What type of locks do we need?

[Sherriyousmelldifferent]

We have a door that goes from our driveway to the garden- currently this can only be locked and unlocked from the garden - I remember thinking this was a pain when dc1 was a baby as he’d fall asleep in his oram, I’d have to leave him by the front door and run into the house and into the garden to unlock the gate so he’d carry on snoozing outside (and in the meantime wake up) so I think I want to change the lock so it can be opened from the front.. however would the original owners have done it this way for security reasons? Do we just want t dead lock so it locks when it closes and can be opened from the back and unlocked from the from the front like a front door? Or do we want a lock that can be locked/unlocked both ways?

From the garden you enter a utility room through a back door which has 3 internal locks. My nephew managed to lock us all out once which has scared me- should we change it so it can only be locked from the outside and remove any internal locks from childs reach?

I would have a mortise lock. One where the door is open unless you lock it and a key operates it from both sides. Place it out of a child’s reach - up high! I wouldn’t have a garden door that locks when it shuts. We have mortise locks on all our external doors so we have to physically lock them. Keys on all car key rings!

Put a high up bolt across the garden side of the gate too if you wish. Then you can bolt it shut if DC is in the garden without needing a key.

is it a gate? Or an external door on a house? Or an internal door?

Is it wood or plastic?

Does it have glass or a letter box in or beside it?

How thick is it?

THAnks bubbles- good advice

Piglet- between driveway and garden it’s a thick wooden door, no glass or letter box. Then the backdoor takes you into the house from the garden, it’s a wooden door - no letter box but about 1/3 glass panel at the top

We have something like this on our 6ft gate. Didn't stop a yodel guy delivering a parcel outside our back door. It's round the corner so couldn't have flung it.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01D8JC700/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_lZmpBbABB3MNA?tag=mumsnetforum-21

If you want to be able to lock and unlock it from either side, a mortice lock will be suitable. Unless you are good with a chisel, try to find a chippy to fit it. The stile of the door (the vertical pieces of wood at each side) needs to be about 44mm thick (or more). This is the same as an ordinary front door.

I am very fond of the older Chubb mortice locks. The levers and bolt are brass, and the springs are bronze, so the working parts are rustproof. The case of the older models is thick steel so lasts well. You can usually get one on ebay for £10 or less including several keys. The case of these is painted light grey the model numbers of these begin "3G..." The reason there are so many being sold second-hand is that they easily last 50 years, and people have them spare when they change their front door. Cheaper locks will not last outdoors.

If it is too thin for a mortice lock, you can use a Rimlock which is screwed to the face of the door (on the inside). Most of these are sold for sheds and are flimsy rubbish. However you can get a FB Rimlock (which is a grade used for doors that the Fire Brigade can open with a master key) and these are quite sturdy. Locksmiths and ebay have them.

Some good rimlocks, like the Marston and Wellington, can be opened only from the outside (these are used on Utility Cabins, e.g. electricity substations and gas cabins) so would not suit you.

You can also fit a Yale-like rimlatch. However this will lock automatically when the door swings shut, and can be opened (e.g. after climbing over the gate, or with a piece of string or plastic) without a key. They are also fairly easy to force open by barging or kicking the door.

If you have small children, you can put a bolt on the inside at the top, where an adult can reach it by putting their hand over the gate. This is obviously not secure.

p.s.

The back door has glass in it, so you should assume that a burglar will be willing to break the glass and put his arm through.

If it's a wooden door, a mortice deadlock or Sashlock in the centre will be suitable. Usually a mortice bolt top and bottom to supplement it will be suitable. Because of the glass you must take the keys out when you lock it. You can put them on a cup-hook out of children's reach, and out of sight or reach of anyone at the window, but where you can easily get them without being tempted to leave them in the keyhole.

However, if you want to be sure you can open it from outside with a key, you can also fit two mortice locks, suited to the same key, one about 1/3rd up from the bottom and one about 1/3rd down from the top, instead of the mortice bolts. These will resist kick and shoulder attacks respectively. The red-cased British Standard lock made by Union is good value. Proper locksmiths will sell you a pair suited to the same key, it will cost about £15 to £20 extra (may vary). To fit a mortice lock to a house door you certainly need a professional chippy. Nobody else will do it better. A local locksmith can do it as well, but probably charge more. may offer a deal if you buy your locks there.

You can also but cylinder "Eurolocks." Almost invariably these do not meet the British Standard 3621 for Thief-Resistant locks, and they have several well-known weaknesses.

Plastic doors can very rarely be fitted with BS 3621 locks. but if you have plastic doors your insurers will usually accept the factory-suppled lock.

Thanks piglet! You know a lot about locks!