Question on deadbolts.

[volvoguy87]

I just bought my 1st house. It's a multi-family and I'll be living in one unit and renting out the others. I am buying all new deadbolts. Right now, they are mostly cheap Quicksets. I want something MUCH better. I've been leaning toward Baldwin, but my supplier also carries Emtek. I've never heard of Emtek and can't find all that much online. Are they any good?

What do you think?
Dave

 

[whirlcool]

When we move in to a new house we have always used Schlage deadbolts. The bolts are extra long and made of different metals to ensure strength and the screws that connect the jamb section to the door frame are about 9 inches long. They screw into the homes actual frame or brick work. Very secure and sturdy. Combined with a solid or metal core door it would be most difficult for someone to force entry that way.

Quicksets always seemed ultra cheap and the parts don't really fit together all that well. When assembled they rattle.

 

[polkanut]

Yale locks are very well built also.  The dead bolt at my grandmas house was 65+ years old when the house was sold in 2005, and still worked flawlessly.

 

[maytagbear]

I agree

with Allen about Schlage deadbolts. In my opinion, they are the only ones worth having.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[rickr]

What ever brand of dead bolt you use, you may want to check with building code in your area before you purchase. On our rental house, we failed the first inspection because the dead bolts were the type that had to use a key to unlock from the inside. We had to replace the locks with the type that unlock from the inside with a lever instead. I thought that the regulation was kind of stupid, but for a rental house to pass inspection in Allen County that is the way it is. Same rule applies to security storm doors as well. All doors must unlock from the inside with a lever, not a key. The inspector told us it was a fire code regulation. It wasn't a big deal to change, but I had to take another morning off work, and wait around the rental house again in order to obtain the second inspection. A bit of a pain...

 

[supersuds]

Consumer Reports liked Medeco best.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/consumer&id=8173889

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Schlage or Medeco

Your best bet for either though is to go with a grade 2 high security lockset or a commercial set.
Nick WK78

 

[circlew]

Emtek should be a good lock. They're part of Assa Abloy, which also makes Corbin-Russwin, Medeco, Sargent, and Yale locks, in addition to Ceco and Curries steel doors and frames. They also make other door opening products such as hinges and weatherstripping. I got Ceco doors and Sargent locks for my basement, and am pleased with the quality. Got all of them at Norwood Hardware out on Glendale-Milford road. I dealt with the commercial dept.

 

[lordkenmore]

I've had Kwikset deadbolts the last 2 rounds. Not by my choice--it's what was installed by the landlord. Years back, I had a Schlage, and I'm guessing that Schlage dated to mid-90s, and was probably towards the bottom of the line. The Schlage did, as I recall, feel considerably more solid. Even though, when I last used it, it was over 10 years old. The current Kwiksets I'm using were installed two years ago.

Another thing I don't like about Kwikset--the locks on my doors were made in China. I'm not sure if US made is even an option, but I do recall about that time seeing Kwikset priced locks that were Mexican, which I prefer over China.

Secondly, given that this is rentals, it might be worth making sure that the locks have easy rekeying. At least some brands allow for easy DIY rekeying--which could make life easier as tenants come and go.

 

[lordkenmore]

I don't mean to derail this topic, but now that I'm thinking of locks, I am wondering how long Kwikset has had "cheap" feeling. I never saw a deadbolt lock before 2009 from them. But I remember not being overly impressed by their locking door knobs. The oldest I saw might have been 1970s or before. And my parents went through two Kwikset knobs for the front door in just a few years back in the 80s.

 

[wayupnorth]

I always used the cheapest new locks to re-key my rental units (so glad they are gone). My home now has Yale locks and work perfect and every so often give them some lubricating oil. But I also have a wonderful golden retriever that lets me know when anything is in our yard.

 

[xraytech]

We have always use Schlage deadbolts with much satisfaction.

Some areas do have codes stating that the interior locking mechanism must be the kind with a lever.

Personally for me for my home I will go against code as I want a deadbolt with a key lock inside and out, as I see it with a door that has the 1/2 glass a burglar simply has to knock out a pane of glass reach in and unlock a deadbolt with a lever mechanism inside

 

[lordkenmore]

I currently have deadbolt locks that require a key both sides, and I definitely agree with the argument that they will give more security than deadbolts with a lever inside. Even when there isn't a window in/by the door, there is a potential security benefit. A burglar might potentially get in through, say, a window, with the idea of leaving by the front door with an arm load of goodies. A door that cannot be opened easily might reduce the amount of things taken.

Although when equipping a rental, it might be better to go with the type that has a lever inside. Just because of potential liability issues.

 

[hydralique]

Double deadbolts on required exit doors are prohibited by most all building codes for a very simple reason: people have died of smoke inhalation inside those doors when the key couldn't be located during a fire. A key that is normally easy to see inside a drawer or hanging with numerous other keys on a key rack can be impossible to find if you're crawling on the floor of a smoke filled room with no lights.

