Best Lock to Enhance Home Security

[SecurityGuru]

Hi All,

I am looking for the best residential deadbolt lock to install on my exterior doors. I am looking for something difficult to pick/bump and I was debating a Kwikset 985 or a Schlage B62.

Does anyone have any tips?

Thanks!

[squelchtone]

Neither of those locks are difficult to pick or bump.

If your budget is limited to $40 per deadbolt, then go with the Schlage, if you can spend $100 per lock, get a real Schlage from a real locksmith, the Schlage they sell at Home Depot is junk compared to a real commercial Schlage you'd get at a brick and mortal locksmith shop.

If you can spend even more, get Medeco, Abloy, or Mul-t-Lock, but make sure you also upgrade your door frame and hinges, a $100 dollar lock isnt going to stop someone from kicking the door in if your frame is made of Pine and the lock and hinges are installed using the short 3/4" inch brass screws. I had 3 to 4.5 inch screws in the hinges and strike box at my last place.

More people will probably chime in and tell you that a decent lock doesnt matter if your windows are left unlocked, or if you have a hollow core door, etc. The point is that you should layer your security with good locks, good motion lights, not letting bushes over grow by windows, and making sure your front door lock isnt the only place that gets all the upgrades, but the back door also gets reinforced and updated.

hope this helps, good luck with your project!
Squelchtone

[cledry]

A reasonable choice would be a Schlage commercial deadbolt, installed with the reinforced strike and long screws. Be sure to get the Everest cylinder option. I know this lock can be picked but the average crook won't pick a lock and the real pros only go for homes where they know the reward justifies the risk. If your hinges have pins on the exterior you want to install jamb pins, longer hinge screws are also a good upgrade.

[SecurityGuru]

@squelch: I am looking in the $100 range so I will look for a commercial sledge. I found some great home security tips after a burglary down the block and I made some door modifications after reading through them. I put 3 inch brass screws on the hinges and already had a strike box. Door is thick oak.

deadbolt upgrades going on every exterior door

@cledry: no visible pins. I will look into the everest cylinders.

Thanks!

[The Lock Artist]

Like squelchtone said, your lock doesn't help much if you don't take other security measures along with it. http://www.misdefenseproducts.com/DIY-H ... c-253.html
This website sells lots of home security items from window-break alarms, to security cameras, to a really cool anti-kick door jamb that my friend installed after his door was kicked in once. I would highly recommend that even if you don't purchase anything from here to read over the paragraphs for ideas on how to further protect your home.

And to answer your question, the most secure commercial locks that I know of are the kwikset smart key lock or the schlage secure key lock.

[globallockytoo]

Abloy or Bilock, combined with a door frame strengthener and hinge bolts. Mul-t-lock and Medeco are overpriced crap that are proven failures time and again in the picking/bumping arena.

[ARF-GEF]

In case someone,who's not that knowledgeable about locks stumbles on this thread this late from it's opening, here's my advice:
A. Ask one, or or if you are serious about it, more professional locksmiths.
B. It is a good (but basic) guideline to check the official certifications.
But if you are serious about it be prepared to spend some money on it. Good locks rarely come cheap.


But first of all let me remind you to think through what is exactly what you need in terms of security.

How secure do you actually need the lock to be (keeping in mind that the weakest link in a dorr could be the hinges and the door itself!)
A protection against illegal key copies?
Look for managed protections: (the factory only make keys for authorised individuals with required proof of entitlement, such as a security card.
Or for legal protections: Which means the keys are patented (Check out when the patent expires!)
Or for technology protection: (basically how hard it is to actually make a copy of the keys.)
The best is to go for all of them!

In case you are more worried about picking (for example in a closed space like a lab or so where foot traffic is heavy, you should look for a more manipulation (pick,bump..) resistant lock since this is the least noisy way to open a lock.
However if you would like to use the lock where rarely anyone walks by, it is safe to assume that any burglar will try more aggressive entry methods like drilling. In that case look for according protection.


So about the certifications:
EU Norm EN 1303 is one of them (for some details on the actual values and their meaning go to: http://security.ingersollrand.com/bumpa ... ained.aspx)
Burglary resistance: DIN18252 ( a fairly detailed overview on page 2: http://www.schliess-anlagen.de/files/din1303.pdf !Warning:It's german.)
The Uk has it's own certification system: BSI Kitemark.
Germany has the VdS: (English language pdf:) http://vds.de/fileadmin/vds_publikation ... en_web.pdf
And a rather detailed guide to security certifications (!in german) from VdS :
http://vds.de/fileadmin/vds_publikation ... 86_web.pdf

So if anyone who is looking for a generally good lock, should pay attention to the certification it comes with. All the testing institutions are meticulous and can be trusted to highlight the higher safety locks. Although keep in mind ,that they each test for specific things, so no certification means the world.

Hope I could help.