Additional Household Security
The first line of defence when securing your home is making sure you have adequate locks on your windows and doors. According to the Home Office, one third of all burglaries occur through windows at the back of your home, either through an open window or with the burglar breaking the glass, opening the latch and climbing in. Simple additional security measures such as window locks would prevent many of these burglaries.
At Timpson Security we specialise in the supply, installation and fitment of secondary security for your home, such as mortice bolts, door viewers, padlocks, padbars, window locks and door chains.
Additional Window Locks
Window locks are a good deterrent and relatively inexpensive to fit. You must also make sure that your windows are locked and the keys are removed and out of sight. Timpson Security can fit window locks to the British Standard BS 7950.
Additional Mortice Locks
Fitting mortice bolts (rack bolts) to your front and back doors is an effective option. The mortice bolts are similar to mortice locks as they are fitted into the door frame. They are reinforced by a metal frame and recessed into the door. The mortice bolts can only be opened from the inside with a key. Timpson Security can fit mortice bolts in adherence with British Standard BS3621:2007, a common requirement with home insurance companies.
Additional Door Viewers
Door viewers or peep holes / spy holes offer occupants a discreet way of identifying who is at the door before deciding to open it. Additionally door viewers mean you do not have to reveal your own identity, which may prove useful at times.
Additional Door Chains
Door chains provide similar benefits to door viewers, allowing the occupant to identify who is at the door before deciding to fully open the door.
Additional Shed and Out Building Security
Adding extra security measures to sheds and outbuildings can deter thieves from attempting to break in, protecting expensive tools and equipment from being stolen. Timpson Locksmiths can fit padlocks and padbars made of hardened steel and of the close-shackle type.
Padlock Types
There are two varieties of padlock: open and closed shackles. Open Shackle padlocks are designed with the shackle fully exposed and Closed Shackle padlocks are designed with limited access to the shackle to provide a higher security level.
The British Standard for padlocks is BS EN12320 which details performance requirements and test methods such as corrosion resistance and the level of security provided. Information on classifications and markings is supplied.
Timpson Security can supply padlocks keyed alike so that one key can open all the padlocks in your system. Upon request, chains, cut to any length, can be provided with your padlock
Garage Locks and Security
Up and over garage doors provide an easy target for burglars. Most burglars are opportunist thieves and in many cases force is not needed.
Timpson Security provides professional lock installation and lock repair services for all types of garage doors, including padlocks with hasp and staple, mortice deadlocks and garage defenders.
Common garage door issues include:
- General lock failure
- Buckled garage doors resulting in lock alignment issues
- Problems with disconnected or snapped wires connecting the locks to the rods.
The common types of garage locks are:
- T Handle (Straight and offset)
- Lever handles
- ZA
- Euro cylinder.
Common garage door issues include:
- General lock failure
- Buckled garage doors resulting in lock alignment issues
- Problems with disconnected or snapped wires connecting the locks to the rods.
The common types of garage locks are:
- T Handle (Straight and offset)
- Lever handles
- ZA
- Euro cylinder.
It is also important to keep all doors connected to integral garages secure. This is best done by fitting a mortice lock that meets the British Standard. Double garage doors can be fitted with mortice deadlocks on either side, keyed alike.
Any security upgrade or solution will depend to a great extent on the type of garage door and how the door closes. Popular security upgrades for garage doors include:
Hasp and Staple Padbolts
If you only ever enter the garage from the inside of the property, fitting a padlock with a hasp and staple on the inside will provide significant additional garage door security. An alternative is fixing bolts to the runners on an up and over garage doors. Both offer simple methods of securing your garage door from the inside.
Hasp and staple padbolts tend to be cheaper than padbars which are made to a higher specification.
Garage Defenders
Garage defenders will provide additional security and an excellent visual deterrent. The base plate is bolted into concrete with a heavy duty arm and it works by preventing the tilt action of the door, making entry virtually impossible.
Mortice Locks
Mortice deadlocks can be fitted to the outside of the garage and are particularly suitable if you have traditional open out double garage doors.
Fitting additional security to a garage door is often necessary but sometimes lengthy, there are several products that can be fitted to provide extra security to your garage but not all products can be fitted to all garages. For an accurate quote it may be necessary for our locksmiths to do a site survey.
UPVC Door Locking Mechanisms
Most modern UPVC doors are fitted with a multi-point locking mechanism. When Multipoint locks (MPL) on UPVC doors first came to market the security provided was relatively poor and not maintenance free as first thought. Locking on “mushrooms” and “rollers” in to simple strikes made them easy to force. Hook locks and strikes are now more secure with strikers running the length of the door. These strikers are now often used to upgrade or replace old inferior models when they go faulty or have been damaged due to force. Insurance companies are becoming more aware of better locking on UPVC doors.
UPVC Door Locking Mechanisms
Most modern UPVC doors are fitted with a multi-point locking mechanism. When Multipoint locks (MPL) on UPVC doors first came to market the security provided was relatively poor and not maintenance free as first thought. Locking on “mushrooms” and “rollers” in to simple strikes made them easy to force. Hook locks and strikes are now more secure with strikers running the length of the door. These strikers are now often used to upgrade or replace old inferior models when they go faulty or have been damaged due to force. Insurance companies are becoming more aware of better locking on UPVC doors.
UPVC Door Re-Alignment
If you cannot lock your UPVC door while it is shut but can lock the door in the open position the door may just need re-aligning. The weight of UPVC doors can sometimes lead to the doors dropping from the hinge, resulting in the locking mechanism becoming too low to lock into the guides. If this occurs, the door hinges will need to be adjusted to lift the door back into the correct place.
Heel & Toe is a term used in straightening a door when it has dropped and come out of alignment; this job is more involved than just adjusting the hinges.
Repair and care is specialized and involves heating the plastic and remoulding to repair any damage to make the door look like new.
UPVC Door Re-Alignment
If you cannot lock your UPVC door while it is shut but can lock the door in the open position the door may just need re-aligning. The weight of UPVC doors can sometimes lead to the doors dropping from the hinge, resulting in the locking mechanism becoming too low to lock into the guides. If this occurs, the door hinges will need to be adjusted to lift the door back into the correct place.
Heel & Toe is a term used in straightening a door when it has dropped and come out of alignment; this job is more involved than just adjusting the hinges.
Repair and care is specialized and involves heating the plastic and remoulding to repair any damage to make the door look like new.
24/7 Service
Accredited locksmiths
Nationwide Service
