Here are some lock types and descriptions provided to us by the great people over at centenniallocksmith.com in Colorado. We hope this info serves you well.
1 Padlocks: These types of home locks are only type of lock which is not permanently attached to anything else. These come in range of sizes and are portable and are free standing and these are one of the most easily recognizable kinds of lock. It comes in 2 main varieties that are keyed and combination. The keyed padlocks have several options to choose from. There are rekey-able as well as non-rekey-able padlocks. You cannot change the key which opens the lock if a padlock is non-rekey-able. The padlocks can also be key-retaining or non key-retaining. A padlock with key retaining does not allow the key to be removed while the padlock is open. The combination locks have one or more dials which open the lock when the correct combination is been entered. It is often easy to shim open or decode.
2. Deadbolts: These types of home locks are generally installed on the external doors. It comes in 3 primary varieties: lockable, single and double thumb-turn. The single cylinder ones are found in majority of home. It has a key cylinder on outside and thumb-turn on inside in order to open or close the lock. The double cylinder ones use a key cylinder on both inside and outside of the door in order to solve this issue. The lockable thumb-turn one is the hybrid of single and double deadbolt. It has a thumb-turn in inside which works like a single cylinder deadbolt, except its thumb-turn can be locked by using key.
3. Knob Locks: These types of locks are installed frequently on the exterior doors along with the deadbolts and it is sometime been used as the primary source of security for the doors. But for security reasons, the knob locks should not be used in the exterior doors as it can be broken off by using a hammer or it can be bypassed by using wrench or pliers that are behind the knob. If you have knob locks at your home then you should get it replaced with the simple passage knobs as it will provide as much security as the deadbolts.
4. Lever Handle Locks: These types of locks are used frequently for the inner doors. It can be opened easily as these have large push down style handle that one has to be grasped and turned. These are generally ADA accessible and can be changed between right and left handedness. At the time of purchasing it, it is very important to measure the proper backset.
5. Jimmy Proof Deadbolts: These types of locks are a surface mount product that is found frequently on double doors and apartments. People usually prefer it because it requires minimal door modification. It is unique as the deadbolt interlocks that has jamb bracket which prevent it from being pulled apart simply or forced easily from outside. These types of locks require a hole that should be drilled straight through the door for the rim cylinder.
6. Mortise/ Rim Locks: These kinds of locks are found frequently on apartment doors and glass doors. The rim locks are similar to the mortise locks but its hardware differs greatly. Rim cylinder locks are used generally in the rim latch locks that are mounted on the inside of the door. These types of locks have a long metal piece that extends out from the rear of the lock which runs through the door in to a locking mechanism on the other side of the door. These are held by 2 screws.
7. Rim Latch Locks: These types of locks have a custom or standard Learn More on one side of it and a surface mount latch lock on the other side. These types of locks can auto lock the door and are quite popular in the apartment complexes. These types of locks are not meant to take a large amount of force but it can also be paired with other types of locks when it is been used on external door.