This article will help you whether you want to tackle business door lock replacement yourself or want to know how to convey your problem to a commercial locksmith. There is a lot to learn about replacing business door locks. However, there are three major categories into which the information might fall.
Considerations For Commercial Door Lock Replacement
Several aspects must be considered for your business door lock replacement to be successful. Without considering these considerations, you are likely to waste money on goods that you cannot or should not use, or that do not meet your needs. However, avoid tunnel vision and focus just on your locks. Balance these factors with the rest of your physical security procedures.
Rekeying
Commercial door lock replacement is not always the sole choice when it comes to changing locks. Rekeying your current locks is a less expensive and less intrusive alternative. The primary distinction between rekeying and replacing locks is that rekeying preserves all of your existing hardware, including the lock cylinder. Rekeying a lock simply alters which keys will function in the lock and can include security pins to improve the lock’s level of security. If the lock hardware or cylinder is damaged, this is not a feasible option for business door lock replacement.
Rekeying is ideal when a key has been lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised. In these cases, it is necessary to modify the locks in such a way that all presently functioning keys are rendered invalid. However, you are not required to completely replace commercial door locks. Simply modify what makes a specific key operate. Your standard business door lock employs stakes of different heights that match the grooves on your keys. Change the height of the pins, and you change the key that will unlock the lock.
Size and Fit
If you want to maintain your old door or change a lock cylinder without replacing the entire lock mechanism, you must pay special attention to all of the specifications. Your new locks must be compatible with anything you plan to use them in. Fortunately, the majority of modern businesses and storefronts utilize conventional door widths that are cut in common ways to suit standard commercial locks. Commercial door lock replacement, on the other hand, cannot be so straightforward. Extenuating factors might complicate what should be a straightforward procedure.
Even if you are ordering new components that appear to be similar to what you are currently using, there may be some minor changes that create some additional difficulties. For example, if your business door lock repair involves a mortise lock’s lock cylinder, even though the new cylinder has the same dimensions, the set screw for the cylinder may be too short. The gutters on the sides of the cylinders might be so deep that the set screws do not reach far enough to secure the cylinder.
Security
The major purpose of installing a door lock is security. When it comes to business door lock replacement, be sure to think about how your lock protects you. You are attempting to prohibit access to all unauthorized individuals while also preventing criminals from committing theft or vandalism. Although any lock can be picked, most criminals do not pick locks. They are more likely to employ bump keys or bypass techniques, and they almost always depend exclusively on brute force/destructive entry. As a result, you require locks that particularly strengthen your protection against these more likely assaults.
Even though lock picking is rare, anti-picking safeguards can prevent lock bumping and even drilling assaults from succeeding. Bump keys will become less effective, if not worthless, as a result of security pins. In addition, reinforced steel pins will protect your lock from most drill bits. You may also utilize various lock styles, such as disc detainer locks, which cannot be nudged open and are harder to drill/bypass. When replacing a commercial door lock, always think about these sorts of enhancements.
Key Control
Aside from the physical structure of the lock, it may also provide improved security through key management. This is especially critical in retail security since anybody with a key may access your items. As a result, assure that only a few employees have access to keys. Certain high-security locks employ patented key technology, making illegal reproductions exceedingly difficult. A do not duplicate stamp or etching will not prevent someone from creating a duplicate key at a self-service key machine, which may be found in any hardware shop.
Life Span
The primary distinction between commercial and domestic door locks is that a commercial-grade door lock is designed to endure heavier use. Internal components are strained every time you use a key or turn a handle. This tension will cause harm over time. Commercial locks include stronger components that allow them to be used more frequently without breaking. This is to account for the increased traffic that companies face as compared to households.
Stronger locks need more metal and more of it. As a result, the prices of these items have risen. Most manufacturers will provide lower-priced locks by utilizing plastic components, low-quality metal, and as little metal as possible.
A commercial door locksmith near you will save you time, which means you will save money. An expert can answer any questions you have, and you can know that you are not sacrificing quality for what may appear to be savings. Commercial door lock replacement is only a tiny portion of why every business has a security budget, but it is crucial to evaluate how much you save by choosing a skilled locksmith service.