How to pick the right home door lock for you

Choosing home door locks (i.e. front, back and side doors) can seem a bit of an effort, given the confusing array available. Before making any decision, it's important to familiarise yourself with the different kinds of locks out there, and the pros and cons of each.

Rim home door locks

Rim locks are mounted to the internal face of a door and use an exposed strike plate (where the bolt or latch slots into the door jamb) to lock the door. "Rim locks are mainly used for the domestic market, due to their cost effectiveness and reliability," says locksmith Paul from Spinks Security. "The benefit of these home door locks is that they're easy to install. They're more expensive than deadbolts, but they're more secure. The strike provides the lock with strength, because there are numerous fixing points."

Deadbolt home door locks

Deadbolts are installed inside the door, with the mechanism concealed within the door. They are a cheaper home door lock alternative to the rim lock, but they're not as strong, as they rely solely on the doorframe for strength. "Really, a deadbolt is only as strong as the doorframe it's attached to," says Paul.

Mortice home door locks

Mortice locks are also installed inside the door, but have a larger mechanism and a wider variety of functions and can be used with many different types of door furniture. They're often used in commercial settings because of their durability and versatility, but that's not to say they can't be used in a domestic environment. They're expensive, but highly reliable and versatile, according to Paul.

Deadlatch home door locks

'Deadlatches' are often mentioned in discussions about locks – essentially, a deadlatch is a type of rim lock and is used in most situations that a rim lock would be used in. The security benefit of a deadlatch is that it can be locked from the inside as well as out, so if an intruder gets into your house through a window, they can't get back out through the front door with your plasma television! However, for fire safety reasons, you should never keep your deadlatch locked if you're in the house. You should look for a deadlatch with an internal safety release mechanism.

Deciding which type of home door lock is best for your home depends on your budget, the type of door and doorframe that you're working with and your personal requirements. To discuss further what might be best for your home, get in touch with a locksmith or a security company.