Tell me about front door locks - slightly urgent

[Brugmansia]

We're having a new front door made by a carpenter. We're supplying the locks and he told me yesterday that he is coming to pick them up on Tuesday, which is sooner than we expected so we haven't made any decisions yet. I am doing some hasty research and was wondering if anyone could give me any recommendations of particular locks and places to buy.

I know that Banham are the best there are but they are very expensive. I don't think we need something that good as our front door isn't our weak point security wise. What is there that is still very good, but not quite that expensive?

[allthatglittersisnotgold]

Just make sure along with a yale Five-lever mortice deadlock conforming to BS 3621. Insurance companies often ask if you have those, pretty sure it's the "top" sort of lock.

You can always get 2 of them.

[allthatglittersisnotgold]

sorry.... haste, that should read...alongside a yale i,e lower down the door get a 5 lever as well.

[PigletJohn]

yes, you must have a BS 3621: 2007 deadlock. 5-lever locks have security advantages over locks with a Eurocylinder. 2007 was the date of the most recent ugrade to the standard, and is more secure than older locks. The BS number and date are stamped on the front of locks so you can see it, with the kitemark.

A Which best buy is the red-cased Union which scored better than other locks from prestigous makers at several times the price.

there are examples of BS locks here

Wickes sell a small selection. Their own-brand ones are actually made by ERA and are OK.

As well as a deadlock, i expect you will want a nightlatch. the old-fashioned "Yale" type nightlatch is laughably insecure but is adequate to stop the door blowing open except in strong winds. You can get BS nightlatches which are bigger and more secure. Because nightlatches are intended to be opened from inside without a key, the BS ones have the facility to lock the knob so that once deadlocked, they cannot be opened by reaching through broken glass, or a hole in the door such as a letterbox using a simple home-made tool; nor can they be opened by someone who has climbed in through a window, to make it easier for him to carry away your belongings.

A nightlatch is a useful supplement to a mortice deadlock, but should not be considered a replacement.

You can choose locks and escutcheons in brass; or polished or satin chrome, nickel plate etc to suit your whim.

If you have two locks, one should be positioned a third up from the bottom of the door; and one a third down from the top. Traditionally the nightlatch is at shoulder height and the deadlock at hand height; but I now think it would be more convenient the other way round, unless you have small children and you want the knob out of their reach.

I would also recommend a sturdy doorchain by ERA or Yale. this design is sturdier than most. You may still find old stock with the Chubb brand name in a similar design.

The letter box should be positioned as far as possible from any locks, bolts or chains, especially a nightlatch, and preferably not in the door, but to the hinge side of the doorway.

You will also need three hinges, in brass or stainless to match the door furniture. I recommend lift-off hinges which cost a few pounds more but make future maintenance and repainting much much much easier.

The parts of a door which are in most critical need of protection by painting are the top and bottom. The parts of a door which are most often neglected due to being difficult to get at are the top and bottom.

[PigletJohn]

here are some example nightlatches. Some of them are complete rubbish. Choose a BS one.

Some merchants describe locks as "Insurance" when they mean BS, but always look at the BS number and year. It might be out of date, and your insurers will ask you to confirm that your locks are to currennt standard.

If you have a wooden back doors, it can be an advantage to have the an identical locks or a sashlock fitted, suited to the same key. Then you only have to carry or lose one key. In that case you will have to go to a high-street or mail-order locksmith to have them assembled to order. The extra cost is not great. Buy plenty of spare keys.

All your wooden doors except your Final Exit door should have mortice rack bolts top and bottom to supplement the deadlock