A simple guide to Door Locks 

There are a number of locks available on the market and many of them serve different purposes. For example a key lock mechanism that you use on your office or bedroom door for privacy will not be sufficient in securing the front or back doors of your home from intruders. Here we will break down the types of locks available and their purposes so you can make the best possible decision for your home.

Types of doors you may need to secure

Front and Back Door Security

For your front door, you would need to consider locks that offer the highest level of security and technology to prevent burglars from gaining access to your home. Most insurance companies will expect you to have a lock that conforms to British Security Industry certification so that it meets the required security standards.  You can check if your door lock is certified by checking the lock case for a BSI Kitemark. For a front door you would be expected to fit a Euro Cylinder lock, a mortice lock or a rim cylinder lock with a night latch.

1. Euro Cylinder Locks

Euro cylinder locks are the most commonly used front door locks in the UK and Europe. They are barrel shaped and feature a revolving cam with pins (usually 5 or 6) that press against the inserted key. If all of the pins detect the correct pattern in the key, the key can then be rotated to unlock the door.  When replacing your euro cylinder you can simply unscrew your barrel lock, remove it and slide in a new one without having to change your door’s bolt mechanism

2. Mortice Locks

A mortice lock requires a pocket (or mortise) to be cut into the door so that the lock’s case can be fitted. You can buy different types of mortice locks such as deadlocks, sashlocks and euro cylinder sashlocks.

Deadlocks are lock bolts only and do not feature a latch/catch mechanism. When the door is closed, the bolt cannot be thrown without operating the locking mechanism. Therefore if a burglar manages to get into your home using a window, the deadlock will still prevent them from being able to open the door.

Sash locks use a mechanism that includes a deadbolt, a latch and a handle. The latch can be operated with a knob or a handle and the bolt is operated by a key. This allows you to close your door and leave it latched without having to engage the deadbolt. These locks are ideal for back doors as you can leave your door latched if you regularly move from within your house to your garden and then engage the deadbolt at the end of the day when you will no longer need easy access to your garden.

Euro Cylinder sash locks work similarly to regular sash locks with one main difference. The euro cylinder sash lock allows for a euro cylinder barrel lock to be fitted within it.  This allows for a high level of security as the key will not be directly operating the doors bolt. Instead, you will be inserting your key into a euro cylinder lock which will then in turn disengage the bolt. This extra step makes it harder for thieves to access the deadbolt.

3. Night Latch and Rim Cylinder Lock

Night latches work with rim cylinders to provide front door security. The night latch is fixed onto the internal side of the door whilst the rim cylinder is attached externally. When you turn the key in the rim cylinder, it retracts the latch so that the door can be opened. When the door shuts, the latch will re-engage automatically so that the door is back in a locked position. This allows for peace of mind, as you can walk in with your hands full of shopping and the door will automatically lock behind you, leaving barely any time for an intruder to gain access.

Bedroom/Office Doors

You may also want the option of being able to lock your office or bedroom door. For this, you will require a lock that is secure but not particularly as high security as your front or back doors.

1. Sashlock

A sashlock is the most common solution for internal door locking. It is a mortice lock that will need to be installed within the door and can then be used in combination with a locking door handle. You would be able to operate the locking mechanism with a key if you require the door to be locked and when security is not required, the door could be latched allowing other members of your household access to the room

2. Entrance Knob Sets

 These internal door knobs feature a small turn snib on one side for locking the door and a lock and key mechanism on the other side of the door. The locking mechanism can be engaged using the key or from the inside of the room using the snib button. This is the perfect choice if you would like to be able to lock the door from the inside without having to use a key each time.

Cellar/ Attic Doors

We often store things away within our cellar or attic rooms. If you live with children you may want to keep these rooms locked for safety.  The following locks are not high security but grant you the option of keeping the door locked rather than only latched.

1. Sashlock

A sashlock would grant you the option of both security and privacy. This is due to the fact that you would be able to lock the door from the outside and also from within the room.

2. Digital lock

Digital locks are electronic and battery operated. They require you to put in a pin or code rather than a key to operate the locking mechanism.  These locks are handy and convenient as you do not need to carry physical keys with you and you can grant access to anyone you choose without having to be present.

This list is of course not comprehensive but we hope this guide has helped you understand some of the fundamentals of door locks. For a deeper dive into how you can enhance your door security, please visit our blog page and take a peek at the other articles that we have on offer.