Front Door Locks

Choosing a front door lock

Please use this page only as a very general guide. There are too many different considerations to list here which could affect your decision on what front door locks you should use and we have a much wider range of them in stock than are listed on the site, so we highly recommend giving us a call or email for some (free obviously!!) personal advice on what is right for you.

There are many different locks available for front doors. Here at shop4handles we mainly supply fittings for wooden front doors. Doors made from PVC and other materials may require different advice to this, and often feature locks specifically manufactured for the door, so please call us for advice on these.

On wooden doors the most common style of lock to see is the rim nightlatch style of lock, often called a “Yale” lock, usually on houses this should actually be a rim automatic deadlock, which provides better security. Flats and apartments, amongst other similar styles of property, particluarly those over several floors should not have a lock which can be locked with a key from the inside. This is to minimise fire risks in this type of property. There are locks which feature thumbturns on the inside which are usually the preferred substitute.

There should always be a second deadlock on a front door, and this should be of a 5 lever or higher standard, as well as complying with British Standard 3621 or the equivalent European Standard EN12209. These are often called ‘chubb’ locks but as this is just a company name make sure it is a deadlock you are buying. Our preferred brand for reliable security and overall value are Union locks and you can click here to see our deadlocks. Again on flats and certain other housing, there can be no key to lose on the inside, so usually a deadlock case, combined with a cylinder and turn, are supplied.

With all front door locks (and other external doors), insurance companies will usually require at least one 5 lever or British/European Standard lock, but they may require more so check with yours. The police have guidelines for securing a door safely and so do the home office, please check these pages for further guidelines on the best way to secure your home:-

http://www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/doors.htm

http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/cpbtb.htm

Other styles of front door lock include espagnolette, or multi-point locks, which we can advise you about over the phone or email, as well as supply.

Finally, don’t forget the difference a couple of extra bolts can make – we sell several suitable types, including flush bolts, rack bolts and slide bolts. We sell a wide variety of security products from our shop in Ascot, Berks, which we can dispatch to internet customers quickly and competitively, so please contact us for further information.

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Shop 4 Handles - Quality Architectural Ironmongery Door Handles and Window Furniture. A huge stock of designer door handles, internal oak doors, sliding doors and door furniture. Door Handles and Window Furniture. UK supplier of architectural ironmongery. A huge stock of designer interior and external doors, door furniture hardware and door handles.

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Shop 4 Handles - Quality Architectural Ironmongery Door Handles and Window Furniture. A huge stock of designer door handles, internal oak doors, sliding doors and door furniture. Door Handles and Window Furniture. UK supplier of architectural ironmongery. A huge stock of designer interior and external doors, door furniture hardware and door handles.

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Shop 4 Handles - Quality Architectural Ironmongery Door Handles and Window Furniture. A huge stock of designer door handles, internal oak doors, sliding doors and door furniture. Door Handles and Window Furniture. UK supplier of architectural ironmongery. A huge stock of designer interior and external doors, door furniture hardware and door handles.