The security industry is so multifaceted that it is easy to get lost in the options available to you. From CCTV cameras and motion detection sensors to burglar alarms, there are so many options to consider buying into. However, while all of these security tools are extremely valuable in their own right, none are quite as important as having quality locks. The problem is, of course, finding the right locks for your home or business in. 

With the help of this guide, produced by an expert locksmith in Shefield, with years of experience in the industry, you should find it much easier to determine what lock types would be the correct choice for your property.

Are you having a hard time locating the right kind of lock? You are far from alone. From mortice locks through to smart digital locks, the sheer volume of options on the market makes it easy for every potential model to sound like the perfect choice. With so many lock types, it can be tough to know which presents you with the best blend between protection and affordability. 

Whether you are locking up your front doors, your garden shed, your storage facility, or even valuable assets in the management office, you have plenty of choice – too much choice. So, let us help you break down the most important considerations when choosing a lock for a home or business. By the end, you should feel far more confident in making a decision!

Find The Lock That Suits Your Requirements

The best place to start is by making sure that the lock(s) you install fit a certain requirement. Do you want to add extra physical security? Then you might be better investing in a combination of a deadbolt and a new physical lock. If you want to bring in some extra tech-savvy into your security, you could mix together smart locks with traditional locks like deadbolts. 

Of course, not every property needs to go high-tech with its locks. If you are locking up a garden shed or a garage, you might only need something like a high-resistance padlock. Every door has a lock type that is ideally suited to protecting that door and preventing it from being unlawfully opened. A locksmith in your local area, such as Lock & Key, can give you bespoke insight into what lock suits which door type. 

Consider The Threat You Face

Take the time, too, to think about who could be your most likely opponent in keeping your assets secure. Your business probably needs some kind of commercial setup, such as access control terminals. Your home might only need to have high-quality, British Standards-approved traditional locks fitted alongside secondary fixtures such as deadbolts. Filing cabinets containing sensitive information could be locked using high-security locks as opposed to digital locks.

Again, a locksmith can give you a better idea of what kind of threat(s) you might face in each area of your home or business. 

Not Every Lock Is Made The Same

If you buy cheap locks from a reseller online, they are unlikely to be as durable as the locks you get fitted by a locksmith. Make sure that if you are going for traditional locks for your home or business, they are British Standard 3621 approved. That means that these locks will have built-in protections against things like lock snapping, a commonly used break-in technique in the UK.

When it comes to padlocks and other mobile locks, too, quality varies. The ones you buy in a pound shop are likely to be borderline useless. Make sure that if you buy a padlock, it is made from durable materials and contains high-security functions that make it far less likely someone can manipulate or break through the padlock.

The same goes for digital locks and smart locks. Systems fitted and installed by a locksmith will be much more likely to provide the comprehensive security you are looking for, alongside ease-of-use functions. Remember, in the security industry, you often get what you pay for!

Get To Grips With Lock Quality

As mentioned above, not every lock that you can buy is as good as the next option. There is often a reason why one lock might be surprisingly cheap and another far more expensive. It often comes down to the quality and grading of the lock. For example, the best locks fall under a Grade 1 category. Grade 1 locks are ideal for everywhere from households with high-value assets to business premises.

Grade 2 locks, meanwhile, are still effective but are mostly at their best when used in households or for smaller business premises. Meanwhile, Grade 3 locks are really only suitable for interior security—for example, a bedroom door lock for privacy, or a bathroom door lock. The higher the grade, the more durable a lock will be. It will also likely be more resistant to wear and tear and corrosion. 

It is important to know what kind of lock protections your locks have. Locks which are not approved by British Standards are less likely to have built-in protections for things like lock bumping and snapping. You might pay less for these cheaper locks, saving you money today, but if someone breaks into your building, the costs will be much higher. It is often better to pay a little more for the guarantee of quality. 

Never Dismiss Ease Of Use

Another common mistake within the industry is ignoring how important it is that your locks are easy to use. Convenience should never be seen as secondary. That is why, for example, many home and business owners in the UK are investing in smart locks. Not only do they provide a more modern security system, but they also allow for keyless entry and remote management of your locks.

Carrying around a bundle of keys for every lock is a literal weight you need to carry. At the same time, though, it also increases the risk of keys being lost or stolen. If you run a business, you probably have a master key system; that means having a security team in place who can manage key usage and distribution. Again, that adds to the complexity of managing your keyholding and is another headache.

With keyless entry, for example, you can make it much easier to give everyone the access they need without time-consuming frustrations. Instead of having to get keys cut or having spare keys that are then collected at the end of the day, you just give everyone a keycard, fob, PIN code, or app access to manage the doors in your home/building. 

It might cost you more, but if ease of use and functionality are as important to you as security, then it might be time to go keyless. A locksmith can help you to pick, install and manage your smart locks.

Never Be Afraid To Call A Locksmith

Lock selection is a time-consuming process, and the problem comes down to available information. Every lock that you can buy online sounds amazing, right? They all sound like the perfect fit for your needs, don’t they?

Selecting the correct lock mechanism is never easy, which is why it always pays to turn to an expert in the trade. A locksmith can give you far more information and insight about your lock selection than you can learn on your own. They can use their experience to determine the perfect fit for your needs. They can also assist with the installation, whether you need a high-security padlock or digital locks.

The savings you make in DIY selections and installation pale in comparison to the cost of a break-in. That is why you should never take the risk. If you run into a problem with your locks or you feel as if you need an upgrade, contact a local locksmith. The results will be worth the additional investment!