Lock for hollow core door

ChilliBob

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to keep my children from going into my office and ransacking it for various things and then causing havock. I've tried putting things into zipped and clipped bags, then into cupboards with kettlebells in front - alas - they still get in and dig around!

So, I need to lock it from the outside (and be able to open from the inside!)… Whilst a bolt on the top might seem obvious - these children can and will climb using various toys, so that wouldn't work!

It's a hollow core door, with Ogee architrave, with a mortice knob at the moment. It's in the hallway, so very visible, so ideally something unobtrusive that doesn't make it look like a stock room in B&Q or something.

It doesn't need to be super strong - if it's locked and they realise they can't get in, it's not like they'll try to barge the door like mini hippos or something!

Any ideas much appreciated! - I'm looking around on Amazon and drawing a blank really!

flaneurs_lobster

Think perhaps your parenting style might have to become a little more robust when discussing boundaries with your little people.

ChilliBob

Yes, that approach has been tried, with zero positive results! I did suspect there'd be some comments like this tbh, but hey ho, so be it!

I just used to respect my folks requests and boundaries etc, but aparantly I was a pretty placid child, sadly mine are not!

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987213#Comment_81987213

So it's your kids who are rampaging around my local restaurant when I'm trying to have a quiet lunch?

Because you believe your wee ones need to be free to "express themselves"?

ChilliBob

Nope! On the rare occasion we're out as a family they're well behaved. The comfort and familariaty of home is where it all kicks off, well, mostly :o

Anyhow, I can see this thread isn't quite heading in the direction I had wished for!

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987223#Comment_81987223

Sorry, my fault - had a decent meal spoiled by rampaging kids at the weekend, confronting the parents didn't go well, friends of the owner.

rob7475

How about something like a yale type lock? You'd need a key to get in but just turn the knob to get back out.

gwynlas

A straight forward yale type lock would be surface mounted on the inside but of courseyou would still have key plate visible outside mounted on door frame.

Again though children should be taught that some spaces are out of bounds both because of privacy and because messing with your work space could compromise you professionally

Rodders53

Various locking door handles abound…

All depends on what is there now and dimensions of it as to how easy to replace… Some will require carpentry skills to fit…

(hint Google the term in bold).

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6666979/lock-for-hollow-core-door

A picture of the door, please, Chilli, along with the existing handle and latch - there must surely be a neatly lockable version of this?

Section62

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6666979/lock-for-hollow-core-door

I've used these before -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJP7G3WD

Key on one side, knob on the other. Not the prettiest or strongest, but does the job.

The fitting instructions aren't quite right - the instructions make it look like the centre of the hole through the door should be on the centreline of the bolt, but I've found if you do that there's a lever which operates the bolt that will foul on the hole through the door. The hole through the door needs to be centred a bit higher or lower than the bolt centreline depending which way up the bolt is fitted. Worth practising on a spare bit of 4x2 before making holes in your nice door.

There are other very similar ones on Amazon, but two for about £20 seemed the best value. The singles seem to be priced about £16 to £18.

Edit: Because they are a bolt - not a latch - the bolt only moves if the key or knob is turned. Which should reduce the risk of a child getting in through the open door and then getting locked in if the door shuts (which is a risk with a Yale-type latch). If they have to turn the knob to lock the door on the inside then hopefully they are smart enough (it sounds like they are) to figure out turning the knob would unlock the door again so they could self rescue. The one I linked to comes with 3 keys, so make sure one is kept somewhere safe outside the office in case a child goes in the office and locks the door with the knob.