This guide examines the various wooden doors and the best ways to close them. Doors are the first priority to secure your home. A solid door is nice to have, but many (partly) hollow doors are strong enough. If your wooden door is obviously of very poor quality, you should think about a new door before spending money on locks. A carpenter can install good quality latches when a new door is installed and this can save you money in the end.

Many homes have builder-installed interlocks and do not require additional interlocks. If you can close the door from both sides, you have an interlock. This will satisfy the requirements of your insurance company. The idea is that if a thief breaks in through a window it will be difficult to get your belongings out if the doors are locked from the inside.

If you have a lockable doorknob (entry kit) and want to make the door more secure, the best lock is a deadbolt. The deadbolts have a longer, stronger latch than an entry set. The bold retracts into the gate when unlocked making the gate very user friendly as it can be locked but unlocked. You are also less likely to crash.

If you have an outdated nightbolt (Yale lock), the best replacement is a deadbolt. A Lockwood or Whitco deadbolt will usually fit into the hole the nightbolt came out of.

The latches automatically lock when the door is closed (as long as the latch is not retained). The lock suits busy households where some people don’t bother to use a key to lock the door from the outside. The double cylinder locks a keyed lock on the inside so the door can be left locked or unlocked on the inside. It is easier to lock up with this type of deadlock.

In the event of a fire or other emergency, you should be able to get out of your home easily, preferably without having to search for a key. If you feel you need to have the key to the door locked from the inside when you’re home, leave a key in the lock or keep a key where you can easily find it (even in the dark). Double cylinder interlocks mean that if glass is broken in or near the door, a thief cannot reach and open the door from the inside as long as the door is locked from the inside.

Security doors and peepholes are useful as you can see who is at the door without letting them in. Security doors are good for fresh air, but they are not as secure as a good wooden door with a lock.

Wooden double doors, or French doors, are best secured with concealed deadbolts or deadbolts on the inside. If the door is used as an entrance, the side that normally remains closed must be very secure or the effectiveness of any interlocks will be compromised. The best lock for double doors is the Lockwood 355 as it locks both doors together.

When locking your home, there is usually a compromise between security and convenience. Deadlocks need to be easy to operate to keep your home safe and secure.