Improve the security on a wooden door

You might be worried about the security on your wooden door, have you been a victim of a break in? or just moved house and you want to improve the security and change the locks?

This blog is about some suggestions that you may want to look at.

 

There are 2 main locks that wooden doors usually have fitted, they are the following:

The lock on the left is a ‘yale’ style lock, on its own, your insurance may be invalid and the security level is very poor. I am always advising customers to also use the mortice lock, but I tend to be ignored!

My advice on this lock is to use it as addition or use it on a secondary door. ie flat door within a complex.

 

 

This lock is called a mortice lock and is a great security lock, you must make sure the Lock is a BS3621, you can see the kite mark underneath the bolt.

If your current door is old, look at the lock to see if it has the kite mark if it doesn’t my advice is to change the lock, your insurance might states that all doors must have a British standard lock.

A lot of doors have both of these locks on the doors, which is a great level of security but you can still improve the security.

 

 

 

 

My advice if you have a’yale’ type lock is to upgrade it to a British Standard nightlatch, firstly it’s a good security lock and secondly, you are complying with your Insurance policy

This is a picture of a door with the ERA British Standard Nightlatch and ERA British Standard Sashlock, this door now has 2 British Standard locks on it.

Because the top lock is British Standard, you can use it on it own, but I still would advise using the mortice lock.

 

 

 

 

Generally, most wooden doors have a mortice lock on it (see above photo) to add security you could fit another mortice lock, I would advise fitting the mortice deadlock halfway down the bottom section of the door.

A mortice deadlock is basically a sashlock without the latch, a good locksmith will repin the levers so the keys operate both locks

 

 

 

 

Rack Bolts  – These are great little bolts which add to the security of the door  when you are in the property, or use them on a door that is rarely used.

They operate by a ‘star’ type key and are rebated into the side of the door.

 

 

 

 

 

Door Hinge Bolts

 

 

 

 

Door Chain

 

 

 

 

There are loads of options and you can combine most of the locks in this blog, because the door is wooden there is a lot of flexibility.