LOCKSETS are not just door fixtures as these should ensure safety for us and our loved ones.
Finding the right locksets for one’s home is a task one should personally attend to, as these will help secure the safety of your loved ones and everything else in your house that you consider precious and valuable.
Admittedly however, most of us are guilty of passing on the burden of choosing locksets to our architects and designers, as we feel that there are other more important details in the house that we need to be concerned with.
While others would base their choice of lockset on mere aesthetics, like what matches best with my type of door, Frankie Sy, VP for operations of Globe International, the exclusive distributor of the Faultless brand of locksets in the country, stresses that “locksets are something that we must take seriously.”
“It is our locks that protect the inside of the house including our investments and our loved ones. Locksets are not just door fixtures and (these) should not be overlooked. A good lockset guarantees a safe sleep for us and our loved ones,” Sy explains.
But with the number of designs, brands, makes and types of locksets available in the market right now, how do we know which one will truly work for our home? Sy shares some tips, which could help in choosing what lock best suits your house.
1 Choose a front door lock that has a combined deadbolt. Sy claims that a front door that only has a spring door lock is an easy target for burglars.
“Deadbolt locks make break-ins more difficult, as they are harder to break into once they are latched. Deadbolt features a 1-1/4 throw bolt with a hardened cylindrical steel that will turn when a burglar uses a hacksaw blade to saw off the bolt. The hardened steel will just spin and make the hacksaw useless,” he explains.
2 Choose a lockset that is pickproof. Sy reminds homeowners that it is necessary to buy locks that have double cylinder, doubled keyed lock, especially for front doors with glass or French windows beside it. This, he adds, will prevent burglars from just breaking the glass and use their arm to turn the lock. But if one has a double cylinder lock, they need to use a key to open the door.
Homeowners can also choose one that has a so-called dome key, a special key which cannot be duplicated manually, but only by a special machine. It also makes it impossible for burglars to pick since the grooves and pins are narrow and accurate, Sy adds.
3 Choose a lockset finish that will not tarnish or fade. According to Sy, lockset finishes usually last for five years, depending on the use. Some, however, may last longer or shorter, depending on the environment where the lock is placed or how it is cleaned.
“To make the finish of your lock last longer… make sure that the locksets are powder-coated (as opposed to) electro-plated, which is environmentally hazardous,” he shares. Powder coating also makes the finish more durable and allows locksets to withstand elements much better, he adds.
4 Choose a lockset that is certified by the American National Standards Institute (Ansi). There is a universal grading system that measures the security and durability of door locks, according to Sy.
“The standards were developed and maintained by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association Inc. (BHMA). These measure the security and durability performance of door locks. Ansi classifies door locks by grades ranging from 1, 2, or 3, with 1 being the highest,” he says.
5 Choose a lockset technology that will make it more convenient for you and the rest of your household without sacrificing safety. As locksets come in many forms and sizes and with interesting features, Sy advises homeowners to choose one that will be easy to use.
One option, he says, is the Faultless Electronic Key Pad Deadbolt (EKPD) that asks for four- to six-digit codes to open the lock and can store up to 10 numbers for each of the family members.
“Codes can be easily added or deleted using a master code. Faultless lockset also offers locksets with patented technology such as ‘spin to lock’—a deadbolt that can be turned from the outside so no need for the keys when going out of the house; ‘key deactivation’—disables keys when switched on by the homeowners; and ‘dome key’—invalidates other keys aside from the original that comes with it,” he explains.
6 Choose a lockset with the most years of warranty. “Warranty is essential because it cuts down the costs in the long run. Some locksets, such as Faultless, offer five-year finish and 25-year mechanical warranty,” Sy says.