You know the feeling. You’re in a hurry to get somewhere, and you can’t find your keys anywhere. Or maybe you were supposed to be at work 20 minutes ago, but now it looks like you are going to be late because of that one thing that needs fixing around the house before you leave.
Getting the right locks for your home is an important decision. There are a lot of choices out there, but it can be hard to know which ones will work best for you and your family.
- What kind of doors do you have?
- How many keys or access cards do you need?
- Does security level matter? Is security more important than convenience?
- Do you want something easy to install or more durable in case someone tries to break in?
- And how much are you willing to spend on these new locks?
These are all things that need to be considered when deciding what type of lock is right for your home. Luckily, with the help of this article, and some information from our locksmiths at Right On Time Locksmiths, choosing the perfect lock should now be easier than ever.
What type of door is it?
The first thing you have to do when choosing a new lock for your home is to determine what kind of doors you will be using the lock on; there are 3 primary kinds of doors in use today:
Wood doors – wood doors are the type of door that is primarily used in older homes, and if you do not have any other choice, then you will need to get a lock made specifically for these. A lot of times this means that you will have to pay slightly more money because it may be harder to find a lock that works.
Wood doors are not usually the most secure, so if you want your door to be better protected against burglary attempts, you may want to consider upgrading.
You should know that wood doors are only good for decoration or as a front; they cannot keep out intruders very well. And even though they are in many older homes, don’t expect a lot of modern conveniences to work on it.
Metal doors – the type of metal door that is most commonly used in new construction is made out of steel. You will usually see this kind of door used for closets, sheds, and garages. They are strong and sturdy but may be vulnerable to fire if the lock is not made out of a heat-resistant material.
Steel doors may or may not be fitted with security features; if they are, you should make sure that they can withstand an attack before getting them installed.
If your metal door has glass panes, then it could be more vulnerable than a solid steel door because there are more entry points. You may want to consider installing metal bars if you have many windows or glass panes that do not already have steel coverings.
Metal doors are great for security, but they can be bad for the environment and will get hot in the sun. If you live in a climate that gets cold weather, then your door will need extra insulation to make sure that it does not freeze and cause any damage. Steel doors need a lot of maintenance to keep them looking new, but can last a long time if they are taken care of properly. These doors may be expensive, but you will get the most bang for your buck with this type of door.
Plastic doors – if your door is made out of plastic, then you need to look into the lock that you will use with it. These locks are not very strong and can usually be broken fairly easily; they may also cause damage to the door through continuous use.
Double-sided keyed deadbolts are a great choice for these doors because they are easy to put on, can be easily adjusted if needed, and have one of the highest ratings for security.
Metal or metal grilles can also work well with plastic doors as long as there is a bigger door behind it that will offer more support; you want your lock to be secure but not so strong that it becomes vulnerable to fire.
If you have a glass door that is stuck to the frame, then you may need some extra protection to keep it protected from forced entry. To do this, you can either choose a lock that has an adhesive backing or one that actually screws into the frame; if your door already has holes in it for the lockset to screw into, then this can help to prevent it from falling off.
Plastic doors are not the most secure and should only be used for high-traffic areas like hallways or bedrooms. They have a lot of benefits when it comes to insulation and energy efficiency, but they are very vulnerable to attack.
If you use one of these doors for entry, you should still choose a good lock to go with it so that it is protected from forced entries.
How many keys or access cards do you need?
It’s important to make sure that you have enough keys or access cards for other people in your family, as well as the maintenance workers. If someone loses all of their keys and they are locked out of the house, it is going to be a hard situation for everyone involved.
When making this decision, you should also take into account how comfortable everyone will be with the locks; if you are getting a lock that uses key cards or access codes with buttons, then make sure that everyone in your home and family can remember it.
Security and Convenience: Which is more important for you?
If you are constantly worried about someone breaking into your house and stealing things, then security is probably the most important thing for you when considering what type of lock to get. If that is the case, then you should only be concerned with locks that have high ratings for burglar resistance.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money on burglar-resistant locks, then you may want to consider buying convenience and get an easy-to-use lock. If you have a security system in place, it will be easier for the police to catch burglars if you have this type of lock because they can easily unlock doors with these kinds of systems.
If you have a family with kids and pets, then it may be best to get locks that can be opened from the outside even if they are locked inside.
Do you mind if the security system is easy to install or would you prefer a more durable one in case someone tries to break in?
You should figure out how easy you want the security system to be before deciding what kind of lock is right for your home. If you have a lot of fancy electronics in your house, then it may be best if everything can work together.
If you are renting or have roommates with different schedules, then you may want to think about how hard it is to change the code so that only you have access.
Another thing to consider when figuring out what type of lock is right for your home is if you are worried about unauthorized people getting in through the front door; if this is a concern, then you may want to think about getting high-quality locks that can be unlocked with a code from the outside without a key.
How much are you willing to spend on locks?
The price of locks varies greatly, and there are many different things that can influence the prices. Many companies will sell you a lock for less money, but they may try to convince you that it is high quality when it really isn’t. If you think about how much time and money you spend on making your home safe and comfortable, then you will be motivated to spend more money on locks.
If you have a large family or just like to live comfortably, then you may want to consider getting high-quality locks that are going to last for a long time and provide many years of service.
The best thing that you can do is collect information about different kinds of locks so that you can pick the ones that will be right for your home. You want something that is going to last, but also something that is easy to use and won’t break down after a few months.
Get in touch with us
By taking into account all of these things, you can easily choose the best lock for your home and family. If you follow these tips, then no one will be able to get in your house unnoticed and undisturbed unless they have access to the right codes or keys.
Right On Time Locksmith provides a wide variety of locks that can be customized to your needs.
For more information about which type of lock is the best for you, call (301) 798-5333 or visit https://rightontime-locksmith.com/.
