Euro locks and modern doors!

This is a cautionary tale. I am not sure that it applies to our USA brethren but it certainly does for the UK and Europe.

It is a prime example of why new isn't better in fact it is a hell of a lot worse!) and how we are easily suckered into replacing things based on not being told the whole truth.

This is a bit of a saga so be prepared.

I will start with replacement doors.

I have been working at a very steady pace on restoring/refurbishing a 1960's bungalow in the North of England. The first thing I noticed was the wonderful entrance door.



Very nice looking uPVC door - easy to clean with multi point bolts operated with a single key.

Then as building work progressed it was necessary to replace the side door which was also uPVC.



Why? Because that side of the building was to be extended and I could see from the frame that it would be damaged trying to move it. They are glued and screwed into the brick work.

I started to look at replacement doors but then paid more attention to several "fly on the wall" police programs show them braking down doors to raid properties. I noticed straight away that uPVC doors only need tickling with their battering ram and they fell apart.

I then looked at you tube and saw a plethora of videos showing how weak these doors are. I was horrified - millions of these doors have been installed as replacements in the UK.

I understand why people have opted for them. I restored the front door at my London address recently. The door was first installed in 1928 - and had been painted many times and now needed stripping, sanding and the fill primer, undercoat and two top coats to revive it.

This took me the best part of 5 days.



but I was quite pleased with the result.



I had considered replacing the door with a uPVC version but it was made from hardwood, now well seasoned and extremely strong. It is also part of the character of the house.

But after all that time and effort and the cost of replacing the locks. The old ones were well worn and so I updated them - two five lever mortice locks and a deadlocking sash lock. While I was looking for the locks - i also found out that my insurance requires locks built to meet British Standards and must be "kite marked"

http://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/Kitemark/

I put that to one side to check when I next visited the Bungalow but I fully understood why people replace doors and opt for uPVC.

Why did I paint it green?



I would say that I am influenced by music but I probably am!

Back to the story of the frailty of uPVC doors. This video is an example.



So I opted to replace all doors with the composite variety. There was a delay though - SWTSMBO wanted white doors and I wanted red. When she asked me why I wanted red - I simply replied "So I can paint them black!"



We settled on black to save paint!





Unfortunately, the story doesn't stop at this point. I here the groans but .................

Brand new composite doors and when I checked the locks - no "kitemarks"

https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-secure.co.uk%2Fexport%2FTS007-3star.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abs-secure.co.uk%2Feuro-cylinder-lock-standards.asp&docid=NwbvTU3vzA5YqM&tbnid=Iy6lw1r7ZSG4NM%3A&w=709&h=709&bih=944&biw=1489&ved=0ahUKEwiC2qibma3MAhUmL8AKHVnBBCYQMwhQKBQwFA&iact=mrc&uact=8

These "Eurolocks" were new to me and so time for more research.

Horrified!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First of all the locks are easily broken by a technique known as lock snapping.



Picking these locks is so simple



Even lock bumping



Literally millions of homes have no protection. The Euro cylinder locks as commonly installed are utter crap! There are videos on You Tube of children doing this.

What is the answer?



So I replaced all the locks - compare them here





I had to replace 6 locks



It only takes about 30 seconds to replace one of these and now they are all keyed alike - so I have one key that fits all.

But ..... they are bloody expensive.

I find it frightening how we have been misled - all this information is available on YouTube in hundreds of videos. A 101 in how to break and enter!