Door Lock Ideas

Regular Locks and Deadbolts

• You may have seen in the movies that for the experienced burglar, a standard door lock may be defeated with the swipe of a credit card. Deadbolts, however, provide solid security when compared to a standard door lock. While deadbolts pale in comparison to some of the more high-tech security devices, they still provide a fair amount of security. When searching for a durable deadbolt, choose the large, tamper-proof, solid contraptions. They will cost a bit more than a small, cheaper version, but will provide more resistance to burglars.

Sliding Door Locks

• Because sliding doors are different than standard hinge doors, the locks are often different as well. Today, there are numerous options for securing a sliding door. Champ locks are locks placed on either the top or bottom track of the door. These devices allow the door to be opened but not far enough for anyone to enter. Foot locks can be placed on the bottom of the sliding door. To lock the door, a "button" must be pressed down; to open the door, the button must be released. For added security, a Charley bar or solid wood plank may be placed inside in the bottom track, which will keep the door from being opened even when the lock is not in place.

Electronic Pass Code Entry

• If you have numerous people entering and exiting your home at different hours of the day, losing a spare key becomes a security issue. With electronic pass code entry, homeowners can forget about the key and instead can use a short pass code to enter their home. Each family member or person entering the building has his own individual pass code. These lock systems often cost upwards of $100 as of September 2011. More advanced keyless door locks are available that allow the homeowner to monitor who enters her house via her computer, no matter where she is.

Biometric Security

• One of the most technically advanced security systems is that of biometrics. These specially designed lock systems scan the fingerprint of the individual attempting to enter the home. For those with more than one person entering the home, each fingerprint must be programmed into the device to allow entry. While biometric locks are highly secure, they are also much more expensive than a standard deadbolt or keyless entry system.