Front Door - self locking or not?
Discussion
Some locks can be used for both methods off entry, it depends on the type of spindle and handle that is fitted. I don't like self locking doors but if I lived on a busy street I'd probably have one for the increased security. Ask if it could be changed to none self locking if you later found you weren't getting on with it.
What sort of front door have you got, e.g. uPVC or wood?
The best sort of lock is one that meets the relevant British Standard
You'd be surprised how many locks aren't up to standard.
The best sort of lock is one that meets the relevant British Standard
You'd be surprised how many locks aren't up to standard.
If you have a self locking door, don't whatever you do leave a key in the lock on the inside when you shut the door. Because then you can't unlock it from the outside, so can't get into your house.
I speak from the voice of experience. I didn't have a back door key on me either. Fortunately the builder working on my house at the time had one. But he was 40 miles away. Any my car keys were in the house...
I speak from the voice of experience. I didn't have a back door key on me either. Fortunately the builder working on my house at the time had one. But he was 40 miles away. Any my car keys were in the house...
gottans said:
are they better than the non-self locking ones?
If you're talking about a night latch or rim lock, then the only locks that meet the British Standard are auto dead-locking. This is important for security and may be required for some house insurance policies.garyhun said:
I avoid self locking front doors like the plague.
I think my next door neighbours are wishing they had. Luckily for them, they've given me a spare key
I honestly can't think of a time where I'd wished a door locked itself compared to plenty of times I've been glad it hadn't! It sounds like one of those solutions to a problem that's never happened if you ask me.
moved into a house about 3 months ago with a yale lock on the inside and also a barrel lock. i forget to snib as i've never lived in a house with that kind of lock and have thus far managed to lock myself out on 2, possibly 3 occasions already... luckily the catch for the yale is quite close to the edge so a little shoulder barge whilst holding the actual handle down is enough to get in.... so thats why i never solely rely on it....
'Self locking' doors have been around for decades - hardly a new idea.
I would say up until the mass introduction of uPVC doors which had multipoint locks, the good old Yale night latch must have been on the majority of front doors.
It really isn't hard to remember your key!
We have an automatic front door, albeit an automatic multipoint lock that throws the hooks when you close the door. You obviously have the choice to also throw the dead bolt with the key as well.
We wouldn't be without it - superb security without having to even think about it.
Ours is a timber door. On the outside all you see is a Euro cylinder (3 star) with a stainless steel pull plate around it. it's in the usual position that the Yale lock always accommodated so looks very traditional.
This is the lock we have:
http://www.winkhaus.co.uk/uploads/files/downloads/...
I would say up until the mass introduction of uPVC doors which had multipoint locks, the good old Yale night latch must have been on the majority of front doors.
It really isn't hard to remember your key!
We have an automatic front door, albeit an automatic multipoint lock that throws the hooks when you close the door. You obviously have the choice to also throw the dead bolt with the key as well.
We wouldn't be without it - superb security without having to even think about it.
Ours is a timber door. On the outside all you see is a Euro cylinder (3 star) with a stainless steel pull plate around it. it's in the usual position that the Yale lock always accommodated so looks very traditional.
This is the lock we have:
http://www.winkhaus.co.uk/uploads/files/downloads/...
Edited by Rosscow on Tuesday 18th November 10:58
Ive got a yale connexis L1 that beeps at you if you dont pull the lever up after closing the door. (Pulling the lever up locks the door). Its keyless, instead using fobs and tags and failing that, my phone can unlock it.
Replces a standard upvc or composite handle so can be retrofitted.
Also a carefully hidden key outside means the auto lock doors are a good idea. In my old house i had mine wedged into the bracket that holds the gutter pipe to the wall on the side of the house, in behind it and you wouldnt have a clue if you didnt know it was there.
Replces a standard upvc or composite handle so can be retrofitted.
Also a carefully hidden key outside means the auto lock doors are a good idea. In my old house i had mine wedged into the bracket that holds the gutter pipe to the wall on the side of the house, in behind it and you wouldnt have a clue if you didnt know it was there.
Edited by dazwalsh on Friday 26th October 09:57
I have a friend who's door is simply locked or not with one key
The issue with that is it can be opened from outside without a key if unlocked. At night he has to lock it for security and then remove the keys inside so that it can be unlocked from outside if his missus comes in late from work. But then in an emergency situation people can't get out without finding the keys.
I would recommend a self locking door and then hide a key somewhere accessible (but not obvious) just in case.
No worries about being locked out and no worries about leaving the door unlocked.
Just leave the key hidden but possibly not too well hidden.
As a kid, a friend had a self locking door and we were locked out once. Luckily he had a hidden key however I think his dad took took it a bit far. To get back into the house (I kid you not) we had to:
1) Find the garage key hidden under a stone in the back garden, Access to the garden bas by climbing over his 6ft fence.
2) Open the garage door with this key and then find another key which was hidden within a draw of random screws and bolts in the garage.
3) This second key unlocked the toolchest where we could obtain a large flat blade screwdriver.
