Varieties, installation and repair of overhead locks

Overhead locks on the door - it is quite simple structures that can be mounted independently. In this article we will examine the pros and cons of such devices, consider their types, as well as tips on choosing and installing.

Overhead locks have a wide range of applications among apartment owners and private houses. Most of all they are suitable for wooden door panels, mainly installed on the entrance doors. Such structures primarily attract low cost and ease of installation, this type of locks can be installed with their own hands without much effort.

Much less often used with metal doors due to the characteristics of attachment to metal, where it will be difficult to do without a welding machine and grinders. For metal doors, the most important mortise locking mechanisms provided by the manufacturer, overhead are used mainly as an additional protection against penetration.

Such locks are also great for protecting industrial facilities, shops, offices, where there is a need to install a lock on glass doors. The range of overhead locks on the market for products of this category is quite large, which will allow you to easily choose a device for the needs of each consumer.

Overhead locks are arranged very simply, their design involves installation with minimal disruption of the integrity of the door, as opposed to built-in locks. The standard lock kit consists of a main mechanism box and a striker plate. Most models are equipped with a spring latch on the inside, and a keyhole on the outside. In these designs, the handle is usually not provided.All locks of this type work on the principle of deadbolts, and have several types of internal structure of the mechanism.

Consider the most popular designs on the market.

Among them:

• suvaldnye;
• code;
• mechanical;
• electromechanical;

• latch;
• "Invisible";
• English
• rack

Level locks are considered the most reliable. The complexity of their device does not allow an attacker to quickly hack the mechanism. The internal locking system of the bolt consists of several plates of complex shape, which must be properly positioned in the desired order, and at the same time hook the bolt into a special slot in it. This task easily handles the key. To open it with a master key, you need to try hard, and spend a lot of time. In addition, quietly crack the level lock does not work.

Combination locks are often used on the doors of entrances or on the gates in the courtyards of private houses. There are two types of combination locks: mechanical and electronic. To open the mechanical most often you need to hold a certain number of buttons simultaneously.They, as a rule, are not distinguished by high reliability, given that the material from which the buttons are made may be of poor quality. On the buttons, which are constantly clamped, there often remain characteristic attritions that highlight the combination.

Such patch locks can be found most often. They are mainly installed on the front doors of residential premises. Such constructions are unlocked and locked with a key or a special latch.

Such systems, as a rule, are installed on the gates of courtyards, entrance doors of offices or other enterprises, as they have the ability to remotely open the door upon request. Often work "in tandem" with intercoms.

Bolt locks are probably one of the most simple designs. Unfortunately, they are not very reliable and are suitable for closing garage doors, utility rooms, attics and other rooms,where do not store especially valuable things. Their device does not imply the rotation of the key, and it works on the principle of the valve. The key is inserted into the keyhole and moves linearly relative to the plane of the door. Often the keys of such mechanisms are long, which makes it difficult to carry them in conjunction with the rest. For such keys, it is more difficult to make a duplicate.

It is a type of car lock, where you just need to press a button on the key fob to open it. This type of locking systems does not have a keyhole, thus, corresponds to the name "invisible". As a result, it is not possible to open such lock with a master key. The systems operate autonomously, and they are not afraid of a temporary power outage.

Such a cylinder lock is very easy to repair and maintain. In the event of a breakdown, its design allows only the core to be replaced, instead of replacing the whole mechanism. It also makes it possible to easily replace the key.

This type of lock is considered the most primitive of the overhead locking mechanisms, along with the padlocks. It is a housing with a rail, to which a lock handle is attached inside.From the inside, it works like a regular gate valve; from the outside, the mechanism opens and closes with a key. Structures are considered the least resistant to burglary, and are not recommended to protect apartments, houses and any premises with valuable things inside.

The main advantage is simplicity and speed of installation. When installing a padlock, the integrity of the door leaf is minimally disturbed, making it difficult to break the door. The design, which is actually hidden from the intruder’s eyes, does not allow the lock to be cracked mechanically. The designs are completely unpretentious to repair. Also, the advantage is the ability to install a padlock in places where it is impossible to install a mortise, such as, for example, insufficient or excessive thickness of the door leaf.

