1. Determine the style, size and opening direction of your customized door
– The door can be divided into single open, double open, left hand open and right hand open door, which influences the opening direction of the door lock.
– Before purchasing all locks for your door, measure the door thickness and frame width in order that the seller can configure the length of the lock cylinder and width of the lock body correctly.
– In addition, knowing about the door types and decoration style of the house interior is important. Door hardware and locks should be in harmony with the design of the door, to keep the design integrity.
2. Learn about the types of door lock
Different people like different types of door locks, here are some common options: cam locks, knob locks, deadbolt locks, padlocks, mortise locks, SFIC locks, smart locks, etc.
– Cam locks: the majority of a cam lock is invisible in fully constructed cabinets, do not affect the overall appearance, cam locks can be used to secure cabinet doors completely and safely, which makes them great options for office drawers or cabinets keeping important files. Most used applications: cabinets, drawers, mailboxes, etc.
– Knob locks: common type for interior door lock, the lock cylinder of knob lock is in the knob instead of the door, so it is not suitable for the entrance door.
– Deadbolt locks: has a bolt that must be activated by a key, unlike spring bolt lock, the unique locking mechanism can resist physical strike, offering the best protection against burglary.
– Padlocks: portable lock, easy to catch and recognize, not requiring installation. Padlock comes in various types, like keyed and combination, varying in design, size, color, security grade, etc.
– Mortise locks: requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the edge of the door or piece of furniture into which the lock is to be fitted, usually used on external doors.
– SFIC locks: Small Format Interchangeable Cores, with an adaptable locking key cylinder, for applications where re-keying is required, such as chain store, office, government building and more.
– Smart locks: modern smart locks offer remote control, voice control, and lots of powerful functions, can be unlocked with fingerprints and keys, which added the convenience, but more obviously more expensive than conventional locks.