Hi all
I was wondering if someone might be able to help with a few questions that I've got. I live in Victorian house divided into 4 flats. I own one of the flats and all four flat are all leaseholders of the house freehold.
There is one main front door to the house which is the main escape route to the street. When I moved in about 15 years ago, the front door was fitted with a bad rim lock and a cheap dead lock that was faulty and presented a fire risk.
Back then, I consulted a decent locksmith and he recommended a Chubb 3R35X for many reasons but mainly these:
- It slams shut with an automatic deadlocking action (but can always be opened from the inside)
- It can always be opened using a big grabable handle from the inside making escape easy and from the outside with the key
- It is effectively a nightlatch that cannot be deadlocked from the inside (because it's an escape route and this is a feature of the "X" model)
- Finally, it's built like a tank and will take a battering, equalling the strength of our door and frame.
I've loved this lock so much, I've just replaced it (£120) with a new one and kept the old one (still working) as a spare.
However, this lock incorporates a curtain/bolt thrower which is a great security feature as far as anti-pick, but has a small downside. Problem is that if one of the occupants tries to open the door with the wrong key (probably internal lock key or Yale key depending on how long they've been down the pub) it's possible for the curtain to move round and block the keyway. Yes it's a piece of P*** to reset, but there you go.
Because of the above, one of the occupants either locked themselves out, or was locked out by another occupant a few days ago (not sure which). I sorted it easily straight away, as you do. This is the second time it has happened in about 18 years... so not bad huh?
The locked out resident (who I let in immediately) has now emailed all four flats suggesting that we need to decide on a different front door lock, because they are claiming the 3R35X is inferior due to its ability to lock you out if you don't use the correct key. I must add that this person is unable to walk without crutches and as expected, felt vulnerable not being able to gain entry.
However, I obviously don't want to change this lock if I can help it but if anyone could help with the following, I'd be grateful because I'm gobsmacked at this person's reaction.
- Has anyone else had the same issue regularly with locks incorporating a curtain/bolt thrower (be nice to get stats on how often this can happen worst case scenario)
- Does anyone know of a substitute for this lock given the role it plays (I've seen a few BS standard cylinder locks that are supposed to be OK but nothing I regard being as great as the 3R35X). I would ideally like to present a case where I could genuinely say there is no substitute for the 3R35X in its functionality in this application - what do you think?
- Does anyone have any ideas as to how to manage this situation? For years I've done my level best to do as much as I can for the other residents, including all the lock purchasing, maintenance and installation and loads of other house upkeep tasks, which they have otherwise had to hire a contractor for.
Part of me wants to just tell them sort it themselves, but I just know they would find the most expensive contractor and I would be ripped off for one quarter of the bill. Also, none of them could project manage a cup of tea, let alone a lock replacement. I'll stop there. Thanks guys.
I was wondering if someone might be able to help with a few questions that I've got. I live in Victorian house divided into 4 flats. I own one of the flats and all four flat are all leaseholders of the house freehold.
There is one main front door to the house which is the main escape route to the street. When I moved in about 15 years ago, the front door was fitted with a bad rim lock and a cheap dead lock that was faulty and presented a fire risk.
Back then, I consulted a decent locksmith and he recommended a Chubb 3R35X for many reasons but mainly these:
- It slams shut with an automatic deadlocking action (but can always be opened from the inside)
- It can always be opened using a big grabable handle from the inside making escape easy and from the outside with the key
- It is effectively a nightlatch that cannot be deadlocked from the inside (because it's an escape route and this is a feature of the "X" model)
- Finally, it's built like a tank and will take a battering, equalling the strength of our door and frame.
I've loved this lock so much, I've just replaced it (£120) with a new one and kept the old one (still working) as a spare.
However, this lock incorporates a curtain/bolt thrower which is a great security feature as far as anti-pick, but has a small downside. Problem is that if one of the occupants tries to open the door with the wrong key (probably internal lock key or Yale key depending on how long they've been down the pub) it's possible for the curtain to move round and block the keyway. Yes it's a piece of P*** to reset, but there you go.
Because of the above, one of the occupants either locked themselves out, or was locked out by another occupant a few days ago (not sure which). I sorted it easily straight away, as you do. This is the second time it has happened in about 18 years... so not bad huh?
The locked out resident (who I let in immediately) has now emailed all four flats suggesting that we need to decide on a different front door lock, because they are claiming the 3R35X is inferior due to its ability to lock you out if you don't use the correct key. I must add that this person is unable to walk without crutches and as expected, felt vulnerable not being able to gain entry.
However, I obviously don't want to change this lock if I can help it but if anyone could help with the following, I'd be grateful because I'm gobsmacked at this person's reaction.
- Has anyone else had the same issue regularly with locks incorporating a curtain/bolt thrower (be nice to get stats on how often this can happen worst case scenario)
- Does anyone know of a substitute for this lock given the role it plays (I've seen a few BS standard cylinder locks that are supposed to be OK but nothing I regard being as great as the 3R35X). I would ideally like to present a case where I could genuinely say there is no substitute for the 3R35X in its functionality in this application - what do you think?
- Does anyone have any ideas as to how to manage this situation? For years I've done my level best to do as much as I can for the other residents, including all the lock purchasing, maintenance and installation and loads of other house upkeep tasks, which they have otherwise had to hire a contractor for.
Part of me wants to just tell them sort it themselves, but I just know they would find the most expensive contractor and I would be ripped off for one quarter of the bill. Also, none of them could project manage a cup of tea, let alone a lock replacement. I'll stop there. Thanks guys.