Hal Major © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
The condition and quality of your exterior doors and their locks are the primary ingredients to a safe and secure home. The information presented will help you decide which type of lockset you need. Locksets can range anywhere from under $20.00 for an interior door, to several hundred dollars for high security exterior doors.
Exterior Entry Locksets
Let�s first define what a lockset is. These locks are built into the door handle. They require a key to open them from the outside. The lock is controlled with a button or knob on the inside of the door. These are the least secure entry door locks you can have. Although there are many different styles and grades, they have a very short bolt that engages the striker plate mounted on the doorframe and use a single-cylinder style lock.
Mortise Locks
Mortise locks provide more security than the average cylinder locksets. The entire lock is fitted into the thickness of door making it more difficult to force open. They use a cylinder lock although there are lever varieties available. Mortise locks usually require professional installation because the door can be ruined if a person isn�t careful or doesn�t have the correct tools.
Cylinder Locks
Cylinder locks use a locking technique called pins and tumbler. If you look at a house key you�ll see the notches cut into it. These notches must be perfectly aligned with the pins in the tumbler. The notches must also be the right depth to lift the pins to the correct height to unlock the cylinder.
Rim Locks
Rim locks are no longer used in modern homes and buildings. Do remember the �skeleton� keys at your grandma�s house? Those were the keys with the long shaft and a couple of tabs and grooves on the end of it. Those keys fit a rim lock. Rim locks are stilled made today for the restoration of historic homes and are handmade and expense.
Basic Padlock
The term padlock refers to a variety of different types of lock. The basic padlock is thought of has having the inverted u-shaped shackle. The quality of padlocks varies greatly based on the complexity of the key or combination system, the design used, the quality and type of material used and the quality of the machining.
Double-Cylinder Deadbolt
A double-cylinder deadbolt is a cylinder lock that requires and key to open it from either side. They have a longer bolt that fits into the doorjamb that makes it more difficult to pry a door open. A double-cylinder deadbolt is an excellent choice for exterior doors with glass windows. If the burglar breaks the glass to open the door with the inside doorknob they will still need the key to open the deadbolt.
Bump Keys
If you�ve never heard this term, you should know what these are and how they work. A bump key is a tool that thieves use to �open� almost any door lock to gain unlawful entry to a home. These tools are widely available and very popular in the world of crime. Read
this article for more information about �bump keys� and how to prevent becoming a victim of a �bump key� crime.
To find out what the professionals recommend for securing your home and the latest information related to phony locksmith operations, visit The
Associated Locksmiths of America When it comes to protecting your home, always hire a reputable, licensed locksmith.
