Suggestions for lock for a home recently purchased

[gstein]

I'm seeking the community advice on a home I just purchased and what to do with the locks. It is not a new construction.

It is a townhouse located on the 3rd and 4th floor of overall building. The entrance door looks similar to the one linked below. http://www.homedepot.ca/product/9-inch- ... oor/822425

The existing home owner installed a Kaba Simplex 7100 push button lock on the main door along with a Schlage lock on the door knob.

There are no other readily accessible windows that could allow entry into the place from the outside (would have to use ladders)

Upon entering the place you go up a set of stairs and at the top of the stairs is a second steel door with a Mul-T-Lock interactive deadbolt installed. No other lock is installed on this second (inner door).

I've thought of three options that I'd like to get your feedback on. I've been doing a bit of research on my own but I'm still in learning mode.

I was originally leaning towards option 1 but after seeing the MTL's get picked fairly easily I'm now leaning towards option 2.

Feel free to come up with other suggestions.

Option 1 lower cost
--------------------
Outer door:
Keep 7100
Retrofit door knob with Mul-T-Lock

Inner door:
Keep Mul-T-Lock interactive

Use same key for all locks

Option 2 medium cost
--------------------
Outer door:
Keep 7100
Retrofit door knob with Abloy Protec2

Inner door:
Install Protec2 deadbolt

Use same key for all locks

Option 3 higher cost
--------------------
Outer door:
Replace front door (can't remove 7100 without leaving an exposed hole in the door)
Install Protec2 deadbolt and Protec2 retrofit on door knob

Inner door:
Install Protec2 deadbolt

Use same key for all locks

[Squelchtone]

I'm seeking the community advice on a home I just purchased and what to do with the locks. It is not a new construction.

It is a townhouse located on the 3rd and 4th floor of overall building. The entrance door looks similar to the one linked below. http://www.homedepot.ca/product/9-inch- ... oor/822425

The existing home owner installed a Kaba Simplex 7100 push button lock on the main door along with a Schlage lock on the door knob.

There are no other readily accessible windows that could allow entry into the place from the outside (would have to use ladders)

Upon entering the place you go up a set of stairs and at the top of the stairs is a second steel door with a Mul-T-Lock interactive deadbolt installed. No other lock is installed on this second (inner door).

I've thought of three options that I'd like to get your feedback on. I've been doing a bit of research on my own but I'm still in learning mode.

I was originally leaning towards option 1 but after seeing the MTL's get picked fairly easily I'm now leaning towards option 2.

Feel free to come up with other suggestions.

Option 1 lower cost
--------------------
Outer door:
Keep 7100
Retrofit door knob with Mul-T-Lock

Inner door:
Keep Mul-T-Lock interactive

Use same key for all locks

Option 2 medium cost
--------------------
Outer door:
Keep 7100
Retrofit door knob with Abloy Protec2

Inner door:
Install Protec2 deadbolt

Use same key for all locks

Option 3 higher cost
--------------------
Outer door:
Replace front door (can't remove 7100 without leaving an exposed hole in the door)
Install Protec2 deadbolt and Protec2 retrofit on door knob

Inner door:
Install Protec2 deadbolt

Use same key for all locks

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I would say an accomplished picker may be able to pick a Mul-T-Lock Interactive, or someone who has one of the special tools that help in the process, but your average neighborhood thug will not have the skill necessary. As I have heard, cylinder snapping is a bigger worry in the UK than picking.

Do your inner doors take a profile cylinder, a KIK cylinder, or a mortise screw in cylinder?

Thanks,
Squelchtone

[gstein]

Hi, Squelchtone

I think the answer is none of those. The previous owner installed a second exterior door to use as an inner door. The door has two holes drilled through it: one for the door knob and the other for the double-cylinder mul-t-lock. Pretty certain it's a MTL interactive and not an interactive+ base on looking at the key.

The deadbolt looks similar to the one depicted on this website:
http://www.mul-t-lock-online.com/store/ ... duct_id=39

[ARF-GEF]

I think MulTlock interacvite is not a bad lock. It can be picked but it is not usnecure.


What I would do is the following:
(it is between low cost and medium cost options, but I would trust my own apartment to it.)

Outer door:
-Keep the 7100 (it is not really secure, it's is more meant to control who goes in to the inner parts of a business from the customer area). So it is more access control than true security. But why remove it once it's there?

