There are so many types of locks to choose from

Are you shopping for the right locks for your home or business? There is an almost endless selection of various kinds of locks - such as wall-mounted locks, high-security cylinders, pin-tumbler locks, deadbolts, bump-proof locks, lever-handled locks, padlocks, cam locks, rim locks, interchangeable core cylinder locks, mortise locks, doorknob locks, key-in-knob cylinder locks, switch locks, combination locks, keycard locks, biometric locks, and on and on. The most well-known reputable brands are:

• Ace
• American
• Arrow
• ASSA
• Baldwin
• Ilco
• Falcon
• Kwikset
• Master
• Medeco
• Primus
• Schlage
• Yale

Any locksmith professional will tell you that deadbolts are an excellent choice as a solid line of defense when it comes to protecting your home. The reason they’re called “dead” is because they don’t have springs to operate the bolt; that is, a deadbolt is operated manually - with a key or thumbturn.

Professional locksmiths usually recommend that you install deadbolts on all of your external doors. There are a number of deadbolt types. The most common are single-cylinder, double-cylinder, lockable thumbturn, and jimmy-proof.

• A single-cylinder deadbolt lock is the standard deadbolt lock, with a key cylinder on the outside, and a thumbturn on the inside to open or close it. These deadbolt locks are typically used on solid metal doors or on wooden doors. The only disadvantage to this kind of deadbolt is that if there’s any access to the inside, such as through a window in the door or close to the door, then the door could be opened with the thumbturn.
• A double-cylinder deadbolt, therefore, goes a bit farther. This deadbolt type has a key cylinder both on the inside of the door and on the outside. That means that if it’s locked, the double-cylinder always requires a key to open the door from the inside. It’s perfect if your door has any glass in it, or if your door has a window nearby, because an intruder can’t break the glass and reach in to unlock the door. Its one minor drawback is that in case of fire or other emergency, you’ll have to remember to always keep an extra key available on the inside, whenever people are there, so that you’ll always be able to get out of the house safely in an emergency.
• Then there’s the lockable thumbturn deadbolt, which is essentially a blending of the single-cylinder and the double-cylinder deadbolt. With a thumbturn on the inside, it works like a basic single-cylinder deadbolt, but it can be locked with a key, so that the thumbturn won’t lock or unlock the door unless you have the key, too. Accordingly, the thumbturn can be left in an unlocked position while people are inside your house, but it will still operate exactly like a standard single-cylinder deadbolt. Then, when you go out, especially if it’s for an extended period, the thumbturn can be easily locked. This deadbolt will provide you with optimum security and flexibility.
• A jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, often found at apartment buildings and on double doors. A surface-mount lock means that the lock screws inside the door, rather than with an intricate drill pattern, the way an ordinary deadbolt does. A jimmy-proof deadbolt is popular because it requires only minor door modifications. In this unique type of deadbolt lock, the deadbolt interlocks with the jamb bracket. It’s therefore not easily pulled apart and it’s difficult to force it from the outside.

The above are all smart choices in deadbolts. There are even more than these. Expert locksmiths also recommend these additional deadbolt types: mortise, rim, vertical, keyless, and digital.

• A mortise deadbolt is a lock not easily tampered with. Old-fashioned in style, you can install this deadbolt in a mortise or recess pocket, cut in the edge of the door. This kind of lock has extra resilience; but one downside is that since you have to penetrate the door frame to make a large hole, it may weaken slightly the door’s structure.
• Easy to install, a rim deadbolt is a deadbolt that’s bolted to the inside face of the door. The great thing about this type of lock is that it automatically locks behind you each time you shut the door, so you won’t ever forget to lock it. Of course, if you’re someone who forgets your keys often, you may not see this as an advantage.
• A vertical deadbolt lock is also bolted to the inside face of the door, but it is placed on top of the door, making it impossible for a potential thief to force it open by placing a bar between the door and the frame. This sort of deadbolt is also a breeze to install. A small drawback to both the rim deadbolt and the vertical deadbolt is that they’re rather bigger, so some people view them as unattractive.
• A keyless deadbolt lock is mounted on the inside of the door, but it has a keypad rather than a keyhole. You type your secret code in rather than turn a key. Since you don’t use a key at all, you won’t ever have to be concerned about losing it or having it stolen. Another advantage is that you can change your code as often as you want to maximize your security.
• A digital deadbolt is like a keyless deadbolt, with a keypad, but it requires batteries or electricity. With this sort of deadbolt, make sure you always keep the batteries charged, or you’ll be out of luck in a power outage! One disadvantage to such an electronic device is that there’s a slight possibility it could be hackable.

This is only a basic overview. There are locks to fit every purpose and location. If you want to make well-informed decisions about exactly the right locks for your residential or commercial building, ask a local locksmith you can trust. If you live any place in Buckeye, Arizona, it’s time to meet with a dependable locksmith expert such as the professionals on staff at Buckeye Locksmith AZ, where free consultations are available.