If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that we’ve covered the highest performing front doors. But what about the most secure front door locks? In an increasingly uncertain world, knowing that we’ve done our utmost to bolster our home’s security keeps us sleeping soundly at night.
So whether you live in a dense urban sprawl populated with high-income households or your home sits in a remote, rural area, here are 5 excellent locks to consider installing on your front door.
Why front door security matters
Despite savvy homeowners becoming more attuned to home security, more than 183,000 residential burglaries have been reported across England and Wales in the last year. According to data from the Office of National Statistics, 70% of these burglaries are perpetrated by thieves who enter a dwelling via external doors. This alone makes a compelling case for reinforcing your home’s entry points, but what if we mentioned that, on top of this, 33% of domestic burglaries are committed by forcing the lock?
Suffice it to say, in today’s day and age, selecting the most secure door locks for these thresholds shouldn’t be brushed off as a chore to eventually get to. Criminals aren’t going to wait around, so the best time to safeguard your home is in the present. With this in mind, let’s take a look at when a lock upgrade is in order.
When you might need to upgrade your external door locks
There are swathes of reasons why your door locks might need replacing or an additional safeguard adding, and if we were to name them all, we’d be here all day. So for the sake of brevity, here is a short list of the main ones.
- Bought a new home? You might want to change the locks after the completion process has gone through and you’ve picked up your new keys. Partially because you are more at risk of burglary having just moved and because it’s impossible to say who has access to the keys, it’s a great way to up your security and maintain your peace of mind.
- Break-ins: If you’ve been burgled or have suffered a break-in, your first steps should be to remedy your locks.
- Poor quality locks: If your locks are in a state of disrepair or you’re concerned about how well they protect your home’s entry points, it’s always worth replacing them with a more robust model.
- Tenant issues: As a landlord, it’s among your responsibilities to secure the property and part of this entails changing the locks on the rental property when circumstances call for it – for instance – when previous tenants were disreputable or locks have been broken.
- Damaged locks: When locks have snapped, bent or otherwise been broken, they can’t do their job. Here, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible.
Ranking the most secure door locks: 5 top-performers for enhanced security
With so many types of door locks on the market, it can be difficult to identify which one is best. To make your life that little bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 for you to mull over.
1) Five-lever mortice locks
Mortice locks are ubiquitous in the realm of door security thanks to their superior strength and drill resistance. The 5-lever deadlock variety is the best of the bunch, with 5 individual levers inside the mechanism – in order for the lock to open each of these needs to be aligned within the lock body, allowing for the bolt to retract into the doorframe and releasing the door. This means that they’re significantly more difficult to pick than mortice locks with fewer levers.
- Pros: They can withstand high levels of force without compromising their integrity, making break-ins less likely to happen and giving you that irreplaceable peace of mind.
- Cons: They’re trickier to install than others, usually requiring a professional locksmith to see that their effectiveness isn’t undermined.
- Compatibility: composite or timber doors with a thickness of 35mm or above.
2) Multi-point locking systems
Another good long-term investment is a multi-point locking system. These bad boys are equipped to deal with everything life throws at them. With a variety of security features like hooks, deadbolts, rollers and pins, by installing a multi-point locking system over a single-point locking system you are further reinforcing your home.
Typically used in conjunction with uPVC door locks since they’re less prone to locking mechanism failures, they’re ideal for this door type and can be used confidently on garages, and front & patio doors.
- Pros: Available in a multitude of designs, robust and high-performing and is more easily repaired than other varieties as the lock is located in the gearbox, allowing it to be replaced independently of the entire multi-point locking system.
- Cons: More difficult to install and more expensive than single-point locks (but the security is worth it!).
- Compatibility: timber, composite and uPVC doors.
3) Anti-snap euro cylinder locks
Euro cylinder locks can also be used to enhance your front door security, but make sure they’re of the anti-snap variety. These handy locks are also called “barrel locks” or “pin tumbler locks”, owing to their cylindrical profile, and are operated by a key on both sides.
When installing an anti-snap euro cylinder lock, it’s best to think about convenience early on. So if you’re not keen on faffing around with a key when leaving the house, or would feel safer with a lock mechanism that allows you to leave faster in the event of an emergency perhaps invest in one with a thumb turn on the inside.
