IN THIS POST:
– Padlocks
– Deadbolts
– Barrel Bolts
– Knob Locks
– Lever Handle Locks
– Mortise Locks
– Cam Locks
– Magnetic Push Latches
– Sash Locks
Locking our homes offers better safety and locking our cupboards and drawers provides us with better privacy for our belongings, but you’d surely prefer to secure your property with something sturdier than a lock that you’d find on a filing cabinet. Ultimately, a combination of several different types of locks are used in our homes and each kind of lock has its purpose and limits to the amount of safety or privacy it offers. Let’s discuss the types of locks used around the house and how they can be used to secure different parts of the property and your belongings.
Types of Locks Used in Homes
From simple padlocks to deadbolts, cam locks, and barrel bolts, there is a large array of the kind of locks you might use around your house. These include:
- Padlocks
- Deadbolts
- Barrel Bolts
- Knob Locks
- Lever Handle Locks
- Mortise Locks
- Cam Locks
- Magnetic Push Latches
- Sash Locks
We’ll be covering each lock type below, discussing not just their features, but also where they’ll be an ideal fit in your home.
Padlocks
Ideal for: Main gates of properties or when used in combination with barrel bolts to secure entry points
The padlock is the most recognisable lock type in this list and it is also the universally known and used symbol to denote any kind of locking mechanism. They are portable means of securing entry points and can be found in a range of materials, sizes, and weights. Padlocks are also available as keyed or combination locks, based on the preference of the user.
The shape remains relatively the same with a rectangular or square body and a U-shaped bar that snaps open and can rotate a complete 360° with one end of the U rising up from the body of the lock but still firmly attached. Pass the chain, handles, or links that you want to lock together through the U before pressing down on the open end of the U. Make sure that you align it with the hole in the body of the lock so that the pressure results in a snapping sound and the lock clicks shut onto itself, trapping two ends of a chain or two separate door handles inside the bar.
Deadbolts
Ideal for: Main doors, external doors, internal doors
This is one of the common types of door locks used in homes, primarily used on all doors that provide entry into the house. This is because the deadbolt is one of the toughest ones to break through and provides the best defence against intruders who want to use force to enter the premises.
There are three types of deadbolts commonly found in the market and in houses across Pakistan. The first is a thumbturn deadbolt, which is used on doors inside the house. This lock type has a one-way locking mechanism, using a rectangular knob that you can turn using your thumb and finger to slide the bolt into place from inside the room.
In contrast, a single-cylinder deadbolt offers keyed entry from one side of the door and may or may not be accompanied by a thumbturn deadbolt on the other side of the door. This type is also generally preferred for interior doors and is similar to the doors of hotel rooms which open with a key from the outside but can be locked from the inside by turning a knob.
The last kind of deadbolt is the double-cylinder deadbolt, which is the one that most people install to the main doors of their houses. This kind of lock can be opened and closed using a key from both sides.
Barrel Bolts
Ideal for: Main gates, main doors, interior doors, bathroom doors, wooden windows, wooden cabinets
One of the most commonly used bolts in Pakistani homes, most of us might not recognise it by its name, but the picture is certainly familiar. Available in a range of metallic designs with varying thicknesses and styles, the barrel bolt has a fixed frame that is screwed into wooden frames or welded onto iron surfaces. The sliding bolt hits home, usually fitting into a notch created on the wall beside the door beforehand, with the help of a knob or handle. The idea is that the door will not budge from its place until the bolt is pulled back, but this bolt is often reinforced with the use of keyed deadbolts.
You can find lightweight and delicate barrel bolts for your furniture pieces made of brass or other metals, as well as bulkier alternatives that withstand a lot more force by being made of stainless steel or iron. You can choose the ideal type of lock based on your need for safety and privacy. Barrel bolts on the main doors of a house are often reinforced with the help of padlocks to provide better security to the home.
Most barrel bolts are used horizontally, but you can also find them in vertical positions, where they keep a door from opening by sliding the bolt into the floor or ceiling instead of the wall. They work in a similar manner on windows and can be a safe choice as long as you are using a windowpane made from one of the many types of tempered glass in Pakistan, as the glass will then be resistant to breaking by force, preventing anyone from putting their hand in and sliding back the bolt to enter the premises.
