What Are the Different Types of Door Lock?

What Are The Different Types of Door Lock?

If you’re looking for the perfect security solution for your home, there are many different types of door locks to look out for. At Best Brothers Group, we sell door locks of two main types: mortice locks and rim locks.

Every one of our BBG door locks is accredited by Secured by Design, the official Police flagship initiative combining the principles of “designing out crime” with physical security.

If you’re looking to improve home security, which could help you save money on home insurance, it’s important to get the right locks fitted. To find out what locks would best suit your property; we’re experts on providing security recommendations.

If you’d like to learn more about locks, read on.

What is the difference between a mortice lock and a rim lock?

Whether a lock is described as a mortice lock or a rim lock depends on how it is mounted to your door and frame.

What is a mortice lock?

A mortice lock is one that is fitted inside the edge of the door. A mortice lock cylinder is inserted into a hollow, or ‘mortice’ in the door’s edge and a strike plate serves as the lining for a recess in the frame into which the bolt fits.

A mortice lock is difficult to force open as most of the lock mechanism is secured within the door frame. Some home insurance policies stipulate a home must use a mortice lock in order to meet compliance with the terms of cover. Mortice locks are also more aesthetically pleasing, as less of the locking mechanism is visible. The keyhole and faceplate are all that is seen when the door is ajar.

What is a rim lock?

A rim lock is a lock that is mounted on the inside surface of a door. The lockbolt and key cylinder mechanism are contained within a lock mechanism fitted to the door itself, sometimes called the ‘nightlatch’. When in the ‘locked’ position, the lock bolt is caught in a keeper that is mounted on the inside surface of the door frame. Rim locks are suitable for inward-opening doors.

Rim deadbolt door lock

Since rim locks do less damage to the woodwork when fitting, they are often the lock of choice for heritage or listed properties.

Some rim locks can be unlocked using an electric release mechanism, which remotely releases the lock bolt from the externally mounted keeper. Our Rim Deadbolt uses an electric release mechanism, making it suitable for use with flats or properties with shared access entry systems.

What is the difference between a cylinder lock and a lever lock?

There are two main types of locking/unlocking functions for both mortice locks and rim locks, known as cylinder locks and lever locks.

What is a pin cylinder lock?

A cylinder lock, is a mechanism made up of a keyhole and a mechanism contained within a cylinder. It uses pins of varying length to prevent the lock from opening without the right key.

The main advantage to a cylinder lock is that the keyed cylinder can be changed to re-key a door without altering the boltwork hardware.

Electronic cylinders are available too, commonly used in fobbed and other access control systems.

What is a lever lock?

In the Toronto, another common type of locking function is the lever lock, commonly available in three- and five lever lock types (the more levers, the more combinations of key are available). Each lever needs to be lifted to a specific height by the key in order to move the locking bolt. Lever locks generally use a bitted key, and require key operation from both outside and inside.

A minimum 5 lever mortice lock is often a condition of home insurance policies. Our Mortice Deadlockuses a seven lever lock mechanism for maximum security.

What is the difference between a single cylinder lock and a double cylinder lock?

Even though these two different types of locks are similar they feature a key difference.

What is a single cylinder lock?

A single-sided cylinder lock is one that is operated by a key from the outside, but by a thumbturn from the inside rather than by another key. This means it is quick and simple to exit the home without a key.

Single cylinder deadbolts like our thumbturn-operated Cylinder Mortice Deadlock, use a key cylinder on the outside and a thumbturn on the inside to open or close the lock.

What is a double cylinder lock?

A double cylinder lock is one that is operated by a key from both the outside and inside. This eliminates the primary issue associated with thumbturns, in that a person can unlock your door if they are able to operate the thumbturn via a window.

A double cylinder deadbolt like our door lock and with lever handle use a key cylinder on both the outside and the inside of the door. A double cylinder deadlock, like our Cylinder Mortice Deadlock is operated by a key from both the outside and the inside.

Single or double cylinder deadlocks are each more suited to a given application. Likewise, there are also:

– push-button deadbolts, which allow access using numerical codes

What is a deadlock?

Deadlocks usually use a locking mechanism that is manually operated by the turning of a key or thumbturn. This means it requires a significant amount of force to pry the bolt back, and for this reason, they are very secure.

When a deadlock is unlocked, the lock bolt is held in the withdrawn position.

What types of self-locking deadbolts are there?

Latchbolts are a type of self-locking deadbolt. Our thumbturn-operated lock uses a spring-loaded bolt with an angled edge, meaning as the door is closed, the angled edge of the latchbolt retracts before springing back into a ‘locked’ position as the door aligns.

The BS2510 latchbolt also has an anti-thrust snib, which deadlocks the latch once closed. The latch is easily reversible for inward or outward opening doors.

Our double cylinder Rim Deadbolt is also self-deadlocking, which means closing the door automatically triggers the release of the lock bolt and secures the door in the closed position. With the Rim Deadbolt, it is possible to disable the automatic deadlocking function using the latch back button to hold the bolt in the withdrawn, or ‘unlocked’, position.

Choosing your door lock with BBG

Whether you choose a mortice or a rim deadlock, you can be confident your home is secure. Every BBG door lock comes with the following security features as standard: saw resistant bolts; secure striker plate and our own key registration system, protected by patent and copyright.

Contact our lock experts at Best Brothers today for more information about the different types of door locks we offer, visit our showroom or book a free survey.