Home Home Step Up Your Home’s Safety with the Right Door Lock

Step Up Your Home’s Safety with the Right Door Lock

Door locking mechanisms have been part of our lives for centuries since all of us value our personal belongings as well as our family’s protection and safety. But choosing a proper locking device to ensure your home’s security and your own peace of mind is not an easy task at all, especially when you get hit with the huge range of choices once you decide to visit your closest home hardware supplier. This is why we put together a couple of tips to help you choose the right option for your home.

Types of Door Locks

door-lock

Source: Elawtalk

Before you decide to explore the huge range of door locks on the market and get something that isn’t suitable for your front door, it’s very important to get to know the different types.

Mortise Locks

Mortise locks are one of the most secure types of traditional locks used on front doors. This type of lock is threaded, featuring a lockset internal system that can accommodate either knobs or levers with cylindrical bodies. The lockbox is set inside the deep recess at the edge of the door which is commonly referred to as a mortise.

If you’re wondering why mortise locks are considered one of the most secure types, it’s because they use a set screw and a cam that create the locking mechanism. Also, the cylindrical component inside comes in many different lengths and heights so it can match different types of doors.

Deadbolt Locks

deadbolt

Source: yourhomesecuritywatch.com

Deadbolt locks for doors are also considered one of the most secure types since they feature a unique locking mechanism that is able to resist physical attacks, any type of battering and can’t be opened with a knife or any other tool. This is due to lock bolts being moved by turning a knob or a key, without using the typical lock spring mechanism.

But there are two different types of deadbolt locks, depending on the type of your door- single and double cylinder ones. Single-cylinder deadbolts work with a very simple mechanism that consists of a keyhole on the outside and a lever or a turning latch on the inside, so you can always lock and unlock it from the inside. This mechanism also comes in its version that can be operated from the inside only.

On the other hand, double cylinder deadbolt locks work with a keyhole on both sides of the door. Even though this might seem like the most secure solution, know that not having your key at hand can cause you trouble if you need to escape in emergencies.

Knob Locks

Knob locks are the most common mechanism a lot of homeowners rely on. But know that as much as they can be the perfect locking mechanism for your internal doors, they aren’t recommended for front or any type of external doors at all, since they consist of a cylinder that is located inside the knob instead of the door. This makes knob locks very easy to break with the most basic tools such as hammers or wrenches and become an easy target for burglars and other intruders.

Cam Locks

cam lock

Source: Urban Boatbuilders

As their name suggests, cam locks use “cams” to create the locking mechanism. In fact, this type of lock is considered a kind of fastener and they’re commonly used in cabinets and different furniture. This is due to cam locks being cylindrical and working through a metal tube with a hole that helps the bolt take a position once it’s inserted.

Padlocks

Padlocks are a free-standing type of lock since they aren’t permanently attached to the door but they’re completely portable. They’re contained of a shouldered shackle which is the part where the padlock shoulders raise the sides to inhibit the bolt cutters from cutting through it. And exactly this looped-handle shackle shape and their portability make them one of the most unique types of locks out there.

Electronic Locks

Electronic locks are a modern type of door locking mechanism that is considered very secure, unlike some traditional types we mentioned before. They contain a keypad that allows you to program PIN codes and conveniently unlock the door without using a key, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t be operated with a key. For this purpose, they can either contain a deadbolt or a simple knob locking mechanism.

Smart Locks

smart_lock

Source: The Verge

Smart locks became the most revolutionary invention worldwide and proved to us once again that technology is used to help and ease people’s lives. They consist of Bluetooth of WiFi systems, and once they’re connected your door will be able to offer remote control, voice control, access logs, geofencing and many other smart features.

But have in mind that such smart features and software installed in your front door can cost you a real fortune, and aside from that, the system will stop working if it suddenly loses the connection, and are also prone to digital attacks.

Popular Door Lock Materials

Door lock mechanisms can be made of a plethora of different materials, but truth to be told, some of them are stronger and better than others. For this purpose, know that there’re some standard metals that are widely used by manufacturers to produce the most robust and durable locks. For instance, the inner structure of the lock is commonly made of iron, the outer shells are mostly made of steel or stainless steel while the lock core or the cylinder can be mostly found made of copper metals.

Choose the Perfect Design

Having the most secure door lock doesn’t mean that you should compensate for your home design since manufacturers nowadays produce these locks to secure and beautifully accessorise your home at the same time.

So, if you were about to get a couple of new locks for your home, know that you can find them in a huge range of colours, styles and designs – from the contemporary matte black and greys, classic silvers and golds to the traditional rustic and copper designs. So, feel free to unleash your inner designer and choose the option that perfectly suits your front door and your overall home design.