Everyone knows that to keep things or places safe, the kinds of locks do matter. However, there are a few factors and variables that are always considered before purchasing a particular type of lock. Essentially, the robust make of the lock, the cost involved, the location, the number of times the lock has to be obtained and other such factors can influence your choice of locks.
Image Credits @ Lok Leung
But here is an important reminder. There are some major benchmarks in the lock industry that you simply must know about before purchasing your lock. They have their own uses and own disadvantages and at times, you can find a combination of two of these locks being used in protecting stuff. As always, we love to make your work simple and hence we have complied a list of the 4 major kinds of locks that exist in the market and are standard equipment which you should have an idea of:
1: Jimmy-Proof Deadbolt
You may require a lock that is extremely secure, can withstand basically any type of method use in forced entry but at the same time easy to install in the house and reasonably priced in the medium range. Then you need not look any further. The Jimmy Proof Deadbolt in your lock mate.
You may have already seen it in many house, as the lock is shaped like a ‘D’ and is always found of the back surface of the door. You can however choose between the single and double cylinder model which have its own features.
While the single cylinder model is found with a key on the outer surface and the knob or thumb turn handle found on the inside, the double cylinder comes with a key on both the inside and outside as it provides double protection. This lock works on the principle of locking pins which slide into the place to block the door against its frame. Another method of differentiating between the cylinder models is that when there is window in the vicinity of the door, the double cylinder comes in handy for emergency exits or entries where the other key can be found.
2: Mortise Door Lock
When houses have a very heave door, then a lock is usually fitted into a rectangular cavity, also called a mortise and the lock functions in the format of a rectangular deadbolt. The lock is a rectangle box that is aimed at holding the heavy door in place. The important points to note here would be that the lock is quite expensive primarily because of the kind of skill that would be required to install the lock in place. But the level of security that these locks give is extremely high.
The special thing about these mortise locks is that one turn of the key can open both the lock and the deadbolt at the same time. Essentially this means that the lock requires just one turn to work but that one turn comes from a lock that is so well built and durable that the security it provides cannot be matched by any other lock. Another point to note is that these locks are often used in big vaults and other heavy doors which can be found in old buildings and they have stood the test of time and will be extremely sturdy over time. It goes without saying that these locks have a beautiful layout which goes well with any exterior setup or paint and it can be used to amplify any door’s looks.
3: Keyless Entry Lock Set
Surprised as you might be, this is the new age of locks. As the name suggests, it is a lock that requires no key and it can be found various types depending upon how it opens.
The first kind of locks which are keyless are called mechanical locks. These locks do not require a key and are set off when a right combination of numbers are entered into the rows of numbers. Security-wise, these looks are function but they do not have the level of sturdiness that other locks have.
The next type of locks that are available are electronic locks which are now trending because of the digital touch screens and keypads which can also be accessed by remote control devices. Some of them can even be opened with a cellular phone or tablet but the security of such locks are a big question mark.
Biometric door locks work with finger print sensors. All that is needed is to enrol each person`s finger print into the system. This is extremely helpful in preventing keys from falling into the wrong hands. One can also use Southord lock pick sets to find a pin tumbler for picking locks.
4: Single and Double Cylinder Locks
You may require a lock that is extremely secure, can withstand basically any type of method use in forced entry but it might come with a system that would take quite some skill to install in the house and reasonably priced in the high range and you wouldn’t be surprised by the looking at the cylinder lock in exactly what you require. It fits all the important requires to the dot.
This again is a deadbolt lock which one would normally find on the side of the door and it can be available in single and double cylinder locks formats. Essentially, a hole is drilled into the side the of the door to hold the locking pin in place and the front of the door holds a cylinder which can be used to place the key into.
While the single cylinder model is found with a key on the outer surface and the knob or thumb turn handle found on the inside, the double cylinder comes with a key on both the inside and outside as it provides double protection. This lock works on the principle of locking pins which slide into the place to block the door against its frame. Another method of differentiating between the cylinder models is that when there is window in the vicinity of the door, the double cylinder comes in handy for emergency exits or entries where the other key can be found.
With this, you will have successfully received a crash course on all types of locks available in the market and how you can choose to get the best lock according to your requirements.
Author Bio
Ryan Hill is a professional lock and key specialist who has a lot of experience in home appliances and home depot products. He also runs a program on how to choose the best appliances for a house and where to find them. He uses the Southord lock pick set for all sorts of locks.
