how to insert a rim lock into a wooden door video

Overhead locking mechanisms are attached directly to the surface of the door leaf. A rim lock designed for installation on a wooden door can be equipped with different closing mechanisms. Installing such a lock yourself will not be difficult, but it is not as reliable as mortise structures.

Features of overhead locks, advantages and disadvantages

Overhead appliances have advantages that make them special. Advantages of the devices:

1. Design features. The device includes a locking block, a strike plate, and a set of keys. Thanks to this, the mechanism has a long service life.
2. High level of protection against home penetration. This factor also depends on the choice of a quality product and proper installation. To do this, it is recommended to use electromechanical options.
3. The door leaf is not damaged during installation. One hole is made. The canvas material remains as integral and reliable as possible.
4. Ease of installation. These structures are easy and quick to install compared to mortise models. Any person without special skills can do this job. It is important to strictly follow the instructions and comply with all the rules listed in it.

Disadvantages are also present:

1. Maximum reliability is ensured only if the door opens outward. If the structure opens in the opposite direction, and the box is fragile, then the blade may come loose with the lock.
2. Locks are oriented to a specific side. You need to immediately understand whether you need the right or left option. If the hinges are located on the right, then the lock should be on the opposite side, and vice versa. Manufacturers mark the product to simplify the selection task.

Peculiarities

Overhead locks are good because their installation does not require cutting something into the door leaf, thereby violating the integrity of the door leaf - this is the main advantage. To do this work, you can do it yourself with a minimum of tools - this is the second plus. And the third advantage is that locks of this type are quite easy to operate, repair and replace.

True, there are also some serious shortcomings that such devices suffer from.

• Unfortunately, such a lock is completely unsuitable for entrance doors that open indoors. More precisely, for honest people who usually do not have the habit of kicking down other people's doors along with the lock inside the apartment, such constipation is quite a worthy argument, but there are other subjects. Therefore, it is recommended to install two locks on such doors - both overhead and mortise.
• Almost all types of overhead locking devices are oriented to one side of the door - left or right. If it suddenly occurs to you to change a door that opens in the other direction, then you won’t be able to use the lock from the old door.

Everything became clear with the features of such devices. All that remains is to understand the differences between the types of such locks in order to purchase and install the optimal one for yourself.

Among the variety of overhead locking devices, we can highlight only those that have proven themselves only on the good side.

• Locks with cylinder mechanism. They have many advantages over other designs of their type: low cost, high reliability, variety of models, good maintainability. That is why representatives of this type of overhead locks are the most popular among consumers. They have locking cylinders in their larva, the number of which determines its resistance to burglary. The more such elements in the larva, the higher the security of the device. Modern cylinder locks are made with additional protection, are equipped with keys with side perforations, and their cylinders cannot be drilled.

• Level locking structures. They are highly reliable, but are more often used for metal doors, gates, and safes. They are massive and therefore it is completely absurd to use them for wooden products.

• Pin mechanisms. Structurally, it consists of several spring-loaded pins, which are locking bodies (bolts), which are located on different sides relative to the unlocking device of the lock. Opening occurs with a special key, which you simply need to insert all the way into the keyhole without turning anything. Closing occurs with the same action. On the inside there is a rotating handle for opening/closing the lock.

• Electromechanical system. In these devices, the latch is activated either by a key from the outside, or by a button from the inside using a magnet powered by an electric current with a voltage of 12 V. In order to open the door from the inside with a key, you need to set the button to lock mode. In cases where you need to keep the door open, the button is set to constant opening mode.

• Electronic variant. The lock opens and closes from the key fob, and the entire system operates from autonomous power supply. She is not afraid of power outages at home; the lock itself is not visible from the outside of the door. The door will only need to be cut down if anyone other than the owners wants to break into the apartment. But such a device also has a very high cost, which not every apartment owner will decide on.

• Barrier brand locks. They have the highest degree of protection (fourth). The lock is almost impossible to open (volumetric coding of the mechanism), break (steel body more than 5 mm), or unscrew (very large area of ​​the locking plate).