 

Regarding Emtek, they make good locks and latchsets. I've used them many times because they offer a nice selection of designs and finishes for a fairly reasonable price, and availability is good. In looks and feel they are pretty comparable to Baldwin; either one is a big step above Shlage or Kwikset.

 

 

[whirlcool]

One of our locks has a keyed lock on both sides. The door is 80% glass and like it was stated above all someone has to do is break the glass. When we are home we use this lock to hang our keys in. At night we hang our keys on a wall opposite from the lock.
But there is always a set of keys (mine usually) on my nightstand, just in case.

When we go to bed at night we feel pretty safe because we have four big woofers in the house and nothing gets past them!

 

[alr2903]

RickR, and Lordkenmore are right about the Locks and Firesafety,  OTOH, you want to make a burglar exit the same way they came in, and difficult as possible.  We have the "key required" type of deadbolts.  I always put the keys in the locks when guests overnight. alr

 

[volvoguy87]

Glass.

Glass in or near doors can be a problem. Since I have a few broken panes, I'll replace them with safety glass (only within reach of the deadbolts). A burgeler may break the glass and reach in, but it beomes a chinese finger trap when he/she goes to pull their arm out. They might break in, but they'll be leaving me a painful DNA sample on the way out.

Leaning toward Baldwin,
Dave

 

[lordkenmore]

Double sided keyed locks and safety

In my case, I only lock one lock when I'm in--the door closest to the bedroom. My approach for fire safety and burglar security is that put the key in that lock when I come in, and take it when I go. The car key I use is with that key, so if I'm driving someplace, I'm forced to remember to grab the key out of the lock. The one flaw: it's not so easy to remember to put the key back into the lock when I come back--particularly when I've got a billion things I'm trying to juggle at once.

I've also got another key on a second set of keys. That is always in the bedroom when I'm in, and in roughly the same area.

I don't bother locking the primary entrance's deadbolt when I'm in. I just use the doorknob lock. From what I observe, I don't think someone breaking in during the night is that likely where I am. Most night crimes seem to be out-of-house--car break ins, things stolen out of the yard, and--oh, yes--one neighbor did have a toilet stolen out of an abandoned mobile.

I suppose my approach would vary under other circumstances--living elsewhere, or with another person, etc. It's amazing, actually, how many different systems I've had over the years for just handling the keys I carry.

 

[lordkenmore]

I'm not sure about this, but I think I have heard of deadbolts that "lock" the inside key so it can't removed when the lock is locked from the inside. This would, obviously, increase fire safety.

 

[lordkenmore]

From sick minds come sick questions like this:

Do mausoleums use DEADbolt locks?

 

[whirlcool]

On television recently ( a program called "I want that") there was this lock that allows a person to change the keys very easily. The lock comes with 4 or 5 sets of keys already made. When you want to change the key so it no longer works just put the key in the lock. Press a tiny button neat the key hole, then remove the old key and insert the new key. The lock has then been changed to the new key and the old key will no longer work. Very easy. I think the lockset was about $300. and I can't remember the manufacturer.

 

[polkanut]

John,

To answer your question, I have a key for the public mausoleum in Pine Grove Cemetery here in Wausau, and it is not a "DEAD"bolt lock.  It is basically a skeleton key lock.  The mausoleum was erected circa 1912.  Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[volvoguy87]

I bought the Baldwins.

Now to have them keyed and install them.
I bought them from Norwood Hardware in Cincinnati, OH and the folks there were so nice and they actually knew about the products they sold. I'd go there again.

Dave

 

[lordkenmore]

I bought them from Norwood Hardware in Cincinnati, OH

What you didn't go to a "big box" hardware store? Think of all the fun you missed:
-The employee who asks if he or she can help. You ask for the locks. You get directed to Aisle 2. Which is the toilet display.
-Finally finding the locks after 2 days search.
-Finding everything is sold out except a lock that is for an application that is the exact opposite of what you need.
-Meeting an employee who tells you that what's on the shelf is exactly what you need, even if the package clearly states its for some other application.

 

[alr2903]

I always support my locally owned hardware

Dontcha love the Mom & Pop hardwares, many times all the employees are family.  In NOLA  a  nice young man made my "over the dryer" rod for me straight metal rod with S hooks and about 2 ft of chain@ each end, to bring it to working level, he did it with a vice and did not charge me a dime.  Here I wanted rigid dryer venting and an older gentleman popped the flat sheet work into the "track" to form the pipeThere is a "knack" to get it to "pop" together correctly.  Thats Service! alr

 

[circlew]

alr2903,

Actually, Norwood hardware, while locally owned, is not a "neighborhood" general hardware store, but an architectural hardware distributor. They have a very high class showroom in addition to the commercial division, and have provided doors, locks, toilet partitions, etc. to many large hospitals, schools, and at least one of the new stadiums. They were certainly one of the best suppliers I've dealt with while renovating my home.

 

[volvoguy87]

Another benefit:

Norwood Hardware cut me a nice deal on the deadbolts because I was ordering several of them. Try that at Lowes!
Dave