Locks for entrance doors: types, rating, selection and installation

Each homeowner tries to reliably protect his "family nest" from unauthorized entry of burglars by installing various locking devices on the front doors. Today the market is represented by a chic selection of locks, but when choosing them, one must take into account the structure of the mechanism, the complexity of its opening and the degree of protection. In addition, before making such an important purchase and performing its installation, it is also important to pay attention to the features of the doors and the installation location.

Door locks, which are offered in a huge assortment by foreign and domestic manufacturers, have the same purpose, but depending on the models and engineering structures, they can fundamentally differ from each other and provide a different level of protection. For example, on sale you can find devices with or without handles and latches. The main components of any locking device are the body, the locking and fixing element. In addition, a set of keys must be included in the package. By design characteristics, the following types of devices are distinguished.

This is the simplest and most affordable type of lock, which has a minimum protection class; as a rule, it is installed on the entrance doors of ancillary buildings. The installation of the product is quick and easy: lugs are inserted into the specially welded bows, and fixation takes place in the position fixed on the sashes. As for the additional protection details, they are absent. Padlocks are produced in various weights, sizes, secrecy levels and body materials. The plus of the product is a large selection and the lowest price, the minus is unreliability.

Ideal for installation on both wooden and metal doors, they are mounted on the inside of the sash. Thanks to this, the mechanism of the device is maximally removed from the outer part of the door leaf and guarantees greater reliability. Such locks also differ in design, degree of security and material of manufacture. The advantages of the products include ease of installation (even a novice specialist can easily cope with it), the ability to open the door from the inside without a key, installation does not require sampling the door frame (on a wooden sheet). Disadvantages: restriction in use, the presence of a double porch, with forceful action on the sashes, their discrepancy is possible.

These models are considered the most versatile, since they do not spoil the appearance of the doors during installation, and are installed in a hidden way. In addition, mortise locks are sold not only with a key, but also with an original handle decor, which makes it easy to match them to any door design. The main disadvantage of mortise products is that it is difficult to mount them, installation work is voluminous, and requires accurate calculations.

They are the simplest products with low protection.They are also often called rack and pinion, since the locking part externally looks like a metal bar, decorated with small slots. The crossbar is controlled with a key, which must fit exactly into the grooves of the bar. As a rule, such models are preferred to be installed on the entrance doors of non-residential premises.

These locks are characterized by a more complex structure of the internal mechanism, therefore it is recommended to install them on any doors. The main advantage of the products is high protection and the complexity of the selection of the secret. The disadvantage is the high price.

The degree of protection and reliability of such locks is determined by the number of discs in the mechanism. The door opens only when all internal parts match exactly. This species has no disadvantages.

Such products are known under the name "English" lock. The principle of their operation is in many ways similar to the disk model, only the mechanism in this case is located inside a special larva. Despite the affordable cost, these locks also have a drawback - the possibility of damage to the lock. Therefore, experts recommend to additionally equip the system with protectors.

The main difference between these devices and pin devices is that the elements of the lock that lock the door are plates. The opening of the mechanism is performed when the protrusions of the key coincide with the slots in the levers. To protect the lock, armor plates are additionally installed, they provide the doors with high resistance to burglary. There are no downsides to such locks.

They represent a special clever type of mechanism, which includes all the elements of the bolt lock, but there is no key. The device is available with remote control, code or magnetic card. In addition, the product can be equipped with a special scanner capable of reading lines on the fingers. The disadvantage of fingerprint locks is that the door can be easily opened by applying photographs of the homeowners' fingers.

They are considered one of the varieties of electrical devices. The invisible lock opens the door using a special electromagnetic element, which is controlled by the controller. Often, such mechanisms are used on the entrance doors in the entrances of houses when installing intercoms. They also have a push-button close sensor. That is, the key is externally equipped with a magnetic board, and internally with a panel with a button. To open the door from the street, you need a special code or a magnetic unique key, and inside the room, you just need to press a button.

Today the market amazes with its huge range of locking devices. All of them differ among themselves not only in design, weight, dimensions, level of protection, but also by the manufacturer. Among the foreign brands, the following brands have proven themselves well.

• Cisa (Italy). It is a world famous leader in the production of locks for entrance doors. In addition to the standard models, the manufacturer also introduced smart locks and electronic devices that can be used for any type of door leaf. The product package also includes door closers, anti-panic handles and armored pads. All locks are characterized by a high degree of burglary protection, but their price is quite high.

• Mul-T-Lock (Israel). The company produces not only mechanisms with reliable secrecy, but also cylinders, machines for the manufacture of locking devices.All movable elements and keys are made of durable cupronickel material, which provides the products with resistance to unauthorized burglary and negative environmental influences. The products are characterized by high quality and reasonable prices.

• Kale Kilit (Turkey). The manufacturer manufactures all types of padlocks, mortise locks and overhead locks with various opening mechanisms. Turkish cylinder locks with alarms and sound effect when selecting a key, breaking or pulling out a lock are very popular. Any family with an average income can afford such devices.

• Evva (Austria). The company has many sales offices throughout Europe and specializes in the manufacture of cylinder locks equipped with special security systems. By installing such products, you can be sure that copying the key and breaking the door is impossible. In addition, high quality products are inexpensive and have all the relevant certificates.