The last two models, of course, cannot be afforded by every citizen living on one salary, but even otherwise it makes no sense to install them on wooden doors. Wooden doors themselves are not considered to be highly burglary-resistant products.

How to install on a wooden door

Overhead locking devices are excellent for wood structures, since after installation the integrity of its surface is maintained. You need to prepare materials, tools and perform a number of simple steps.

Materials and tools

Before installing a lock on a wooden door, prepare:

• screwdriver;
• drill;
• pencil;
• fastening materials - self-tapping screws;
• carpentry tools, chisel and hammer (may be needed).

Installation technology

At the very beginning, it is necessary to determine the height of the future rim lock. If replacement is expected, there is no need to worry about this. In a situation where the door leaf is damaged, this area should be closed using a decorative strip. After this, change the height of the location. The distance from the floor level is one or one and a half meters.

The installation procedure is carried out from the inside of the device made of wood. The case is attached using screws that are included with the lock. The body part contains special holes for fastening. Since the locking bolts do not move inside the door leaf, but are located in the door frame, before final installation it is necessary to check the level of reliability of their movement.

Installing a rim lock on a wooden door involves the following steps:

1. The lock must be attached to the canvas. Apply markings - this is necessary to create holes.
2. Drill holes for mounting materials. To do this, use drills with a diameter two millimeters smaller than self-tapping screws. This is necessary to securely fix the device on a wooden structure.
3. Then proceed to create a channel for the core. To do this, use a pen to drill out a channel of the required diameter.
4. Install a lock on the door leaf.
5. Place the fixing strip on the box.

There is no need to secure the element yet. This is done to check the functionality of the locking device.

Attention! The canvas and the box may not be located in the same plane. To align the locking device with the counter element, sometimes the seat for the locking plate needs to be deepened. This can be done with a hammer and chisel.

After combining both parts, marking is made. Next, holes are drilled and the locking plate is secured. Fastening is carried out using screws. Finally, the functionality of the locking mechanism is checked once again.

Step-by-step instructions for inserting a lock

The following instructions will help you fit the lock into the interior door correctly. It takes into account the type of lock, and therefore has two sections on installing the case (round and flat) and the strike plate.

Round lock mortise

The easiest way to complete the work is with modern equipment - about 20 minutes is enough. The cutter will prepare all the holes carefully and accurately.

Lock mortise by professionals.

Doing the work manually is a little more difficult. The step-by-step installation algorithm consists of the following operations:

• a drill with a crown with a diameter of 50 mm is attached to a screwdriver or drill;
• Having positioned the drill exactly in the center of the hole for the handle, the door is drilled until the gimlet comes out on the back side. It is not advisable to continue - using a crown can damage the decorative coating of the door leaf. It is better to finish from the reverse side;
• on the crown the knife is changed to a diameter of 23 mm;
• A hole for the latch is drilled from the end of the door. It should be exactly in the middle of the hole for the handle. The work can be done with a feather auger - the diameter is enough;
• a latch is inserted close to the end;
• Use a pencil to mark the contour of the latch lining, as well as the places where the fixing screws are screwed in;

The outline of the latch and the space for the screws are marked.

• the latch is removed;
• use a screwdriver with a drill with a diameter of 1 mm to drill holes for self-tapping screws;
• At the end, using a chisel and hammer, a 3 mm recess is cut out for the latch bar. It is better to shorten and narrow the width and length, which will allow the recess to be more accurately adjusted to the insert. If the ends of the trim are oval, a feather drill will come to the rescue.

A chisel will help.

All that remains is to install the handles and latch.

Flat lock mortise

Now let’s look at how to embed a lock into an interior door if the mechanism body is flat. The work is performed in the following sequence:

on a feather drill with a diameter equal to the thickness of the locking device body, the drilling depth is marked - equal to the length of the body;

The drilling depth is determined.

• the drill is inserted into the drill. You can also use a simple drill of the required diameter;
• Focusing on the marks of the bottom and top of the lock, 7-8 or 9-10 holes are drilled one next to the other (the number of holes depends on the size of the locking mechanism) to form a continuous recess. The same work can be done with a chisel, chisel and hammer. It's long and laborious, but that's how our grandfathers worked;

Diagram of drilling a recess for the lock body.

edges are trimmed with a chisel;

The edges are trimmed with a chisel.

