New uPVC door and locks

35har1old

surreysaver said:

housebuyer143 said:

Are the majority of door locks not like this? I have never had a door that didn't need a key inside. 

The fashion seems to be the thumb turn locks now. They don't really pose a security risk but more a safety risk for those with young children as they can't be locked from inside with the key. 

I prefer to lock the door inside with the key.

Our previous door was a traditional wooden one, with a Yale lock that could be double-locked from the outside, and a deadlock with could be locked from either side with a key. This has always been the traditional set up as far as I'm aware. 
Just seems daft to have a single lock which isn't safe from one point of view (needing a key to escape in an emergency) and insecure from the other point of view (cannot double lock it from the outside if using a thumb lock on the inside)

If you used the dead bolt is they not a key involved?
If the dead bolt is not utilised the Yale lock is only a token as it relies on screws into the frame which give way to a shoulder being applied.

surreysaver

35har1old said:

surreysaver said:

housebuyer143 said:

Are the majority of door locks not like this? I have never had a door that didn't need a key inside. 

The fashion seems to be the thumb turn locks now. They don't really pose a security risk but more a safety risk for those with young children as they can't be locked from inside with the key. 

I prefer to lock the door inside with the key.

Our previous door was a traditional wooden one, with a Yale lock that could be double-locked from the outside, and a deadlock with could be locked from either side with a key. This has always been the traditional set up as far as I'm aware. 
Just seems daft to have a single lock which isn't safe from one point of view (needing a key to escape in an emergency) and insecure from the other point of view (cannot double lock it from the outside if using a thumb lock on the inside)

If you used the dead bolt is they not a key involved?
If the dead bolt is not utilised the Yale lock is only a token as it relies on screws into the frame which give way to a shoulder being applied.

Dead bolt was only used when the house was empty 

SadieO

I'm about to change the locks in my house and can't decide between thumb turns and keys for the inside. It does seem a trade off between the most secure option for burglary and the safest option for fire egress. My parent's next door neighbours recently had their home completely destriyed by a fire. Fortunately no humans or pets were hurt but they have lost everything so fire is on my mind at the moment, rare as that risk (hopefully) is. The thumb turn option is also less faff, no need to hunt around finding keys when you just want to pop something out to the big bin. So I think I'm gonna go for the thumb turns, given that there are further measures you can take to add security, such as bolts, special letter boxes as other people have mentioned, and covers like this that stop people being able to get to the thumb turn through the letterbox. 

I get the point that a thumb turn can make it easier for burglars to get out if they have broken in through a window etc. But honestly at that point your house has already been invaded which is the bad part (and can happen via smashing a window/patio door regardless of what kind of door locks you have) so for me I think at that point it's a bit irrelevant to be honest. And if you have your keys on a hook, shelf etc relatively near the front door, in the under-stairs cupboard etc (as a lot of people do) then it's not going to take the cleverest of burglars to grab any key and they spot and give it a try. 

surreysaver

Thanks for responses. I might consult a local locksmith and see if there is such a thing as a thumb lock which can be double locked by the last person out from the outside. It seems my old fashioned door was more lockable than my new fangled one!

Postik

SadieO said:

I'm about to change the locks in my house and can't decide between thumb turns and keys for the inside. It does seem a trade off between the most secure option for burglary and the safest option for fire egress. My parent's next door neighbours recently had their home completely destriyed by a fire. Fortunately no humans or pets were hurt but they have lost everything so fire is on my mind at the moment, rare as that risk (hopefully) is. The thumb turn option is also less faff, no need to hunt around finding keys when you just want to pop something out to the big bin. So I think I'm gonna go for the thumb turns, given that there are further measures you can take to add security, such as bolts, special letter boxes as other people have mentioned, and covers like this that stop people being able to get to the thumb turn through the letterbox. 

I get the point that a thumb turn can make it easier for burglars to get out if they have broken in through a window etc. But honestly at that point your house has already been invaded which is the bad part (and can happen via smashing a window/patio door regardless of what kind of door locks you have) so for me I think at that point it's a bit irrelevant to be honest. And if you have your keys on a hook, shelf etc relatively near the front door, in the under-stairs cupboard etc (as a lot of people do) then it's not going to take the cleverest of burglars to grab any key and they spot and give it a try. 

My previous house was locked with a regular key.  I showed my kids where the key was kept and got my eldest to practice unlocking the door with it.  Would they have managed to do this without us, in the dark, surrounded by smoke?  I suspect not... but fortunately it never came to that.

My new house has a thumb turn lock on the inside and I feel much safer with this.  In the event of a fire anyone, even my youngest, can get out easily.  I believe on new-build houses this is now a regulation, where at least one exit door needs to be accessible without a key.