In this day and age, home security is of the utmost importance and it is vital that you invest in the best locks for your doors – particularly when it comes to nightlatches.
There are several products on the market that you can buy to help in this regard, but buying and installing the right nightlatches – the correct wording for what the majority of people would describe as a Yale lock – is probably one of the most important fittings to consider.
This is a latch that is operated by a turn from one side of the door and a key on the other and is often referred to as a slam lock, since a key is required to open the door once it shuts behind you. Most households have a nightlatch on the front door, with the majority installing a visible surface nightlatch.
However, you can opt to conceal the nightlatch function in the door itself as a mortice nightlatch, a fitting that is commonly found on the entrance doors of communal apartments.
You might also be interested in buying a version of this product known as a roller bolt nightlatch. This features a roller – so when the door is shut, it remains latched on the roller and is not locked until the key is turned from the outside or the internal knob is rotated. These products tend to be found on the front doors of individual flats.
Of course, if you do decide to invest in nightlatches such as these, you need to make sure you have your keys when leaving the house, otherwise you could find yourself locked out for some time.
However, you may not be taken with the idea of this kind of product and may think that a mortice lock is more appropriate to your family’s needs.
This type of lock comes with a single deadbolt that can only be locked and unlocked with a key. It is designed to be embedded in the door so your lock is afforded extra strength, providing great security as and when required.
If you’re seeking protection against any number of attacks on your front door – be it manipulation, drilling, force, lock-picking or even hacksawing – mortice locks could be a great choice.
You can also invest in door handles that can lock and must be used in conjunction with a door latch.
These come in a variety of styles and materials so you can have a very secure house that doesn’t compromise on the design and aesthetic of your home.
You might be interested in purchasing door handles on rose, which would provide your home with a very contemporary feel, or perhaps be more tempted to buy more traditional products such as Art Deco period designs.
Opting for a door handle on a backplate could also be a good choice, as could very stylised ones by, for example, Italian designers.
Regardless of what products you decide to invest in, you need to make sure that all your external doors come with either a rim cyinder nightlatch and a BS-certified five lever deadlock or a BS-certified five lever sashlock.
The majority of household insurance companies in the UK require this as a minimum safety standard. If you do not have these, the firm could contest any claims made should a break-in take place.