A larger drill is inserted into the drill and the edges of the recess are ground with it. There is no need to press hard. The canvas may be damaged;

Grinding the recess with a drill.

• using a feather drill of different diameters, holes are drilled for the handles, the cylinder with pins (you can drill for the pins with the same drill as for the cylinder - the decorative trim will hide it);
• Using a chisel, a recess is hollowed out for the plank. The technology is the same as that of a round lock.

Using a chisel, a recess is hollowed out for the plank.

The castle is being assembled.

The latch bar is installed.

Considering the wide variety of locks, the editors of the StroyGuru website decided to consider their assembly in a separate article.

Installation on a metal door

Before you begin installation, you need to prepare the necessary equipment. The process of installing a lock on a metal door is more complex compared to a wooden structure.

Required materials and tools

For the procedure you will need the following tools and materials:

• electric drill;
• drill;
• thread-cutting tool - tap;
• screwdriver;
• fastening materials - self-tapping screws;
• pencil.

Step-by-step installation instructions

Installing a rim lock on a metal entrance door:

1. The device diagram must be studied with special care. Check the package contents of the device.
2. Decide on the location where the padlock should be located. Longitudinal and transverse stiffeners should not be located in this area. Otherwise, they will be damaged, which reduces the security of the door.
3. Attach the device to the installation location. After this, align and trace with a pencil the contours and holes for fastening materials (screws).
4. Drill holes to attach the lock in the future. The drilled holes should be 0.2 mm smaller in diameter than the screws - this will ensure reliable fixation.
5. Use a tap to cut threads in the holes.
6. Next, create a through hole. Afterwards, install the mask.
7. Install the rim lock in the prepared area. To do this, use self-tapping screws and a screwdriver. Make alignment with the core pin.
8. The striker plate should then be attached to the box. Align the holes on it with the crossbars of the lock structure. Select a location and use a pencil to mark the striker plate for drilling mounting holes. Before making holes, double-check that they will line up with the crossbars.
9. The channels need to be drilled. Then install the striker plate.
10. The functionality of the lock is checked.

Related article: How to change the lock on a metal door yourself
Important point! A door made of steel (iron) has a lot of weight. To avoid jammed bolts, widen the channels on the steel strike plate. The cause of jamming is the subsidence of the door leaf on the hinges. The expansion is made two millimeters down. To do this, use a drill.

A padlock is an important element for ensuring the security of a home or any other premises. Choose a high quality locking device. Absolutely anyone can install a rim lock with their own hands. For successful installation, select the appropriate materials and tools and strictly follow the instructions.

Required tools and components

Inserting locks into wooden panels requires the use of:

• wood drill;
• a set of steel crowns;
• a set of chisels;
• roulette;
• construction pencil;
• screwdrivers - slotted and Phillips;
• drills;
• screwdrivers;
• hammer.

The selection of the lock plays a very important role. In this case, they focus on the size of the structure. An excessively thick lock will not allow the required mass of wood to be provided on the left and right sides. If there is less than 1 cm of wood left there, the door will not be strong enough. A kick is enough for the entire canvas to crack.

Additionally, it is necessary to control the depth of the lock entry. Some of the canvases are thicker on the outside than in the center. The glazed part can also present difficulties. If you have to prepare a place to insert a large lock, it is easy to deform the material. As for fasteners, they must be selected in accordance with the instructions from the manufacturers.

Often you can't get by with a drill or angle grinder. The optimal device for inserting locks into doors made of solid wood or other wooden materials is considered to be a manual router. Although "almost ready" lock mortise kits are relatively inexpensive, professionals advise choosing each tool individually. This allows you to finally be sure of its quality (both when purchasing and when renting). In addition, this solution helps to save money.

