LOCK FITTING SERVICE
The fitting of door locks, window locks and other forms of additional security will help to keep burglars out. In 20% of burglaries thieves gain entry through open doors and windows, so not only do you want the fitting of good, strong locks but you should make sure your doors and windows remain closed and locked.
P&R Locksmiths provide a professional installation, door opening, lock repair, fitting and replacement service for all types of doors and windows, including garages, domestic roller-shutters and fire escapes. We also provide replacement UPVC locks and composite multi-point locks.
Door Locks
Two in three burglars gain access through a door. The following descriptions may help in understanding the difference between the most common domestic door locks and help identify the most suitable locks for your property.
Mortice Locks
The Home Office recommends fitting five-lever mortise deadlocks (British Standard BS3621) to all external doors. Many insurance companies require this as a minimum standard.
Mortice locks are embedded into the door itself and can only be opened with the key. They are commonly found on back doors and are often fitted to front doors in addition to a cylinder rim lock (Yale lock).
Mortice locks can often be described as a deadlock or sash lock. A deadlock is a mortice lock which has just a key hole and a bolt. A sash lock has a bolt and a latch and a pair of handles.
Mortice locks have several lever variations: a 2, 3, 5 or 7 lever mechanism. 5 lever and above can be British Standard or non British Standard. The higher the number of “levers” the more difficult the lock is to “pick” and the more secure it will be, the higher the lever the lock the more key variations there are eliminating duplicate keys.
P&R Locksmiths recommend all locks should be upgraded and replaced with 5-lever locks, tested to BS3621, which can be identified by the British Standard Kitemark symbol. This is usually a minimum insurance requirement.
Mortice locks require a key to be turned to activate the deadlock. The major advantage of a mortice lock is that burglars can not smash an adjacent window, reach inside and unlock the door. The deadlocks on a mortice lock also mean that if a burglar breaks in through a window they can not escape through the door, providing you have not left the key in the lock on the inside.