Identifying a door lock (seen abroad).

Grenage

Greetings,

When we were in Portugal last week, I noticed that the vast majority of front doors had a surface-mounted deadbolt, with full length bolts that extended from top to bottom. They looked nice, and seemed practical - probably why I've never seen them here.

Any idea what the hell they're called? I've had no luck looking them up online.

theonlywayisup

We have Espagnolette/Cremone Bolts, is that what you mean?

Grenage

Hi there,

That looks pretty close to what I saw, yes. The Portuguese versions had substantial deadbolts for the main lock in the middle (rather than a handle), but that's basically the system. Cheers!

leveller2911

We know them as French window bolts.


They are quite common on older properties but be aware that most (if not all ) of them don't meet insurance requirements for homes.

The problem with them is they rely on the fixing screws on the "keeps" that the bolts slide into on the frame for security and a good old fashioned crow bar would break in within a couple of minutes. If you can fit additional Chubb type mortice bolts then that would comply with insurance companies requirements but wouldn't be so practical in use.

Espagnolettes are different because they are fitted to the edge of the door and when you try and prize them open with a crow bar you are fighting against the strength of the timber and fixings whereas on French window bolts because they are face fixing (face of the door rather than the edge) you are just fighting against the screws on the keeps.If they are brass then its even easier, brass being a very soft metal.

Grenage

Hi Leveller,

That's good info, thank you. I was wondering how it might affect insurance (flashbacks of 'what locks do you have' on the comparison websites).

DigForVictory

Grenage wrote: »

They looked nice, and seemed practical - probably why I've never seen them here.

Agree in full, but the insurance companies do not share our taste. Besides which, having had children lock themselves in by accident, I'm a firm believer in learning basic lockpicking techniques & carrying the doings. (Long hair & an updo are dashed handy sometimes.)