How to install a rim lock on a wooden door

The degree of “secrecy” of the mechanism, the quality of its metal and a number of other characteristics do not yet guarantee a high level of protection of the opening from unauthorized entry. Much is determined by how well the locking device is installed. In terms of the specifics of installation, a rim lock is quite simple, and having delved into some of the nuances of the work, you don’t have to involve a professional.

Fastening is carried out on the canvas, from the side of the room. This is a significant advantage, since you won’t have to cut into the lock, which means you won’t have to deal with wood removal. In addition, its position is easy to adjust if necessary. But this ease of installation also has a downside - this type of locking mechanism will not provide a high level of security if it is not securely fixed to the canvas.

It is not difficult to install a rim lock on any door, although it is mainly purchased for wooden doors, since it is more difficult to work with steel. The main technological operations and their order are unchanged; the only difference is in the individual tools used during the installation process.

Bolt lock

There are deadbolt and deadbolt-free overhead locks. In the first case, there is a different number of crossbars. There can be from 1 to 5. Crossbar-less systems operate due to a powerful electromagnet. It attracts a metal plate to itself, which helps close the door. Because of this operating mechanism, the system is called electromechanical.

Overhead locks are divided into:

An overhead lock for a wooden door is the simplest solution.

It implements a mechanical type of equipment. Electronic locking systems can also be installed, but they are rarely used. To open a door with a mechanical lock, just turn a regular key. In the case of electrical devices, opening is achieved by transmitting special impulses. Without them they will not function.

Operating procedure

Selecting a location

This stage is not the most important, but it should be noted. Even before installation, you need to determine how best to install a height lock on a wooden door. And there are nuances here.

• Proper installation means that opening the overhead lock should not cause difficulties for any family member, even the smallest one who already has his own key.
• The lock is installed in such a way as to ensure maximum security of the door from being knocked out. And this is possible if it is located at the level of ½ of the canvas from the threshold. At the same time, at least two different types of mechanisms are installed at the entrance. In this case, the lower lock is attached with a distance from the floor at ⅓ of the height of the door. It happens that there are more of them (3, sometimes 4), and therefore a minimum of a meter is determined for it.

Marking the canvas

• If the location of the lock on the door is known, you need to attach it to it and outline the outline. The lock body is positioned so that its cut coincides with the edge of the blade. Since wood is subject to deformation, and over time, some distortion of the sash is formed due to wear of the hinges, it is recommended to make a small indentation from the edge (about 2.5 mm). This will not particularly affect the length of the tongue, but will eliminate the possibility of the metal touching the box.
• Having received the projection of the overhead device, it is easy to mark the holes for fasteners and the keyhole.

Drilling

There is some difficulty in making a hole for the cylinder of the locking mechanism. Moreover, if a rim lock is installed on a panel-type wooden door. It is mounted on its frame, and therefore the accuracy must be maximum, taking into account the small cross-section of the frame beam. In this case, it is recommended to work not with an ordinary cylindrical drill, but with a feather drill or a crown drill (for wood).

Installation of the overhead device

• Fastening the mechanism cylinder. It is fixed firmly, since no further manipulations with it are provided.
• Housing installation. There is no need to fully tighten the fasteners; It is only necessary to ensure a tight fit of the lock to the canvas.

What concerns the door itself is done. All that remains is to work on the joint.

Mounting the strike plate

It is placed on the box, on the tongue side. To avoid difficulties with opening/closing the padlock, incomplete release of the latch or its hooking, you need to achieve complete coincidence with the slot in the bar. It can be a rectangle or a hole (sometimes two, three); it all depends on the modification of the product. But the procedure is unchanged, especially since there is already a lock on the door.

• The end of the latch is smeared with paste (ink, ink), after which the blade is closed. It is enough to turn the overlay mechanism with a key, and an imprint will remain on the box corresponding to the location of the slot in the strike plate.
• The door is opened again, and the lock bolt is pulled out to its maximum length using the key. After the canvas is pressed against the box, their top and bottom are marked on it.

Related article: Door hinges left and right how to determine

Determining for yourself how to secure the bar after such markings will not be difficult. You just need to select wood to the depth of the latch. How to proceed?

