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From the moment you enter a room, you’re instantly aware of the door handle and lock set you used to get in. They’re among the most crucial design accents in any home or office’s decor, and more often than not, their aesthetics are secondary. Their principal task is to allow or limit access when necessary, and it’s a job they’re expected to perform failure-free every time.
Fortunately, secure handle sets and locks don’t have to be bulging eyesores. That’s because there’s no shortage of attractive, high-quality mechanisms that offer the best in key-locking, as well as digital access entry. Before choosing a particular handle and lock combination though, it’s important to consider the full scale of what’s available. Some types of lock sets are simply better than others, which is why you need to take time to understand what the real keys to security are.
Door Locking Fixtures Make Security a Central Part of Your Decor
Let’s be honest: if there’s one thing that we expect more of in our homes and businesses than comfort, it’s security. That’s why if you’re thinking about swapping your builder-grade door handles and fixtures, stronger and more durable door handle lock sets are the ones that need to be at the top of your list.
Make no mistake: the manufacturers of today’s toughest, and most secure door locks for sale understand that the reasons people want the sturdiest possible locking mechanisms for their doors can vary widely, including:
- Added privacy. Whether it’s a bedroom, a bathroom, or a private study, having the right lock allows you to easily control access to the spaces where you expect to have undisturbed privacy, confidentiality, or solitude.
- Personal security. Entranceways like gates and front doors are intended to be impassable barriers between yourself and the rest of the world; and heavy-duty, IP-rated locks are essential to ensuring they maintain their impassibility at all times.
- Theft prevention. From commercial garages and retail premises, to homeowner saferooms and firearm storage closets, secure entry locking mechanisms are the best way to safeguard your personal property from unauthorized access or theft.
- Emergency readiness. Locking mechanisms with emergency releases are the ideal solution for privacy and security doors, but with the added assurance that they can be opened quickly if necessary by external releases.
- Mandatory compliance. If your business is required to provide mandatory levels of either tiered or general accessibility, electronic and key-coded locks are designed especially for spaces and facilities that require regulated access.
The fact is, while the look of your handles and combination handlesets are important decor fixtures, it ultimately takes installing the right door lock hardware to give you the security, as well as the peace of mind that you want. Therefore, let’s take a look at the two most popular types of door locks on the market, mortices and digital locks (E-locks), and see how effective they are for almost any contingency.
Affordable Mortice Locks Combine Aesthetics and Security
It’s no secret that workplace invasions and home break-ins are a persistent concern in Australia; that’s why when it comes to all-round privacy, personal security, and theft prevention, mortice type locks are the door locks Australia trusts the most. These boxy, self-contained handle sets are mounted inside the body of the door – the mortice – and have evolved beyond simple, lever-locking internals to include modern, pick-resistant pin/tumbler mechanisms with up to 4 locking bolts.
From their timelessly classic styling, to their industrial-strength reliability, mortice locks offer unparalleled security. Their robust, intricately designed bodies allow them to be used with a wide selection of locking cylinders, including mortice cylinders, deadbolts, and Euro profiles; which makes them the most complete solution for:
- Uncompromising security. Not only are mortice locks constructed of high-grade materials, their physical volume and placement inside a door renders them virtually impossible to force open, especially when used with a secure strike plate.
- Exceptional functionality. Mortice-type lock bodies can be fitted with a range of lock cylinders, as well as features like key overrides and electronic controls that let you use them for all levels of security.
- Amazing versatility. When installed as part of a complete handle set, a mortice lock’s stylish looks and smooth operation make it suitable for all types of residential, commercial, and institutional facilities and doorways.
When it comes to uncomplicated keyed entry solutions that don’t compromise on aesthetics or security, mortice locks are a bona fide favourite. The solution is just as clear, however, if you’re looking to buy door locks that offer the latest security features with the convenience and flexibility of keyless entry. This is the domain of digital smart locks, and they’re a lot more affordable, and easier to install than you might think.
Digital Smart Locks Let You Control Access Without the Headaches of Keys
Programmable digital handle sets bring together the rigid security qualities of mortice-, as well as cylinder-type locks with the inherent versatility of today’s most innovative smart technologies. These IP-rated mechanisms are designed for both interior and exterior doors, and in addition to keys, offer a range of keyless locking and unlocking options that utilize:
- Smartphone / Bluetooth connectivity with Apple or Android devices;
- Biometric recognition methods like fingerprints;
- RFID technologies, like smart cards or FOBs;
- Voice, or wireless transmitters; and,
- Numerical passcodes via keypad.
While physical keys can be lost, worn out, or duplicated without approval, digital handle sets give you unrestricted discretion to control, assign, and modify entryway access at will, but without the costs or risks that are dependent on actual keys. Whether it’s on an individual, timed, or as-needed basis, you can issue or restrict unlock codes as necessary, making them simultaneously the most secure, and advanced door locks online retailers have to offer.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, regardless of whether you’re completely redoing a work- or living space, or simply updating an outdated entryway, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for superior security. There’s no shortage of high-quality locking mechanisms on the market, but you need to be sure about which ones are best suited to do the job that you need done.
There are two types of door handle lock sets that stand out especially for security, but are very capable of meeting the look you want: keyed mortice, and keyless digital locks. They have everything you need all around, without breaking your budget.