Security for an External Oak Door

[phykell]

Hi,

I've had a 55mm thick oak door made by my joiner and he's asked me what hardware I want to use. I want to use the best I can find so does anyone have any recommendations?

The house is mid-1700s so I don't want to go for anything that's obviously modern - e.g. Banham locks or anything with huge, modern escutcheons, etc.

Hinges - I presume I just need 3x, grade 13, ball-bearing, stainless steel hinges

Locks - As far as I know, the best thing to do is fit a sashlock and a separate mortice deadlock - is this the best configuration and other than the well-known brands, are there any specialist alternatives?

Shoot bolts - is it possible to fit shoot bolts into a 55mm oak door?

Euro lock or standard lock - should I go for a sashlock with a Euro cylinder or not?

Should I go for an Espag lock instead and are these available for 55mm thick oak doors?

Seems odd that there's not very much on YouTube about door security for solid oak/timber doors and there's not very much online unfortunately.

Thanks

 

[JohnD]

If you only have mortice locks, it will often be left insecure because people don't bother using a key.

A self-locking nightlatch is more secure.

I don't know a good modern mortice latch, though I have a 3R35 on my own front door.

A door like yours would look good with a 3J60 horizontal sashlock.

These detainer locks can be suited to the same key, or mastered to other doors in the house. Consult your insurers, since they do not meet the latest British Standard. They are very good locks, well known and often found on older banks and offices with wooden doors. They are Chubb locks, now sold under the Union name.

Very expensive but I dare say you can afford it.

If not I may be able to help.

I expect you know that iron furniture should not be used on oak as the screws can stain it. I don't know if the Tannic acid attacks stainless, but acids generally do. I've been using lift-off fire hinges, which are very substantial, with a phosphor-bronze bearing rather than balls. The ball-bearing hinges can suffer if exposed to rain because the balls can rust. You can get stainless hinges with a PVD brass coating, but I have some, and they do not tarnish, they stay bright, which may look inappropriate on your door. I suppose you could spray the hinges matt black before fitting, to look old. Old oak doors in cathedrals usually have black iron furniture, oiled or waxed.

I do not like Eurocylinders. They have several intrinsic weaknesses, and IMO look inappropriate on a door like yours. They are very popular on plastic doors, if you like that sort of thing.

I know a theatre with black iron monkey-tail bolts on the stage doors, shooting up and down, they are still made and would be in keeping. Easy to operate if lightly greased and very substantial.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I expect you know that iron furniture should not be used on oak as the screws can stain it. I don't know if the Tannic acid attacks stainless, but acids generally do.

Tannic acid is relatively mild, as is the acetic acid also found in oak, so it shouldn't do much to reasonable quality stainless steel. As an alternative brass was used traditionally as was bronze.

Old oak doors in cathedrals usually have black iron furniture, oiled or waxed.

The black is sometimes down to interaction with the oak! Waxing is to protect the iron furniture from the oak - but when you take iron furniture of an old oak door you often find corrosion, however being so thick they don't just dissolve away. The surfaces of the timber are/were also protected. Modern day it's waxes, etc, but go back 300 years and they often used pitch or lead based paints to protect oak doors

 

[HERTS P&D]

Fit the best:

Doors, Locks, Door Furniture & Security | Banham

Expert front door security from Banham. Precision-engineered locks, bespoke doors, and door furniture in a range of elegant designs, styles and finishes.

www.banham.co.uk

Andy

 

[phykell]

Fit the best:

Doors, Locks, Door Furniture & Security | Banham

Expert front door security from Banham. Precision-engineered locks, bespoke doors, and door furniture in a range of elegant designs, styles and finishes.

www.banham.co.uk

Andy

Banham hardware might look good on traditional or modern doors but not on a solid oak, cottage-style door like mine. Perhaps worth mentioning that a YouTube video I saw recently (Robin Clevett - associated with SkillBuilder and very reputable), wasn't too happy with their customer service.

 

[phykell]

Thanks for the detailed replies and I really appreciate the time taken. I'm speaking to the joiner today about the options and with a better idea of what we'll need to discuss