Types of Locks

When choosing the doors of their homes, many people often overlook one of the most important factors to consider. The type of lock that the door has installed is probably one of the most important decisions that you can make when choosing the door for your home. In all honesty, the lock that you choose for your home can even impact the rates of your home insurance. There are really only four main types of locks that you can choose from. If you have the basics of those firmly in mind, you can better make your final decision. That is where this information can come in handy. Below you will find a basic description of each of the four types of locks.

• Rim Mount. Also known as a vertical dead bolt, the rim mount lock get's it's name because it looks like a dead bolt lock that has been turned sideways. This is perhaps the single easiest lock to install on a door, since it is actually attached to the exterior of the door, rather than inside it. This type of lock is ideal for a secondary lock, but a rather poor choice as a primary one. The rim mount lock is also known for its ability to resist anyone prying it open.
• Full Mortise. A full mortise lock looks an awful lot like the traditional key-in-knob locks. The major difference is that the lock is separate from the knob, but part of the same mechanism that the knob is attached to. Full mortise locks always need to be installed by a professional, and become an integral part of the door when they are finally installed. According to who you ask, this is arguably the most effective lock that you can have installed in your door.
• Dead Bolt. A dead bolt is a relatively inexpensive, and easy type of lock that you can have added to your door. Generally this type of lock is chosen as a secondary option, and usually used in conjunction with a key-in-knob lock. This type of lock is a fairly popular choice as a secondary lock since it is more resistant to prying than the key-in-knob variety, and it is so easy to install.
• Key-In-Knob. Perhaps the single most popular, and traditional type of lock to have in a door. The lock is actually a part of the door itself, and is integral to the knob. In addition, this is perhaps the second easiest type of lock to install since if you change the knob, you can also change the lock. However if this is the type of lock that you have on your door, you should also look into getting a secondary lock option as well.