Knob Locks
Ideal for: Interior doors
With round bulky knobs on both sides of the door and the ease to lock the room from the inside with a single cylinder or both the inside and the outside with a double cylinder, door knob locks are commonly used for bedroom doors. They work with a spring mechanism that allows you to open the door from both sides by turning the knob when the door is unlocked, but you will only be able to turn the knob on the inside if you’ve pressed the button that triggers the lock. With a double cylinder lock, you might have the option of opening the room with a key from the outside.
Unfortunately, these locks are prone to breaking and can also be easily tampered with, using a hammer or wrench to break them apart, which is why they are avoided for external doors or used in combination with other locks.
Lever Handle Locks
Ideal for: Interior doors, closet doors
Similar to door knob locks, lever handle locks work with a spring back mechanism but these have a lever that you need to push down to open the door in comparison to turning a knob. Aside from the lever, a thumbturn knob is generally given on one side of the door in order to lock it properly, while it can be opened from the other side using a key. You may also have a keyhole in place of a thumbturn knob on one or both sides, depending on where the lock is being used.
Locks with lever handles are generally used for interior doors to rooms or bathrooms. Many cupboards also have a similar mechanism with smaller levers in place. Doors with levers can easily be opened with one hand if you are carrying groceries or equipment into the room.
Mortise Locks
Ideal for: External doors
Most apartment dwellers prefer to install a metal door in front of their wooden door for additional protection of their belongings and family. The lock most commonly welded in place on the metallic door is a mortise lock, which might or might not have a spring locking mechanism, but is a lock with a double cylinder, which means it can be opened with a key from both sides.
Mortise locks generally have a thick metallic body inside which the locking mechanism is hidden. From the outside, you will only be able to see a rectangular metallic lockset with a keyhole, but the lock is built to withstand great pressure and force and is difficult to break into. A mortise lock is often used as part of a deadbolt for additional safety.
Cam Locks
Ideal for: Cabinets, drawers, wooden furniture
If you have wooden furniture with a keyhole on one side and a lock that slides in and locks the drawer or cupboard with the help of a key, you most probably have a cam lock installed in the furnishing. Cam locks are primarily used for providing you with a means of locking your storage drawers without hindering the exterior appeal of the furniture.
Cam locks are generally installed into wooden furniture but the lock itself is made of metal. They are installed in a hole cut out into the wood, with a keyhole on one side and the locking mechanism hidden from view inside the drawer or cupboard.
Magnetic Push Latches
Ideal for: Cabinets
Another locking mechanism for furniture that is commonly used for keeping your cupboards closed is a push magnet latch. While there may or may not be a keyed locked in place on such cabinets, the purpose behind adding a magnetic latch is to simply ensure that the door remains closed at all times.
You can release the magnet by simply pushing in and releasing the door and then grasping it towards you to pull it open. Similarly, close the door by touching the metal plate installed on it to the protruding magnet and then push in gently. The latch will catch and sink in again, taking the door with it, giving you a seamless finish for your furniture doors.
Sash Locks
Ideal for: Sliding windows or doors
Commonly used for aluminium windows, sash locks are crescent-shaped latches that have two primary parts. One of these is attached to each of the two sliding window panes or doors. The first part is a small catch shaped like a hook. The second part contains a lever that turns the lock around to make it catch on the hook on the other pane when both the panes are completely closed.
While this is a fairly effective way of preventing the entry of intruders into the home from sliding doors and windows, it is important to note that sash locks will only catch and lock in place if the windows are closed and perfectly aligned together. If the window is getting stuck on the railing even a little bit, it may not close properly, making the lock unusable until you can get the window to slide seamlessly into its place. Check out these window safety tips for homes in Pakistan to make your residence more secure.
These are some of the common types of locks used in homes in Pakistan. Now you know just how many different locking mechanisms come together to provide you with safety, security, and privacy in a single home. Discover the prices of different locks in Pakistan to make your home more secure. You should also check out this post which tells you exactly when to change the locks of your house to keep it safe from intruders. Changing the locks is also one way of ensuring better home security if you are living alone in Pakistan while reinforcing your home’s entrance with a sturdy lock is also an effective way of securing the home on a budget and preventing thefts and robberies in your absence.
Stay tuned to Zameen Blog for more informative posts. Send us your feedback and comments at blog@zameen.com.
