A Guide to Various Kinds of Locks

If you’re looking for your options when it comes to locks, whether for your residential or commercial property, this guide is a good start. Since there are so many types of locks and keys as well as new innovations coming out all the time, it can be difficult to settle on the perfect option. This can be even more of a strain if you’re on a limited budget, as you obviously want to get the most bang for your buck. Access control, security, and safety are always important factors to consider whenever you’re looking to choose a type of lock to protect your property.

Whether you’re only looking to replace one or two locks on the exterior of your home, or you want to upgrade all of the locks for your entire residential or commercial property, knowing the types of locks available can help you on your journey to choose the right kind of locks for your situation. An experienced and knowledgeable locksmith like those employed at our company can help guide you if you’re overwhelmed. Strong locks provide the crucial foundation for any property’s security, so it pays to invest in the best and most appropriate. Read on to learn more about the types of locks available for residential and commercial door installation.

Manual Lock Types

• Knob & Lever Locks: These simple locks are widespread on both internal and external doors, but offer little in the way of security. Many people are surprised to find out how easily these types of locks can be thwarted. Knob and lever locks are basic in that they involve a series of calibrated pins inside a spring-loaded lock. This makes them vulnerable to lock picking and key bumping attempts, and are no match for brute force. However, they can be effective if you just need to keep an interior door closed to keep your kids or pets out of a particular room. Higher security knob and lever locks can replace the current installations on your exterior doors.
• Deadbolts: Deadbolts are found on most external doors for residential and commercial properties, usually accompanied by a spring-loaded knob or lever lock. This is intentional, since the majority of building intrusions are performed using brute force methods. Deadbolt locks consist of the bolt and a strike plate that’s fitted into the door frame. When a deadbolt is engaged, the bolt fits into the strike plate and holds the door secure. There are two main types of deadbolt locks, single-cylinder deadbolts and double-cylinder deadbolts. Single-cylinder deadbolts have a thumb-turn on the inside and a key cylinder on the outside. As their name suggests, double-cylinder deadbolts have a key cylinder on the interior and the exterior and require a key to lock and unlock. The term “dead” refers to the fact that this type of lock lacks a spring mechanism.
• Padlocks: Padlocks are unique in that they are a removable type of lock. They are generally inexpensive and have two main forms, those with a combination lock or those that require a key. For combination locks, there are usually several number dials that need to be calibrated correctly to open the lock. These are commonly found on lockers and bike chains. Keyed locks come in either rekeyable or non-rekeyable models.
• Mortise Locks: Mortise locks have been around for many years, especially in Britain and across Europe, although they’ve seen a resurgence in recent years especially for commercial properties. Mortise locks are composed of two different parts: a body that is installed in a pocket (the “mortise”) in the door itself and then a box keep that is fitted into the door itself. Mortise locks can be very sturdy due to their construction.
• Cam Locks: Cam locks are a type of lock commonly found on different types of furniture and cabinets and usually have an interchangeable core that allows them to be easily changed when the need for a new key occurs. Usually they feature a flat exterior which is not only aesthetically appealing but fairly secure.

Electronic Lock Types

• Magnetic Locks: These work via a system of electrical current and magnets, as the name suggests. This type of lock uses a low-voltage power source in order to hold the door shut, which is then disengaged by using credentials such as a card key, key fob, or pin number on an associated numerical keypad. Magnetic locks (also known as maglocks) are often found as part of an access control system (discussed in more detail below).
• Keypad Locks: Keypad locks can have either a manual or digital numerical keypad. To gain entry to the locked area, you input a personalized pin code, usually 4 or 6 digits. This can be changed by the property owner at any time, which allows you to give out temporary passcodes to service workers and visitors.
• Biometric Entry: Biometric entry is one of the most secure lock types there is on the market today. Biometric entry reads physical data, such as a fingerprint or a retinal scan, instead of you typing in a code or inserting a key. Once reserved for only high security facilities, biometric entry is becoming more common in a variety of industries, including medical and financial companies.
• Smart Locks: Smart locks are part of an overall trend toward smart technology for homes and businesses. Smart locks generally operate using your smartphone, although some have voice recognition technology.

A Word on Access Control

Access control provides an additional layer of protection for electronic locks and can be integrated as part of an electronic system. Depending on the complexity of the system, there may be additional barriers to entry, including time-limited circumstances. A qualified locksmith can assist you in determining which types of access control are available and appropriate for your property.