Front door locks

[Anonymous]

My builder has fitted locks to my exterior doors that seem to be incompatible with the kind of handles I want (i.e. Victorian round or hexagonal knobs rather than modern levers). The springs seem to be too strong and it takes a real effort to turn the handles - not good for my Mum who has arthritis in her right hand!

I am hoping that someone may be able to advise on what sort of locks I should use (presumably I will need to replace the ones that the builder has provided - or might it be possible to adjust the springs?).

Thanks very much.

Jane

 

[Anonymous]

Victorian front doors wouldn't have that type of lock. The knob would be in the middle of the door, and only used for pulling it shut i.e. it wouldnt revolve and it wouldnt operate a latch.

For security I suggest at least one five lever deadlock. Inside, extra bolts and a chain are a good idea. Many people will also have a Yale latch or similar these days, but the downside of them is that it is easy to lock oneself out.

 

[Anonymous]

Lever lock/latches are morticed much shallower that ones that use a knob. In my experience if you fit a knob on to a lock/latch designed for a lever you will skin your knuckles everytime you open the door. I can only assume that the springs are different but I am not certain. The simple answer may be to fit a rim lock/latch that is designed for use with a knob rather than a handle. By the way, the info about central door knobs is not entirely accurate. Mike.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Mike's observation about the depth of the morticing for locks where the handle is on the side of the door rather than in the centre.

Both the Victorian townhouses I have lived in had central, fixed front door knobs so it was not an issue for those doors, but it was for the interior doors. These originally had very deep mortices, with the centre of the handle some five inches in from the edge of the door, with the keyhole at the same height as the handle. You can still buy locks of this design but they are generally not very suitable for exterior doors, being simple to pick.

If you want a latch operated by a knob on an exterior door, I agree that a deep rim lock is probably the best option, but I suggest you also fit a five lever deadlock for extra security. If the spring still feels tight, why not use an oval knob - these give more grip and were used in the Victorian period so would not be out of keeping.

Front doors are remarkably easy to break open, so in a high crime area some steel reinforcing of the door frame is often recommended, such as a "London bar". Alternatively, you can fit more than one deadlock. Locks from the better maufacturers (e.g. Banham's) often have quite large steel plates for fitting to the fame, giving extra strength.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Nigel and Mike - you are right, the knob is too near the edge of the door! I think I will follow your suggestion, Mike, to fit a rim lock for the handles with a separate mortice lock for security. Makes a lot of sense.

I am in rural Scotland, Nigel, where those central pull knobs aren't much in evidence (maybe more of a city thing?). Crime thankfully not a problem, but I do want the doors to lock!

Thank you both for such helpful answers.

 

[Anonymous]

Jane - just one cautionary word. Be sure that, whatever type of locks you end up fitting, they are within the rules specified by your home insurer. Insurance companies are very specific these days about what you may and may not use, and if you break the rules you could be giving them an opportunity to claim that you are uninsured.
I suggest you study your policy carefully.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks David - I'll do that! I admit I hadn't thought of that aspect of the problem...

I'm surprised that there don't seem to be any manufacturers of the kind of lock I'm looking for - i.e. one that can be used with round handles on a spindle. But I like the idea of a rim lock anyway so never mind!

 

[Anonymous]

Jane - my memory is a little hazy but I remember having this insurance problem on a house we were working on some years ago. The external door accessing the kitchen was a particularly fine ledged and boarded type so obviously a mortice lock was not possible. The locksmiths that I used at the time provided some kind of kit that bolted through the door and brought the rimlock up to an acceptable standard for insurance companies.
The kit did not look out of place and everybody was happy. Sorry to be so vague but it was just part of a far bigger project. I am certain that, if you had a chat with a decent locksmith, they would come up with the goods. Mike.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mike - I probably will end up consulting a locksmith as there are so many variables. A lot more complicated than I'd expected...