making an exit harder without first examining the original concern.
Look at the whole doorway. A deadbolt is only one component. The door, frame, strike area, hinges, glass, and daily locking habits all affect the decision. Our guide to improving front-door security offers a broader way to review the entry without treating one lock as the complete answer.
Lock grades can also appear in product comparisons. Don’t treat a published grade as a resistance time, burglary rating, or guarantee. The standard sets test criteria, but those figures haven’t been verified for publication here. Read what Grade 1 means when choosing a deadbolt before comparing labels.
The better choice is the one that fits the door, the people using it, and the local egress decision. If a keyed interior would create confusion or delay, stop before installation and discuss another configuration.
Questions to ask before you buy or install
Begin with the exit question: Is this door a required exit, and which local authority can confirm the rule? Get that answer for the property address. Don’t copy an answer from a forum, another city, or a different building type.
Next, check the exact hardware. Is the package marked Schlage B62 and double cylinder? Does the model on the instruction sheet match the box? Does the sheet list your door’s thickness and existing hole preparation as compatible? Are every required component and key present?
Ask the seller how the two cylinders are keyed. “Double sided deadbolt” describes keyed operation on each side, but it isn’t enough information for this specific package. If you want both sides operated by the same key, request written confirmation for the item you’re buying.
Then inspect how people use the doorway. Who needs to leave through it? Would a guest recognize the interior cylinder? Could a child or older adult operate the key? What happens if the key gets moved? These aren’t code answers. They’re practical checks created by the lock’s inside-key requirement.
Ask whether installation requires changes to the door or frame. Don’t drill, widen holes, or alter the strike area until the current B62 guide confirms the preparation. If the existing door doesn’t match, let a licensed locksmith explain the available installation or replacement options.
Finally, confirm who will perform the work and who stands behind it. Swift Key San Diego matches callers with licensed, independent local locksmiths. The customer contracts with and pays that professional directly. The brand doesn’t install locks, set prices, or issue warranties.
A careful installer should be able to identify the exact model, review the opening, and explain the proposed work. Local building or fire officials remain the right source for the egress decision.
When to call us
Call when the B62 instructions don’t match your door, the opening needs modification, or you want a licensed professional to compare deadbolt options. Call us at (858) 400-4082 and we’ll connect you with a licensed local locksmith.