• Abus (Germany). The manufacturer produces a huge assortment of mortise locks, which are distinguished by their durability, high burglary resistance and excellent quality. The devices are provided with additional security against drilling, breaking and knocking out, while the keys in all models cannot be copied.

The Chinese Xiaomi locks deserve special attention. Such products are mainly intended for housing in which a smart home system is installed. The locking device allows you to trigger a burglary alarm, send and receive notifications. The keys have a special chip, the code for which is set by the owner of the house or apartment. This state-of-the-art technology is unmatched, but very expensive.

For many homeowners, the main problem is the selection of a good lock on the entrance doors to an apartment or private house. Before making such an important purchase, you need to pay attention to the characteristics of the internal mechanisms. In addition, it is worth noting that different types of devices can be installed for metal and wooden doors. To purchase reliable locks, you need to consider the following parameters.

• Safety class. Products with 1 and 2 class of protection are considered the weakest and easiest to break, since their design can be opened in a matter of minutes. As for class 3 and 4 locks, they are reliable and absolutely safe, they cannot be opened even with special equipment.
• The level of secrecy. It indicates the number of combinations available for the mechanism in the larva. The more there are, the more difficult it is to hack. Small defense has 5 thousand combinations, medium - 1 million, and high - more than 4 million. For iron doors, experts recommend purchasing the latter option, since it is considered the best.

• Place of installation. For country houses, it is advisable to choose locks from foreign manufacturers, since they largely exceed the characteristics of domestic ones. Their cost is high, but the protection is reliable. As for the apartments, they can choose simpler devices, this is due to the fact that many entrances are equipped with strong metal doors, an intercom, and there are neighbors nearby.
• Possibility of making duplicate keys. Usually, the package includes 3 to 5 keys, but it can often change, especially if small children live in the house. In the event that the configuration of the mechanism is complex, it is difficult to make a copy of the key, and, as an option, the lock will have to be dismantled, replacing it with a new one.Therefore, when purchasing products, it is important to focus not only on the fancy shapes of the key, but also on its practicality.
• Price. Cheap devices are often attractive for their low price, and many homeowners, wanting to save money, opt for them. But there is always a risk to buy a castle made from low-quality raw materials. Before purchasing, you need to clarify the grade of steel, because second-class metal during operation can crack and cause subsequent breakage of brackets and springs.

Recently, most owners of apartments and houses prefer to install locks on their front doors on their own. Of course, this process is complex, and requires a certain experience, but if you want to cope with it, everyone can do it. The following recommendations of experienced specialists will help beginners in this.

• Before starting the installation of a new device, it is necessary to remove and disassemble the old lock, as well as make accurate markings. It is best to cut the hole with a grinder with small discs. In this case, drilling should be started at the corners of the "future rectangle", this will help to make the cutout even. Since the grinder will only be able to make vertical lines, they will have to be knocked out horizontally with a hammer or chisel. At the end of the work, the resulting hole along the edges must be filed, smoothing out the sharp corners and notches.
• To prevent the lock from breaking and serving for a long time, it should be fixed with screws. The installation must be carried out in such a way that the larva precisely falls into the previously prepared hole. A pin is threaded through the device and the screw is fastened.

• The crossbar will rest tightly against the box if it is lubricated with a thin layer of watercolor paint before installation.
• Sometimes the installation of the locking device cannot be performed without disassembling the door leaf. The process will be especially laborious if the door leaf is made of metal. To do the job correctly and not damage the girder, it is important to take accurate measurements and take into account the location of the guides.
• It is best to install padlocks on entrance doors in utility rooms. In order to carry out installation on the wall of the building, the lugs must be fixed in advance in the box using strong screws.

The main reason that causes a malfunction of the locking device is a malfunction in the door. This is due to the fact that during long-term operation of the canvas, its subsidence is possible, in addition, the door handles and the lock can wear out. As a result, the internal mechanism starts to junk, and the tongue goes in and out tightly from the hole in the door frame. To eliminate such problems, it is necessary to adjust the lock.

For this, the source of the mechanism malfunction is first determined. The metal plates are removed, the handles are dismantled, and penetrate into the interior of the lock. Then the key is inserted, and attempts are made to open and close the device, observing what exactly interferes with its functioning. Often, adjustment is sufficient to correct the exact alignment of the door handle and the lock tongue with the metal cover. Moreover, if the door leaf was delivered recently, and its warranty period has not expired, you can call the representatives of the manufacturer's company. They will quickly deal with the problem.

If the cause of the malfunction is friction or jamming of the elements of the mechanism, then it is recommended to lubricate them with machine oil or a special composition in the form of an aerosol. After covering the moving parts with oil, you should try to turn the lock several times, this will help to better distribute the lubricant. In the event that the lubricated lock works smoothly, you can smoothly proceed with the installation of the handle and strip.

Quite often, when self-assembly of locks by inexperienced craftsmen, the problem of insufficient penetration of the mortise mechanism appears. As a result, a metal strip placed in the side of the canvas starts to touch the box itself. To remedy the situation, you need to remove the lock, re-make a recessed notch, and put the device in its original place. A similar problem arises when there is insufficient twisting of the self-tapping screws that hold the side bar and the locking mechanism. In this case, you just need to tighten the mount.

For information on how to install locks for entrance doors, see the next video.