If it is round, then use a drill, but a slightly larger diameter. With a flat lock tongue it is somewhat more difficult. You will have to drill 2 - 3 holes, one above the other. All that remains is to knock down the formed jumpers with a chisel and give the recess the desired rectangular shape; the same chisel, shoemaker's knife or other sharp cutting tool.

Installing a door lock on a steel door is more difficult in the sense that you will have to machine a slot in the metal profile. A file is a bad helper; Given the limitation in the “course” of its working part, it will take a lot of time. It is much more convenient and faster to process the recess with a milling cutter, which is placed in the chuck of an electric drill.

Functionality check

No matter how accurately the measures are carried out at each stage, small deviations from the norm are possible. This means that you need to make sure that the crossbars move freely, without jamming, to their extreme positions, the latch easily moves out of place, and the canvas fits tightly to the box. Identified defects are eliminated quickly.

It remains to add that the installation of a rim lock on a wooden or metal door should be done after adjusting the position of the sash. If the awnings are adjustable, this will take a few minutes. If hinges that do not have such an “option” are heavily worn, it is more advisable to replace them with new ones.

Installation algorithm

After selecting and purchasing a rim lock, you can begin installing it. This kind of work can be entrusted to professionals. But if we are talking about a simple product, it is permissible to perform the necessary manipulations with your own hands. You should not take risks if the door structure is expensive or has an exclusive design. Without being a professional, you can easily damage the canvas.

The tools you will need are a screwdriver, drills, a hammer, a chisel, a tape measure and a square for marking. Professionals additionally have special milling cutters for quick installation. But they are of no use to a home handyman, since he is not going to regularly do such work. You will also have to prepare a hand or electric drill.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

The locking mechanism is installed on a standard door at 1/3 of the length from the top of the door leaf. Make markings with a square and holes using a drill. Trace the outlines of the castle on paper. The resulting fragment acts as a template for more convenient work.

Take a drill that has the same diameter as the cylinder and form a seat for it. It is better to do this on both sides so that no defects form on the front surface. The cylinder is inserted into the prepared holes and the body is secured with self-tapping screws. An overlay is mounted on the outside. It is intended for the key hole.

Open the lock and press it to the surface of the box. At the same time, mark the area where constipation will be located. Make markings on the crossbar strips at the top and bottom. The lock body is inserted into this area and its contours are traced with a pencil. Use a chisel to create indentations so that the holder plate is flush with the door frame. Next comes the finishing stage, when the correctness of all manipulations is checked.

Types of fixing device

To replace or install a door lock, you need to select and buy it correctly. Regardless of where the replacement is carried out (entrance or interior), installation recommendations remain the same. There are 3 types of door locks:

1. Mounted. Is the simplest option. It is necessary to screw the arms onto the canvas and onto the box, after which you can begin to close and open the house. The disadvantage of this option is considered to be low strength, so it is recommended to use it for covering personal buildings;
2. Mortise view. Available in different designs. Regardless of the type, the installation instructions are the same. This type of locking device is characterized by high reliability and protects the house well from the penetration of uninvited guests;
3. The rim lock is perhaps less reliable than the mortise type, but it is still popular among home and apartment owners. Installation is easier and faster than a mortise device.

Advice! If two locks will be installed on the wooden entrance door of a house or apartment, then you should choose different types.

Functions

Based on the principle of functionality, there are two groups of locks:

- With spring latch. Opening occurs from the inside with a handle, and on the outside with a key. In this case, the latch is inserted into the housing or a special button located in the housing is pressed.

- With a fixed latch. This mechanism completely blocks the door thanks to a triangular latch.

There are magnetic locks that are advisable to install only in places where there is a large flow of people. Often this is just work on opening outwards. Such locks may require an additional power connection or an autonomous energy carrier.

How to install a lock on a wooden door?

A broken lock on an interior door can be easily replaced. To do this, remove the old one and put in its place a new model with the same dimensions. This work is simple and takes, on average, 10-15 minutes.

It is much more difficult to install a mortise lock in a door where there have not yet been any models. Let's look at the progress step by step:

1. Mark the center line using a square or tape measure. To do this, mark 3-4 points and draw a line. Then we apply the door lock and indicate the dimensions: top, bottom, middle.