The reliability of the overhead locking mechanisms is much inferior to the mortise, which is perhaps the main drawback. Doors with such locks, closing inwards, are much easier for attackers to knock out than to waste time on hacking. The presence of a latch instead of a keyhole on the inside of the door is an additional disadvantage, since the intruder can easily leave the room with valuable things after entering the house.Also to the minuses can be attributed to the appearance of the door with a padlock installed, which can be very striking. The complexity of installation on metal structures is also not a plus.

Despite the ease of installation, you should carefully consider this, because of the competent installation of the lock depends on its reliability, long-term and ease of use. Such locks should not be installed on the door opening inward, because they will be quite easy to dislodge. To install the lock on a wooden sheet, you will need a small set of tools, namely:

• roulette;
• pencil;
• drill or screwdriver;
• Drill bit of suitable diameter;
• chisel;
• hammer;
• awl.

First you need to make a markup, adjust the position of the lock in height. It is worth choosing the most comfortable height for you. There is a standard for the location of the castle at a height of 140-150 cm from the floor. To mark the holes, as a rule, a paper template is included, which is sufficient to attach at the height you have chosen, and then mark the main holes with an awl or a nail.According to the angle marks, it is necessary to drill holes, approximately equal to the length of the screws, with which the mechanism will be attached. The center mark in the template is for the keyhole. Here the drill bit of a suitable diameter for your lock will be used, usually it is 22 mm.

Further, everything is extremely simple. It remains only to insert the lock into the formed hole, to combine the marking holes, and to fasten it with self-tapping screws. It is recommended for reliability to use screws with a length of 5 mm shorter than the thickness of the canvas. Next is the installation of the striker plate, and here it is still easier. You just need to align the bar so that the bolt of the lock easily entered the hole, and set the marks in pencil. You also need to outline the hole for the bolt on the door frame.After that, using a chisel, a hole is hollowed out along the marked contour, and the holes for fasteners are drilled.

After installing the striker plate, all that remains is to press the ring onto the keyhole. In most cases, this can be handled with a hammer. Some designs allow you to wind the rings, or they may already be installed. When all of the above steps are completed, the installation of the lock can be considered complete. With metal doors, things are a bit more complicated if the manufacturer does not provide a mount for additional constipation.

Serve the cause of damage can be several factors. For example, non-compliance with the rules of operation, wear of parts, mechanical effects, improper installation, offset of the door leaf, defective or broken key left in the keyhole. Depending on the problem, the solutions may be different. In some cases, it is recommended to replace the entire lock.A big plus for repairs is the ability to easily disassemble and assemble the case. Often, after this the problem is seen immediately, and the solution does not take much time.

It is advisable to provide for possible breakdowns when buying, and choose a lock that allows you to replace only the core. Often, the incomplete operation of the mechanism is solved by simple adjustment. You can always contact a specialist. Also, shops almost always provide a guarantee. The most effective option is to replace the lock, as it is quite difficult to find components, and an element repaired independently after a while breaks down again.

A large assortment of patch type locks can bring some difficulty in choosing. For a start, it’s worth deciding how and where the mechanism will be used: on the front door to the house or apartment, the garage door or the office door. It is necessary to take into account the type of leaf: metal, wooden or glass door. Recalling the above, you can easily determine which design will be the most reliable. It is also important to pay attention to the quality of materials and assembly.A good lock will be quite weighty, it has no backlash, creaking and cracking inside. A great option - the design with a steel case, they are different build quality, and quite resistant to damage.

It is preferable to take the lock of a popular brand.Such companies are usually in high demand, having established themselves as some of the most reliable. It is necessary to carefully study all the functions of the lock: despite the simplicity of the design, their buttons can have several purposes. For example, you can block the possibility of opening the key. Each model has its own characteristics, and it is worth contacting the seller for advice.

For information on how to repair self-made locks, see the next video.