Locks

Robbery is a very widespread crime. Numerous infractions are reported every year. Law enforcement statistics indicate that most burglars gain entrance by breaking a door, a window being their second choice (source, Protegez-vous, July 1998). To protect yourself from this blight, it’s important to equip doors and windows with good locks and security equipment.
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Use
Before buying
Lock models
Characteristics
Accessories
Maintenance

Use

The outside lock on the front door protects the home’s occupants and their property from intruders and robbers. A basic dissuasive element, a good lock will prevent impulse theft, often committed by youths and it can significantly delay professionals.

The inside door lock protects the occupant’s intimacy (bathroom, bedroom) and reduce access to authorized persons only, in the case of an office for example.

Before buying

Before heading to the store, check if the door opens to the right or left as certain handles, for the example the lever type with motifs can’t be installed on either side. Remember to take measurements. This attention to detail will help you avoid having to return merchandise and will save you time.

If you replace your handle or lock, measure the door thickness, as well as the distance from the side of the door and the centre of the handle hole in the door. If the lock isn’t part of the handle, note the distance between the lock and the handle, always measuring centre to centre.

In general:
  • Locks are adjustable and can be installed on doors 1 ¾ inches or more for exterior doors and 1 3/8 to 1 ¾ inches for interior doors. For thicker doors, you may have to purchase a lock from a specialized locksmith.
  • The distance from the centre of the handle to the edge is 2 3/8 inches for French doors and 2 ¾ inches for most other doors.


If you replace an old door with a manufactured door, i.e. already drilled to receive the handle and the lock, you should know that these doors are standard. Be sure that the strike-plate hole is level with the pre-drilled hole of the door.

If you buy an un-drilled door, make sure to drill the handle and strike-plate holes at the same level, normally located 36 inches (hole centre) for residential doors and 39 ¾ inches for commercial doors.

Lock models

Push-button locks

Push-button locks are located inside a round or lever-type handle. The keyless model is designed for interior doors. They lock from the inside by pushing or turning the button to the right. An emergency opening located in the exterior handle allows the door to be unlocked from the outside (by inserting a nail for example). Models installed on exterior doors are equipped with a key system on the outdoor side.

The push-button lock

The push-button lock is used mainly in commercial and institutional establishments. It can only be opened by an access code. These locks are exceptionally solid and are an excellent choice to limit access to buildings that require a high security level. For example, in a day-care centre where it’s only the parents who can gain access. This lock type is also used in some homes to limit access, such as in s shed, a garage or a service door.

Single deadbolt, double or numerical keypad locks

The bolt is the part of the lock that penetrates inside the doorframe to block the door. The deadbolt is activated by a key (from the outside) and a by a latch (from the inside). This type of lock doesn’t have a handle. Reputed for its efficiency and strength, the deadbolt lock is generally used on outside doors. The basic model is composed of a key barrel on the outside and a simple latch on the inside.

A key activates the double-barrelled model from both inside and out. This model is specifically recommended for doors where the lock is located near a glassed surface. It is however necessary to keep a key inside, within a few feet of the door, for rapid egress in case of emergency.

The deadbolt lock with numerical keypad works on batteries. Punching in the code on the keypad activates the bolt for both locking and unlocking. People with dexterity problems especially appreciate the keypad that replaces a key activated lock. To avoid the annoyance caused by dead batteries or eventual defects, the keypad lock also comes equipped with a barrel and key.

The mortise lock

The mortise lock is undoubtedly the most secure on the market, however its installation is more difficult. It consists of cutting a mortise into the width of the door and installing the lock. It’s the same procedure in the frame to install the strike plate to receive the bolt. For enhanced security, choose the model with five or seven pins versus the one with three pins. Designed for installation on any type of door, this model uses a larger size key. There’s also a window version for lateral or service doors with a reversible bolt that can be installed on the right or left hand sides according to the door’s opening direction.

Single or double cylinder locks

The cylinder lock is often used as an auxiliary locking system. Generally installed in the upper half of a door, the lock body and the strike plate are installed on the inside. The locking system consists of a horizontally or vertically mounted deadbolt, according to the model, that can be unlocked with an outside key or an inside rotating handle.

The double cylinder model uses a key both inside and out. It’s recommended for doors located near windows. However, a key must be placed inside, in a safe place near the door (about three feet) in case an emergency exit is necessary.

Mortise cylinder locks

Mortise cylinder locks combine the qualities of the two previous models. The practical aspects of the cylinder lock enhance the mortise lock’s solidity.

Sliding door locks

Sliding doors (patio doors) are equipped with a lock-bar that can be easily countered by lifting the door. To make this dodge impossible, on the market you can find a metal plate, easily installed on the top of the door, that prevents the door from being removed from its rails. To increase security or convert a sliding into a secondary door, it’s possible to add to or change the bar to a lockable model. Different models are available, be it a mounting handle or a framed installation.

Garage door locks

It’s important to equip the garage door with a good lock with key. Some handle type locks come equipped with a key. Notably, this is the case for locks in the form of a <> or an <>. Others offer a combination handle/lock.
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