Locksets?

[wrigh003]

Lots of people doing new builds in here, so I'll ask:

I'm replacing all the doors in my house (ongoing remodel, got a deal on the doors), and need new hardware to go in them. What/where should I be looking besides at Lowe's/HD for a handleset/deadbolt for the front door, and a matching knob/deadbolt for the other 4?

I am guessing this is going to be $100 or so per door, once I get into it, possibly more for the decorative one for the front door. Much as I don't want to spend $500+ on new door hardware, I've already got the doors, so might as well do it up right. Is the Kwikset/Schlage stuff on display at the big-box stores really as crappy as it seems?

 

[boiler7904]

Schlage and Baldwin are pretty good for residential use. Schlage has various levels of quality. Talk to a local commercial door hardware distributor. They usually have stock (or can at least order) residential grade material from whatever commercial manufacturer they deal with. My builder's standard was a basic Schlage lockset with deadbolt. I'll be replacing them with more decorative sets but they'll be Schlage again.

 

[Pate]

I sell hardware and you can get into some nice hardware in that price range. You can check Schlage (F line), Kwikset, Baldwin (Images) or Emtek. Emtek makes a million styles at about 1/2 the cost of Baldwin.

Schlage recently release a residential series lock that uses a keypad. The are made in all finishes in deadbolt, knob and lever styles. I just put one on my own house.

Schlage

Emtek

Baldwin

 

[Distinctive-Garages.com]

Schlage is the best u can get and has some different grades that aren't too expensive.

 

[2LTim]

Schlage is definately adequate for home use. It is also used in some commercial applications. I recently help a buddy in Council Bluffs replace front and rear doors on his house. He just happened to have a Schlage tumbler set that he bought at an estate sale. We re-keyed all four of his new locks to match an existing lockset that he already had. It's pretty cool to have one key fit ten different locks!
Tim

 

[PurdueSD]

FYI, schlage are really nice but also very annoying, if you arent used to them you will lock yourself out.

You can lock a door from the inside, open it, walk out, turn around to go back in and wallah.... you just locked yourself out. That feature always annoyed the heck out of me.

 

[ddawg16]

First off....don't get hung up on security....for the most part, all of the above listed manuf make a decent lock...good enough to keep honest people out....if someone wants into your house bad enough...the best lock is not going to stop them.....they just kick in the door or go through a window...

With that said....go for the lockset that you like how it looks......the more you pay, then in most cases, the longer it lasts/keeps it's looks.

You might want to consider one of the print reading locks...can't remember who has it...but the print reader is on the inside of the handle...just swip your finger...it lets you in....a friend of mine got one...loves it....and I'm thinking of it...my wife would love it....she could leave her keys behind when she goes for a walk.

 

[rcleaver]

First off....don't get hung up on security....for the most part, all of the above listed manuf make a decent lock...good enough to keep honest people out....if someone wants into your house bad enough...the best lock is not going to stop them.....they just kick in the door or go through a window...

With that said....go for the lockset that you like how it looks......the more you pay, then in most cases, the longer it lasts/keeps it's looks.

You might want to consider one of the print reading locks...can't remember who has it...but the print reader is on the inside of the handle...just swip your finger...it lets you in....a friend of mine got one...loves it....and I'm thinking of it...my wife would love it....she could leave her keys behind when she goes for a walk.

So what happens when the battery dies in these type of devices? It seems you could easily get locked out. And if you believe in Murphy, the batteries in all the locks will die at the same time.

 

[Kevin54]

Whatever you get, get all the same style. Do not mix & match as in getting some Schlage and some Kwikset. It makes it almost impossible to key the locks all the same. Stick with one brand and then get them rekeyed to all match. We have Schlage in our house with one ******* that is Kwikset. The Kwikset has to be unlocked to close the door, then locked after closing. The Schlage doors stay locked all the time as you can open them from the inside while still locked. Kwikset does not let you do this. Just about like the older GM vs. Ford locks on the car. One let you open the door from the inside while the door was locked. The other would not. It's all personal opinion but for the money, I prefer Schlage locks. I have had problems with Kwiksets tumblers on the inside moving enough to not allow a door to be unlocked from either side.

 

[GSSFC]

So what happens when the battery dies in these type of devices? It seems you could easily get locked out. And if you believe in Murphy, the batteries in all the locks will die at the same time.

The batteries are good for a year+ with average use. I just change them when I change the batteries in the smoke detector which is when the clocks change 2x a year. Also you can use a key too. We keep a spare key hidden outside just in case. Never have needed it!

Tim

 

[wrigh003]

Wow- thanks for all the replies. I had heard about handlesets.com from a couple other people, I'll shop them and also see what I can find from a local locksmith- I live out in the country and it helps to trade locally when/if you can. My dog hates the UPS guy anyway.

There was a bunch of clearance-price Baldwin knobs at the Home Depot yesterday, they felt heavy and solid, but no matching deadbolts or handlesets for the front door (plus they were egg-shaped- weird...), so I'll keep looking.

I'm not real hung up on security- so long as it locks securely and will wear well. The junk that's on my house now (brand unknown, probably el cheapo wal-mart brand ****) is terrible. If somebody wants in bad enough to brave the dog, the windows would be easier to force, even given the junk hardware.

 

[ovilla]

If someone wants to get in bad enough, they will. I have a bud that owns an apartment complex where someone broke in. In that case, they didn't bother with a door or a window. Instead they took a reciprocating saw and cut a hole in an exterior wall (in broad daylight).