Tip: it is recommended to install the locking device at a distance of 1 m from the lower edge of the leaf.

2. Set a limit on the feather drill and cut out a niche. The thickness of the drill should be several millimeters wider than the lock.

Tip: the depth of the niche is approximately 5 mm greater than the depth of the lock being installed. The measurement starts from the cutting edges of the drill.

3. We install a lock in the niche and mark the points for fastening on the drawn line. Then we make holes and return the model, fastening it with self-tapping screws.

4. Trim the outline.

5. Setting up the stock for the plank.

6. Mark the holes for the handle and keyhole, taking into account the front strip. This must be done from the inside and outside.

7. Make the intended holes.

8. Insert the larva and onion. We mask defects with overlays.

9. Install the strike plate.

How are products classified?

Mortise locks are classified according to:

• latch type;
• method of fixing the door leaf;
• type of locking mechanisms;
• to the manufacturer.

By latch type

The main types of latches are presented in the table.

By fixation method

The product can be equipped as follows:

• bolt + latch;
• latch (used in doors between rooms);
• crossbar (the structure is fixed using a key).

Locking mechanism type

Level model
The main types are presented in the table.

Device manufacturers

The best manufacturers include:

• "Kale Kilit";
• "Elbor";
• "KESO";
• "Apex";
• "Mul-t-lock";
• "Guardian";
• "Mottura".

Important! Russian and Italian have proven themselves best. Castles from

Castles from

How to install a rim lock on a wooden door?

This is a quick and easy way to install a door lock. To do this, you must follow the instructions:

1. Determine the insertion level. The installation of an overhead door lock is carried out higher than the mortise model. The gap between them should be 20-50 cm.
2. We outline the mounting location; to do this, we mark the upper and lower parts of the lock.
3. Using a paper template, we mark the holes for the screws and the keyhole.
4. We drill holes.
5. Using a feather drill, we make holes for the keyhole.
6. We determine the bed for the end strip.
7. We mark the counter plate and screw it on.
8. We fix the outer cover.

Related article: The plastic balcony door sank, how to adjust it

Replacing a door lock requires care and patience from the technician. You can install a new lock yourself if you have the necessary equipment and instructions that must be followed.

Breakdown and repair

Overhead locks, even the most reliable ones, can break from time to time. The reason for this is usually improper use of the products. If they are rarely used, they require regular lubrication. Incorrect installation can lead to damage to the mechanism. Cheap modifications made from low-quality materials quickly fail. They are not designed for constant loads.

The mechanism breaks down if there is an attempt to break in by intruders, as well as when the door leaf is skewed. If the key breaks inside the device or gets stuck in it, trying to pull it back can lead to similar consequences. Sometimes the owners of the premises ignore the noise that is heard when the door is opened. This indicates the presence of a defect that requires correction . If you do not pay attention to this unfavorable sign, the mechanism will wear out.

Repairing a rim lock is a specific problem, but this problem can be solved by following the necessary recommendations and using special tools. It all depends on the situation: sometimes you have to change the cylinder, while in other cases it is enough to adjust the mechanism, and the lock starts working properly.

If the locking mechanism jams and it is difficult to turn the key, do not rush to buy a new replacement device. You can set it up to work on your own. To do this, take a flashlight and inspect the keyhole carefully. Sometimes attackers deliberately push all sorts of garbage inside it: toothpicks, coins, match heads. To remove all this, you can take a needle or tweezers. If the foreign objects were pulled out without much difficulty, there is no need to resort to repairs. If there is too much debris, or glue is found inside, you will have to remove and disassemble the lock. Upon completion of all work, lubrication will be required.

Tilt the flat product towards the door handle and press it. Press away from yourself to force the latch to move away from the mechanism to the side. At the same time, press the door leaf. If the latch does not have a beveled area, a solid, flat-shaped object is inserted from above. If you do everything according to the instructions, after 10 minutes the closed door will open.