- Pros: Can be keyed alike, operated by a master key or operated by a unique key; often have anti-snapping, anti-drilling and anti-bump security features; available with a variety of pins from 15 to 5.
- Cons: Not quite as secure as mortice locks or multi-point locks
- Compatibility: uPVC, composite and timber doors.
4) Deadbolt locks
Similar to euro cylinder locks, deadbolts can be operated by a key on both sides, but sometimes there’ll be a thumb turn on the interior allowing for easy locking/unlocking from the inside. Since they function by extending a bolt into the door frame and don’t use springs, they’re particularly difficult to force open using tools such as a crowbar. These locks are also relatively affordable and easy to install, making them a popular choice for homeowners.
- Pros: Difficult to force open and resistant to pressure, making them highly secure.
- Cons: If double cylinder and keyed on both sides, it can slow down emergency exits, making them unsuitable for single-entry flats.
- Compatibility: timber, composite.
5) Smart locks
While smart locks have been proliferating the market for a few years now, they’re still considered the new kids on the block. Bringing home security into the future, they combine convenience and interconnectivity by linking up your devices such as your phone or tablet. This means you can monitor who is coming and going remotely and access your front door with a key that is uncopiable – your voice or fingerprint.
Do note that, like any other lock, these smart security devices aren’t infallible. So the best option is to combine your smart lock with a robust door and a traditional lock that you can fall back on in case of emergency.
- Pros: Benefit from remote entry, a choice of unlocking methods (keypad, thumbprint, voice or traditional key) and saying goodbye to hideaway keys under your potted plants.
- Cons: If cheap home insurance is a priority, then smart locks might not be on the table; this is because many insurance companies won’t approve of them. As they don’t have the bolts and springs that physically prevent your door from opening, they’re technically not classified as door lock hardware.
- Compatibility: timber, composite, steel and some uPVC doors.
Locks to avoid on external doors
If you have a spring latch or Yale lock installed on your front door, it’s time to upgrade. While brilliant add-ons, alone they don’t have enough strength and force resistance to secure the threshold of your home. By all means, install a 5 lever mortice lock alongside them, but don’t let them be your only line of defence.
Considerations for savvy shoppers
All is well and good selecting a high-performing lock for your home, but if it doesn’t match your criteria as a consumer, you might find that it’s more hassle than it’s worth. From budget limitations to insurance requirements, make sure you take these considerations to heart when shopping around.
Budget constraints
As with any purchase or project, financial constraints will come into play. While the price of changing your locks should be affordable and cost-effective in the long run with a reputable locksmith, there are a number of factors that may increase the cost:
- Callout time – if your lock upgrade is of immediate importance or an emergency (required outside of regular business hours), it may incur a higher price tag.
- Lock type – as you might expect, specialist locks tend to be more expensive. As do higher calibre locks made from premium materials. However, a good quality model doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, just make sure it does the job efficiently.
- Extent of work required – depending on the type of installation required and the number of new locks you are installing, the amount of work and time it takes to complete the job can vary. And time / labour equals money.
With this trio of factors in the back of your mind, you should be able to select a secure door lock that is not only right for you, but sits nicely within your allocated budget.
Door compatibility
It’s no good buying a high-performing lock if it can’t be installed on your door. Make sure to take notice of which locks are compatible with the type of door you have. We’ve included compatibility in our assessment of the 5 most secure door locks, but if you’re still unsure it’s a good idea to talk to an expert.
Robustness and strength
This consideration is an obvious one. However safe you may feel in your neighbourhood, never overlook the level of strength and security when shopping around. You may want to look at customer reviews for their thoughts or get an expert opinion from a professional.
Insurance requirements
Along with strength comes performance, and with performance, regulations. To ensure that your home insurance pays out in the case of an emergency, you must have insurance-approved door locks installed. These types of locks meet stringent requirements that work to keep you safe, namely the BS3621 British Standard. To check for this, take a look at the faceplate of the lock for a Kitemark and an accompanying ‘BS3621’ engraving.
Take your pick
Armed with a proper understanding of the most secure door locks, picking out your next one will be a piece of cake. Make sure it bears the right Kitemark, is compatible with your door type and delivers the amount of protection you’re after – the rest is as simple as installing it yourself or contacting an experienced locksmith near you to get it fitted. Easy.
