Which lock to choose for the front door
Today, for many people, changing the front door, increasingly prefer metal products. They are more reliable and sturdy, and will last without failure for much longer.
The metal door itself is a good protector of the home and a barrier to intruders, but what would it have been without a reliable lock. Of course, to enter the premises and may be in the bypass shut-off system, but, as a rule, very noisy and long time, so choosing which lock is best for doors, you should carefully examine all that is presented on the market and choose something that will meet all the requirements.
Unfortunately, the ideal locking mechanism has not yet been invented, and a professional thief is able to penetrate into any door, so the locks for entrance doors, should not deter the offender, and to complicate his task and win time.
Combination lock ↑
The combination lock on the front door – a device familiar to many. Its main difference from competitors is that it has no key, and thus it is impossible to lose. If to speak about the protection of the home, it is the weakest of all constipation, speech about which will go below.
Such devices are more suitable for doors at the entrance, where there is constant high throughput and it makes no sense to install protection. By the way, attackers quickly learned how to open combination locks basic selection of code combinations or careful study of buttons, which after constant use remain obvious fingerprints and abrasion.
Not true to set such a lock and as an extra, so as to open the main will still need the key, which means that the combination mechanism just does not make sense.
Disadvantages code locks ↑
- A very weak beam system not designed for full protection from hacking and basic extruding.
- The ease of opening even without professional skills.
- Some complexity in the installation for which you will have to cut a significant hole on the outside doors, many of which are manufacturers of coated polymer paint, and they in turn burn when cutting metal, and refurbish the damage will be already impossible.
Electronic lock ↑
The electronic lock on the front door, ideal if there’s a remote eye. The opening happens from the inside with a simple push button, which actuates the electromagnet and the lock opens. But outside, it acts as a simple lock and opens with a key.
Most often, Electromechanical lock installed on entrance doors in large buildings, where in order to open the door to the guest will have to overcome considerable distance. If we talk about the protective properties of these castles, to entrust to them the safety of the home is not necessary, as manufacturers make more emphasis on usability than on the implementation of additional protective functions.
But, as additional constipation, Electromechanical lock is the ideal choice. They can use it during the day while someone is at home, and leaving home, to entrust the protection of more resistant to locks or security systems.
Disadvantages of Electromechanical locks ↑
- The low degree of protection against opening, cracking, and key selection.
- The complexity of the installation, which includes not only the installation of the castle itself, but also the wiring to the desired location.
- When you disable a light, lock function is also disabled, and open it will have a key both outside and inside.
The lock on the electromagnet ↑
Locks for doors equipped with an electromagnet, the people most often referred to simply as intercom. And place them mainly on the entrance door or vestibule.
A feature of these locks is that the key becomes a special magnet called touch memory. Each key has its own schema that is identical to the one built into the lock, the mechanism opens with a simple touch of a key to the lock.
The problem is, that the scheme of the opening is not as diverse as I would like, so attackers may stock up on different models of keys and calmly and quietly open any door.
In addition, the masters is installing magnetic locks on the front door, there is a universal key that automatically selects the codes and, accordingly, opens any door. It is easy to guess that professional thieves have long been stocked with such keys, so these locks for them, not a barrier.
Disadvantages of electromagnetic locks ↑
- Low resistance to cracking.
- The opportunity to pick up a magnetic key, even if not universal.
- The difficulty of installation.
Mortise lock lever type ↑
Mortise lock with handle for doors is a topic for another article, so we will not particularly delve into their diversity. But this mechanism is considered the most reliable and full protection of dwellings from penetration.
Some manufacturers, by the way, domestic, so have equipped their products with additional safety features that the attackers just try not to mess with them. When choosing a mortise lock for my door, should pay attention to several important features that must be present in the design:
- The presence of the protective window in the keyhole from the inside. Protects the lock from ingress of foreign objects and against opening the master key.
- A movable rod inside of one of the crossbars. Protects from sawing the bolts with a grinder.
- Bronenakladki on the well under the key. Protects the lock against drilling.
- The presence of additional vertical bolts that lock the door in three directions instead of one as usual.
We talk about the shortcomings of these locks is very difficult, because the defects can be from any particular manufacturer and not the top mechanism as a whole, so a little deviate from the style of the article and list are not negative qualities, as was the case with previous models, and positive.
Advantages of mortise ↑
- Large selection of models. You can choose any door, depending on its thickness and finishes.
- Great set of protective functions, often makes the thief look for an easier barrier.
- Lever lock can lock the door in all directions, which creates additional protection.
- A complex system of internal coding virtually eliminates the possibility of accidental key selection.
- Decorative straps and handles can be made in many different styles and shapes, allowing you to choose the right model based on personal preferences or design of the door itself.
And clearly see how the installation of a mortise lock in a metal door can be in the video
To summarize ↑
As can be seen, the range of locks for entrance metal doors is very diverse, so the inexperienced buyer confused. To avoid this, sum up everything said above and below is a small table:
| Lock type | Specifications | |||
| Resistance to opening | Selection key | Hacking | Additional protective functions | |
| code | low | just | just | no |
| Electromechanical | low | just | medium | no |
| electromagnetic | average | just | just | no |
| mortise | high | difficult | difficult | Yes |