Source

Overhead locks - easy DIY installation

To lock doors, there are many locking mechanisms: overhead, mortise, padlocks, latches, latches, hooks. Quite often, overhead locks are installed on entrance doors, especially when new doors are installed by hand. When installing such a lock, the integrity of the door leaves is not compromised, so the reliability and strength of the door remains at a high level. The lock is easily attached to the door, providing strong locks and security of the room.

It is much easier to install an overhead lock on wooden panels and frames; metal doors, when installing an overhead lock, require additional reinforcement with thick metal plates. Metal consumption increases significantly, and the price of the product rises sharply.

What types of door locks are there: differences in installation method

In principle, almost everyone knows about this division of door locks - according to the installation method, they are divided into mortise, overhead and padded. Let's start studying them in order of reliability.

1. Padlocks. No matter how complex their locking mechanism may be, these devices are fairly easy to break into. One move with a pry bar or a piece of a regular door - and either the lock is broken or the hinges are torn off. In general, this is not the best option for the front door to a house or apartment. In most cases, they are used to lock sheds and other premises where particularly valuable items are not stored.
2. Overhead locks. Most often, these are not very reliable locks for entrance doors - they are used only because they do not violate the integrity of the door leaf. It is for this reason that the purpose of such locking mechanisms is to “protect” wooden entrance doors. You understand that if you cut a lock into a tree, it will be too weakened. A wooden door with a mortise lock can simply be kicked in. Another disadvantage of such locking mechanisms can be considered the unsightly appearance of doors equipped with a rim lock - little attention is paid to this factor, since they prefer it to reliability. Such locks are not used on metal entrance doors.
3. Mortise locks. They are widely used both in metal entrance doors and in all types of interior doors. This type of lock has one important advantage - hidden installation. For interior doors these are high aesthetic characteristics, and for entrance doors they are an additional obstacle in the way of an intruder. If you are looking for the answer to the question of which door locks are the most secure, then you have found it. There is nothing more reliable than a mortise locking mechanism installed in a metal door.

In principle, if we compare a mortise and a rim lock with each other, then their degree of resistance to burglary (not to opening) is approximately the same - the element of unreliability in this situation is the material of the door leaf. If you test these locks on metal doors, they will show the same results. In general, the choice of one type of lock or another depends on your preferences. The only exception is a wooden entrance door, which modern people already refuse to install.

Types of rim locks

Modern models of rim locks are available in several designs: mechanical, electronic, electromechanical, the most common of which are ordinary mechanical locking mechanisms. Mechanical locks provide reliable protection for your home with a simple turn of the key and movement of the latch.

Attention! Electronic locks operate by sending a pulse when acting on the locking mechanism. Rim locks are available with different types of secret mechanism; equipped with different numbers of crossbars.

The security mechanism responsible for the security of the rim lock can be lever or cylinder. Cylinder locks are more popular, because in the event of mechanical damage, you do not need to replace the entire locking mechanism; it is enough to replace the cylinder. Such repairs do not require large financial expenditures.

In lever-type locks, the possibility of replacing the cylinder is not provided, so it is important when purchasing a lock to carefully study its structure and all the positive aspects of the locking mechanism.

Overhead locks are made for any type of door; special notes are made in the product passport:

1. L – locks are intended for left-hand doors.
2. P – locking mechanisms for right-hand doors.

The deadbolt system of overhead locks is usually equipped with crossbars, the number of which varies from 1 to 5; in more modern models, an electromagnet is used instead of crossbars.

Door lock device with handle. Lock mechanism

So, what does an entrance door lock consist of? The main part is the larva, it is the very mechanism that ensures the blocking of the structure in the opening and prevents strangers from entering the room.

The following models are distinguished:

• cylinder;
• levelers;
• disk;
• crossbars;
• crusades.

Door lock options depending on the locking mechanism

Cylinder. These are the most common products, the secret part of which is located in a part similar to a cylinder. The structure of the so-called English lock is as follows: inside the cylinder there are pins that lock the mechanism in the closed position. The key has notches that move these pins according to the diagram and allow you to turn the mechanism.

