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uPVC Door Lock Mechanism Broken? Here’s What to Do! Do you have a lock that needs to be replaced? Or you need to put up brand new doors and locks in your house?
If you answered “Yes” to one of these questions, then this post is for you. This task isn’t a complicated one. Measuring and buying the right size mortice lock is important and can be done by you, regardless of whether a professional locksmith will come to do the actual work.
This article concerns anyone who wants to know how to measure a mortice lock. Keep reading to learn about the importance of mortice lock sizes and dimensions and how to adequately take them down.
In this section, we will talk about different types of locks and how to pick them. It is important to know the exact mortice lock dimensions so you can buy the exact lock size. What is more, this is one of the most common mistakes, which can result in either wasting your time, or damaging your door.
Regardless of the type of mortice lock, or any other type of lock for that matter, they all have different lengths and depths. This means that you can never be 100% sure that a certain lock will fit effortlessly into your door. That’s why measuring the door and the lock’s dimensions are crucial to getting the right lock and installing it the right way without risking damaging the door.
First and foremost, you need to be aware of the type of mortice lock that you need, regardless if you’re replacing an old one or need to install a new one. There are two types of mortice locks – a sash lock and a deadlock. Knowing the difference between sash lock and deadlock will help speed up the process and eliminate any confusion that may occur either with measuring or buying the lock.
A mortice deadlock is often used on front doors, while a sash lock is found on the back and internal doors. It’s easier to measure a deadlock because you don’t have to worry about the handle alignment measurements.
One thing that most people forget to take into account is whether the doors’ lock will be on the right or the left. The good thing about mortice locks is that they are reversible so the doors’ orientation doesn’t matter.
The most important difference between measuring a sash lock and a deadlock is that the sash lock has an extra dimension you need to take and it’s the most crucial one. This important part is called “centres’’. All other dimensions are the same.
Furthermore, not all locks are suitable for all door materials. A wooden door requires a different lock compared to a uPVC or a composite door. For example, a five lever mortice deadlock is not suitable for uPVC and composite doors.
Another thing to consider when choosing locks is what locks you need on which doors. For the front door, you’ll want a very secure lock that is tough to break or pick. It’s also important that it locks on both sides. The same goes for the back door.
As we said above, a sash lock is used on back and internal doors, while deadlocks are for front doors. There are also two types of deadlocks – a five lever and a three lever. The major difference between these two types of deadlocks is that the three lever one is less secure. That’s because it has fewer levers, as their name implies, and that’s a higher risk of key duplication.
If there’s an existing lock on the door, you can measure the visible parts of the lock – the forend length and width, the keyspace, the handle space, etc. This makes it easier to envision how the new lock will look.
When measuring for a mortice lock, it’s also important to take into account the purpose of the lock and the door it will be on, for example, if it is on a domestic property or a commercial one. This makes a difference in the type of security level you will need from your lock and also its quality.
This may not sound like a big concern and it usually isn’t. However, we know that in England it’s common to place locks below the centre of the door. Usually, the position of the lock doesn’t play any role in installing it or drilling the holes for it. What is important to consider, however, more specifically for internal doors is whether small children and pets live in the house.
Are mortice locks universal? No, they are not. If they were, working with them would have been a piece of cake. Even experienced locksmiths have difficulty when they have to work with this type of lock.
Are mortice locks standard size? Not entirely. The sizes vary based on the manufacturer and the lock’s specifications.
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Mortice lock dimensions aren’t difficult to measure regardless of the type of mortice lock type – sash lock or deadlock. Mortice lock measurements matter the most for getting the right replacement for your pre-drilled door. When the door is brand new and there are no cutouts, the size isn’t as important to get right and precise. You will make cutouts on the door when fitting the lock. But when you’re replacing an existing lock, it is crucial to get a tight dimension so you can get the right-sized lock.
So keep reading to find out how to measure mortice locks.
Project difficulty: actually very straightforward.
Project duration: ½ hour
If you’re measuring an existing lock or existing holes, you won’t have to remove the lock.
Here’s how to measure a mortice sash lock step by step:
The same goes here as with the sash lock. The two types are almost identical in terms of required measurements but the sash lock has one additional measurement.
So here is how to measure a mortice deadlock step by step:
As we said at the beginning of the article, you don’t have to do all of the work yourself. If all of this information is too much for you and you don’t think you’ll have the time or energy to deal with all of the steps, you should hire a professional locksmith to measure and fit your locks.
The pros of turning to a real professional are endless and far outweigh the only one con – that you’ll pay them. For people who want the job to be done the right way and have a guarantee that everything will work as it should, hiring a locksmith is the best option.
Book an experienced lock specialist to measure and replace your mortice lock in a fast and efficient way.
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Did you find this article helpful? Do you know other tips that might help our readers to measure a mortice lock properly? Please, share your thought!
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