4) The flat blade screwdriver was used to undo the cover of a light fitting on the outside of a brick built shed in the back garden.
5) Inside this light fitting was another key, the key to open the shed.
6) Inside the shed was a dummy tin of paint. The flat blade screwdriver was again used to open the can which contained a spare back door key to the house.
5mins after we'd got it and all the keys, tools & light fittings were returned to their original state his mum came home from work.
Thinking about it this was probably the first ever escape room.
The issue with that is it can be opened from outside without a key if unlocked. At night he has to lock it for security and then remove the keys inside so that it can be unlocked from outside if his missus comes in late from work. But then in an emergency situation people can't get out without finding the keys.
I would recommend a self locking door and then hide a key somewhere accessible (but not obvious) just in case.
No worries about being locked out and no worries about leaving the door unlocked.
Just leave the key hidden but possibly not too well hidden.
As a kid, a friend had a self locking door and we were locked out once. Luckily he had a hidden key however I think his dad took took it a bit far. To get back into the house (I kid you not) we had to:
1) Find the garage key hidden under a stone in the back garden, Access to the garden bas by climbing over his 6ft fence.
2) Open the garage door with this key and then find another key which was hidden within a draw of random screws and bolts in the garage.
3) This second key unlocked the toolchest where we could obtain a large flat blade screwdriver.
4) The flat blade screwdriver was used to undo the cover of a light fitting on the outside of a brick built shed in the back garden.
5) Inside this light fitting was another key, the key to open the shed.
6) Inside the shed was a dummy tin of paint. The flat blade screwdriver was again used to open the can which contained a spare back door key to the house.
5mins after we'd got it and all the keys, tools & light fittings were returned to their original state his mum came home from work.
Thinking about it this was probably the first ever escape room.
I have a Yale RFID lock on my front door now (wooden door). And an implant about the size of a grain of rice in the web between my thumb and first finger, about the size of a grain of rice -from dangerousthings,com .
Took 2 minutes and a tenner at a body piercing place to have it put in.
Now if I grab the handle, it'll open the door. If you grab the handle, it won't turn.
Can also be opened with a programmed key card like a lot of you probably have at work, or a PIN.
AFAIK it's not insurance approved - but I like technology. I programmed it with a cheap ($7) programmer from Aliexpress -now I don't even need my card out to get into the office, as I programmed the implant to the same as my entry card. Just wave my hand past it, get a bleep, and the door opens.
It infuriated the security fella for ages when he first saw me do it and I wouldn't tell him how it worked, But he's a bit doddery and just takes it for granted now!
Took 2 minutes and a tenner at a body piercing place to have it put in.
Now if I grab the handle, it'll open the door. If you grab the handle, it won't turn.
Can also be opened with a programmed key card like a lot of you probably have at work, or a PIN.
AFAIK it's not insurance approved - but I like technology. I programmed it with a cheap ($7) programmer from Aliexpress -now I don't even need my card out to get into the office, as I programmed the implant to the same as my entry card. Just wave my hand past it, get a bleep, and the door opens.
It infuriated the security fella for ages when he first saw me do it and I wouldn't tell him how it worked, But he's a bit doddery and just takes it for granted now!
hornmeister said:
I have a friend who's door is simply locked or not with one key
The issue with that is it can be opened from outside without a key if unlocked. At night he has to lock it for security and then remove the keys inside so that it can be unlocked from outside if his missus comes in late from work. But then in an emergency situation people can't get out without finding the keys.
.
Same as our front door, however pulling the key out 80% of the way is sufficient for it to be opened from outside whilst still having the practicality of key in lock HTHThe issue with that is it can be opened from outside without a key if unlocked. At night he has to lock it for security and then remove the keys inside so that it can be unlocked from outside if his missus comes in late from work. But then in an emergency situation people can't get out without finding the keys.
.
We have euro locks on the house doors and padlocks on the shed and garage. All done with ABS Keyed alike set. So it's one key for the whole lot.
The euro cylinder locks need locking manually, and it is just habit forming, we have lived with deadlocks for over 30 years.
The ABS locks only need the inside key to be moved out by 5mm to allow the outside key to work. Again, it's just a question of habit
Got mine from these people, would use again. (mind you it was 10 years ago that I bought the last set.)
https://www.barnsleylock.co.uk/avocet-abs-mk3-keyi...
The euro cylinder locks need locking manually, and it is just habit forming, we have lived with deadlocks for over 30 years.
The ABS locks only need the inside key to be moved out by 5mm to allow the outside key to work. Again, it's just a question of habit
Got mine from these people, would use again. (mind you it was 10 years ago that I bought the last set.)
https://www.barnsleylock.co.uk/avocet-abs-mk3-keyi...
Love a bit of split spindle action when I’m on call the shear number of people who get “locked” out is unbelievable, I have made up a nice device to pull the handle down through the letterbox out of copper tube it’s made me a fortune....
They really are not locked at all unless you have the actual auto locking espag
They really are not locked at all unless you have the actual auto locking espag
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