Level ones. These products are very reliable. The design of a lever door lock involves the presence of levers inside the mechanism. The key has the shape of a so-called butterfly or soldier and, when turned, raises them to the level specified by the coding.

Disk. This is not the most reliable option, but it can still be used. The key looks like a rod cut in half with several notches. Inside the lock, this key turns the discs, forming a tunnel and releasing the mechanism.

Crossbars. The device of such a door lock is equipped with a latch on the reverse side. Today, such options are rarely used due to their unreliability. The essence of the device is the presence of two crossbars, which are pulled back with a special key or latch.

Crusaders. The weakest type, the key has a cross shape. The larva can be opened with a Phillips screwdriver or any other suitable object.

The main advantages of rim locks

Equipping the door with a rim lock ensures high security against unauthorized intrusion; improved models of electronic locking mechanisms are especially durable and reliable.

Rim locks do not affect the strength of the door panels; when installing them in the door, there is no need to drill holes. Thanks to gentle installation when installing overhead locks, door structures do not lose their high qualities in strength, safety, reliability and durability. The doors retain their original geometric dimensions throughout their entire service life, and sagging of the door leaf is eliminated.

A rim lock, equipped with additional locking systems: a latch or a bolt, ideally ensures the resistance of the door structure to burglary.

High-quality fastening of a rim lock to a metal door, although it requires additional costs, fits perfectly into the interior of the room and at the same time meets the high requirements for ensuring home security.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before choosing a rim lock for a wooden door or metal structure, you should familiarize yourself with its advantages and disadvantages. Despite some disadvantages, such systems are highly reliable.

The undeniable advantages of overhead models include high speed and ease of installation. If there is space on the metal door for an additional security mechanism, installation will take place quickly and without unnecessary effort. Installation in this case can be reduced to securing the mechanism in a specially designated place. Steel doors with glass inserts are particularly aesthetically pleasing. However, installing an additional locking mechanism can spoil the appearance of such a model.

Another advantage is that, unlike other locking systems, overhead-type devices cannot be removed from the fastenings by loosening them from the outside of the door. This ensures the safety of your home. Overhead locks are fairly easy to repair. The mechanism of the device is located as clearly as possible. This makes it easy to maintain and check.

It is also worth mentioning the main disadvantages of such models. For example, like any other locks, the overhead device can be hacked by a professional. The criticality of the shortcomings of such products is determined by each owner of a house or apartment.

The main disadvantage of overhead models is the ability to open the mechanism from the inside using a simple latch. If an intruder entered the house and collected valuables, it will not be difficult for him to get out of the house through the door.

When installing the device on a door that opens inward, knocking out the lock will not be difficult. In addition, if the input structure is equipped only with a surface-mounted device, it will not be possible to replace it.

Despite the many advantages of overhead door locks, they are not aesthetically pleasing. The appearance of metal products especially spoils such products. Most modern models perform only a practical function and have no decorative design. Overhead locks for metal doors are selected according to the design features of the latter.

Materials for the manufacture of overhead locking devices

When choosing a lock for a wooden or metal door, you should pay attention to the material from which the mechanism is made. Internal parts made of aluminum or its alloys significantly reduce the quality of the locking device. Aluminum parts wear out quickly and require replacement.

More durable locks are made of brass - these locking devices have a large margin of safety and work perfectly even in adverse conditions.

Steel locks are even more durable. They are not affected by low or high temperatures; unlike aluminum, steel has greater strength. When purchasing a steel rim lock, you should pay attention to protection from moisture - the external parts of a high-quality lock must have a protective coating.

Protection class

The first difference between overhead locks is the degree of their protection. There are several classes of it that correspond to the degree of protection of the home from penetration. There are only four of them: from minimal and medium to high and special.

The first of them is the easiest for an attacker; such a lock opens in a matter of minutes, about five is enough. A lock with medium security will require some tinkering, but breaking it will take no more than 10 minutes. A high level includes such fittings that are equipped with protection against drilling of the bolt shank. The fourth, highest, class of protection includes locks for special rooms or safes. Such devices are selected individually.

According to this classification, locks of the second and third class of protection are suitable for domestic purposes and civil buildings.