-If outer door is how like the one you showed it is weak. Those hollow doors are of not much worth. But no need to replace it IMO with a secodn steel door behind it. But there is not much point in spending for a top KIK. Either have the shlage repinned or remain with sth basic.
I personally would go and try to get a GEGE or the basic EVVA (like EPS or DPE/DPI). They are like normal 5 pin lock, but they use sliders instead of pins so they are pretty neat in an unassuming body.
They are very well made, good quality locks,which will serve you well for a long time, but not too expensive or too fancy.
(Edit: just checked: Kaba sells Pextra (it is sold by gege here). I would buy that for the KIK.

http://www.kaba.co.uk/Solutions/Mechanical-locks/Cylinder-locks-with-serrated-keys/67642/pextra.html
or
http://www.kaba.co.uk/Solutions/Mechanical-locks/Cylinder-locks-with-serrated-keys/67676/pextra.html
In case you are getting an euro profile I would buy the reinforced euro profile version of it:
http://www.kaba.co.uk/Solutions/Mechanical-locks/Cylinder-locks-with-serrated-keys/67688/pextra-guard.html
So I would put one of those in the KIK. Much cheaper than a protec, and it is still a very good lock. More than that is not really sensible for a KIK IMO.


Inner door:
Since that steel door will be your "main line of defence" I would install a second lock to the deadbolt present. Either a second deadbolt or some stable kind of second lock. Also make sure the strike is secure and the door is anchored well in the wall.
I personally would probably fit a second deadbolt and have them both keyed alike (to be opened with the same key).
The cylinder I would put in both deabolts would either be some higher end Kaba, or Evva. The protec is a good option as well, but I like Kaba and EVVA more
With kaba: Either Kaba Expert or Kaba Quattro
With Evva: 3ks or ICS.
I personally would go for 3ks, then ICS or Quattro. But the Expert would also be an option for me as well.
EVVA MCS would be unnecessary.
http://www.evva.co.uk/products/mechanical-locking-systems/en/
http://www.kaba.co.uk/Solutions/Mechanical-locks/Cylinder-locks-with-reversible-keys/67620/kaba-expert.html
http://www.kaba.co.uk/Solutions/Mechanical-locks/Cylinder-locks-with-reversible-keys/67626/kaba-quattro-plus.html

Hth, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask

[Squelchtone]

Hi, Squelchtone

I think the answer is none of those. The previous owner installed a second exterior door to use as an inner door. The door has two holes drilled through it: one for the door knob and the other for the double-cylinder mul-t-lock. Pretty certain it's a MTL interactive and not an interactive+ base on looking at the key.

The deadbolt looks similar to the one depicted on this website:
http://www.mul-t-lock-online.com/store/ ... duct_id=39

ahh ok so a USA style "tubular deadbolt" or at least that's what I've always called that style with the two halves and the bolt that inserts into a mortise from the edge of the door.

I didn't bother mentioning this style since you are in the UK, didn't think that was even available there.

[ARF-GEF]

hmm, not sure what it's called in Europe, that is very rare here. I've only seen it on Mul-t-lock branded security doors until now.

[gstein]

My mistake gents, I should have mentioned I live in North America (Canada to be a bit more specific).

Thank you for the suggestions you've given me a few options to think about. I should mention that both doors are metal with a solid interior and I will look into reinforcing the main entry door frame to make the door as kick proof as possible. Might reinforce the second door as well budget permitting.

[ARF-GEF]

Focus you effort on the more solid door. (I presume the one with the deadbolt on it.) Doors with glass (clear palstic) panels in them are usually weak-ish, exept for the rather expensive tastefuly high quality security doors. But those are really expensive...

[Squelchtone]

Oops, I think i have your post mixed up with another one that was from the UK.

[GWiens2001]

I would not bother with putting a 'better' lock in a door knob. Will leave it at that until you get access to the advanced section.

Gordon

[glenaw]

The two locks that I have used have been Medeco, not sure if it's sold our of the USA. Extremely pick resistant. Another one I use is ASSA. Very pick resistant as well. They are both High Security Locks and work very well. Assa's key breakage is fewer. Just to give a example on how good Medeco is they use it on the White House, and USA Military sites. if it's good enough there then it's good enough on my house!

[globallockytoo]

Firstly,
I would remove the double cylinder locks, because they do not comply with the building code and what happens in an emergency when you are inside?

Secondly, I would install Bilock Extreme Security cylinders in any handle or deadbolt. They are available in Canada through our dealership there. the locks are impossible to bump and virtually impossible to pick, totally restricted (unduplicatable) keys.

If youre concerned about glass breakage, install window film like Shattergard to prevent the window from breaking.

Bilock cylinders will retrofit into almost all leading brands of hardware, minimizing cost and inconvenience having to purchase dedicated hardware.

As people know here, I am not a fan of Medeco as it is not what people think it is (proven easy to pick and bump or copy keys with a plastic credit card). Medeco, by the way is rarely sold outside USA, because there are far better quality products that are competitively priced than what they offer.

Admittedly. Protec is a good choice, albeit a little dear.