How to choose a security lock
Before choosing a lock you need to know where your door is weak. If the frame gives, no lock helps. If the leaf is thin, the same. And if the door is sound but the cylinder is the original builder-fit one, changing only the cylinder gets you most of the improvement for a fraction of the cost.
The right order
1. The frame. It is the first thing to look at and the last thing anyone thinks about. A loose or badly fixed frame turns any lock into decoration.
2. The leaf. A hollow timber door will not hold even the best mechanism.
3. The cylinder. This is where you gain the most security per euro spent.
4. The anchor points. They matter once the other three are sorted.
What to look for in a cylinder
That it is anti-bump, anti-pick and anti-snap: three different attacks, and not every cylinder stops all three.
That the key is patented with an ownership card, if you are worried about copies existing. Without the card, the manufacturer will not duplicate.
That the size is right. A cylinder standing more than two or three millimetres proud of the escutcheon is something to grip: either the size gets corrected or an escutcheon goes on.
Where you do not need to spend
On the maximum number of anchor points for an ordinary flat door: three is usually enough.
On top-grade locks fitted to doors that cannot take them. A mid-range lock properly fitted to a reinforced door beats a luxury one on a door that gives.
Would you rather someone looked at it?
Esto entra dentro de high-security locks.Call and I will tell you the cost before I set off.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I spend?
It depends what you are protecting and where you are vulnerable. The sensible move is to start with the genuine weak point — which is often the cylinder, the cheapest part of the lot.