Door locks have guarded households since ancient times, even though they weren’t exactly available on a large scale.
Nowadays, they still fulfil that basic human need for personal security, but have increased capabilities meant to provide increased convenience and control.
If you’re about to be a homeowner for the first time, this is the perfect occasion to find out about how locks actually work so that you don’t have to rely on misguided notions about this topic.
The Door Locks Mechanism
Mechanical locks may not seem all that sophisticated, yet one still needs to pay attention in order to understand how the locking process is enabled.
First thing: locks are usually comprised of the following parts:
- The strike plate, which is attached to the frame (of a door, window or other pieces of furniture) through a firmly fixed metal piece and allows the door to hold.
- The mortise, which is the rectangular hole cut into the door. This is where the locking mechanism fits in, allowing the bolt to slide into the hole on the door frame.
- However, what ensures a maximum level of security is an additional element: the set of metal pieces (called wards or tumblers) that allow the lock to be activated only by keys whose slots match this set.
Main Types of Door Locks
Some homeowners want to be absolutely sure they’ve done everything in their power to secure their doors (both the entrance one and the rest), so they use a combination of several types of locks inside their homes.
If you aim to do the same, it’s mandatory that you know the main types of locks so that you can take the best-informed decision:
- deadbolts which can only be moved to the open position by rotating the key – possibly the most familiar door locking solution, these locks have different sizes and features, the main types of deadbolts being the single cylinder bolt, the double cylinder bolt and the thumb turn cylinder bolt (the latter being the most flexible of all because it allows quick unlocking from the inside without a key).
- mortise locks – they differ from rim locks by the fact that they’re not threaded but consist of a plate of metal fixed by mounting bolts.
- Lock cylinders – these come in a variety of types, including euro cylinder and anti snap. Depending on the locking mechanism within, lock cylinders allow for complex key systems. We encourage you to read more about them here.
- rim latch locks – consist of a rim cylinder inside the lock and a latch lock attached to the surface side.
Bonus: An Essential Tip for First-Time Homeowners
Also, if you’re just moving into a new property, it’s important to ensure you are fully aware of who has access to your new place.
It’s likely that the previous owners made spare keys for their friends and family, so consider rekeying your door locks or replacing them with a smart lock alternative. This way, you will feel completely secure in your home.
For your new property to have the maximum level of security, you should always keep in mind that locks are not a ‘set it and forget it’ type of item.
They need constant maintenance work, such as:
- cleaning
- lubrication
- checking lock parts.
If you are looking for reliable, fast locksmithing services in your area, don’t hesitate to look over Lockrite’s services. Also, you can reach out to us by calling: 0800 0612 677 or 07801 733 788.