Door hardware like door handles and locks are critical to our safety and impact our quality of life every time we’re struggling to get the door open. Yet many people keep the door hardware that came with their home or office, and they rarely think of replacing or upgrading it unless there is a mechanical failure. What should you look for in door locks? What features matter when it comes to the form and function of door hardware?
Dimensions
There’s no point in buying a door lock that is wider or thicker than the door it is supposed to go into, since it just won’t fit. On the other hand, you don’t want a door lock that’s too small, since a door lock that’s much smaller than the door frame and hollowed out section of the door itself may be hard to secure. Locks that are properly sized for the door may not match the holes cut into the door to hold the lock in place.
Grade
Door locks have grades. These grades measure the durability, strength and mechanics of the lock. Higher grade locks are tougher to pick, harder to kick or break off the door, and may stay in place when someone breaks through the door frame. The grading system for locks also measures the expected life span of the locks. Higher grade locks are expected to last hundreds of thousands of cycles, while low grade locks may last a fraction of that. Low grade locks are fine for your front door if you’re not afraid of it being kicked in. High grade locks are the better choice if security is a major concern or the lock is going to be used multiple times a day. That’s why commercial locks tend to be grade 3, while residential locks are typically grade 1 or grade 2.
Door locks may be built into the door knob, or they may be a separate piece of hardware. The latter is common in deadbolt locks. You can improve the security of your home by having both a keyed lock in the door knob and a second locked deadbolt with a separate key.
The Application
Door locks vary in application. For example, the front door to a home needs a key or other access control device. It should let you in but ideally keep others out. Latches are secondary locks. You find these in hotel rooms or changing rooms. You flip the latch and the door stays shut. It can’t be picked, and you don’t need a key. You don’t want a latch on your front door in most cases, since it means the criminal who gets in ahead of you can lock you out. However, door latches are sometimes installed in high crime areas in addition to conventional door locks. Then you can latch the door shut and keep it shut even if someone picks the lock.
Appearance
Door locks can take on as many styles as the rest of your door hardware. The locks themselves may be built into the door handle or separately installed. You can choose conspicuous lock plates or discrete ones. You can also choose the colour, material and style of door locks. Bronze plates are a harsh contrast to glass or silver coloured doors, but they complement the wood door quite well.