Finding a suitable lock for a uPVC door can be a challenge if you are accustomed to mortise locks. Since this material cannot take drilling and chiseling, try the Yale lock night latch for your uPVC door. You might be pleasantly surprised.
I will be installing a uPVC door for one of my clients. She has used mortise locks all her life and has little faith in surface-mounted locks. I need to convince her that the Yale lock night latch is just as secure as any other lock.
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Traditionally, wood has been the material of choice for doors and windows. In recent years, disadvantages associated with woodhave forced builders to go out in search of alternative materials. Some drawbacks of wood are that it absorbs moisture so it can easily rot, it is susceptible to termite infestation and good quality hardwood is very expensive. Environment conservationists remind us that use of wood for household fittings and fixtures continues to contribute to environmental degradation.
UPVC(unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) is a form of plastic which has become quite popular in construction of doors and windows. This material is preferred because:
- It is strong and sturdy which makes it difficult for a burglar to break.
- Requires little maintenance in terms of cleaning and polishing
- It is weather resistant. This means it does not expand during the warm weather as is sometimes experienced with wood.
- It helps with external noise reduction
- It is significantly cheaper than wood
- UPVC is a good insulator so it keeps the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer
When it comes to lock installation for uPVC doors, special consideration has to be taken because only surface-mounted locks can be used. Mortise locksthat is locks which require a pocket (a mortise) to be chiseled out to form a space big enough to house the lock cannot be used.
Night Latch Locks
A night latch is a door lock which has a spring-loaded latch bolt that is operated from the interior of the door using a knob and from the exterior part of the door using a key. This lock is arim lockin that it is attached to the surface of the door and does not require a mortise. This is why it is ideal for uPVC doors.
Although the Yale lock night latch for uPVC doors has proved to be a good solution, the downside of these locks is that they are unsuitable for exterior doors, for security reasons. They are not housed in the door so they can easily be removed by an intruder. To counter this weakness, rim locks used on uPVC doors have a key operated multi-point locking system.
Key Operated Multi-Point Locking System
Key operated multi-locking systems offer enhanced security because the lock mechanism has several bolts along the breadth of the door. These all bolt to the door frame and lock at different points with one turn of the key. They are preferred because they make it a lot more difficult for an intruder to break in. The ability to lock all bolts at once with the turn of one key makes them convenient to use.
Additional Security Measures
One can never be too safe. This is why many people choose to supplement existing locks on uPVC doors. Here are some of the options.
Door Chain: Security door chains made for uPVC doors do not require screw fixing. It is secured onto the wall beside the door on one end and hooked into the door handle, in the manner of a handcuff, on the other. The chain is designed to withstand extreme pressure and force. It can take up to 500lbs of pressure and striking force of up to 11.5 stone.
Door Viewer: This is the small opening on a door which allows you see who is at the door when the doorbell rings. It is also referred to as a peephole or a spyhole.It helps you identify the caller and determine whether it is safe to open the door or not.
Letterbox Security: The letterbox on uPVC doors is extremely convenient for postal deliveries. On the other hand, it can pose security risks because it can allow an intruder to manipulate the lock and open the door when it is left on the latch. The solution is to fit special restrictors which limit how far the box can open.
Conclusion
uPVC is no doubt a step in the right direction where residential securityis concerned. Like all good things, it has its faults. Using the Yale lock night latch more than sufficiently compensates for its drawbacks. A multi-point locking systemallows you to bolt the door at multiple points. Optional additional security measures give you extra comfort so you never have to feel unsafe in your own home.
FAQ
How can I replace the cylinder on my uPVC door?
- Make sure the key is in the lock
- Remove the face plate screw which holds the cylinder in place.
- Pull the key and cylinder out
- Put the new cylinder on
- Put the screw back to ensure the cylinder is held firmly in place
I need to replace my Yale night latch. I am told to take note of the backset. What is that?
Backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the middle of the bore hole. You will find one of two backsets in residential locks in the US, 2 ¾ inch of 23/8 inch.
Are all Yale deadbolts the same size?
Locksets come with a template to guide you as you measure. Most standard deadbolts fit into a 2 1/8 hole and a spade bit measuring about 1 inch for the bolt assembly.
My door is hanging. My friend recommends I replace the hinges with Yale ones. What are Yale hinges made of and how strong are they?
They are made of stainless steel. They can support a door weighing up to 60 kgs
