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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Do it Yourself Discussion! => Topic started by: dandarc on January 10, 2014, 08:04:31 AM

Title: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: dandarc on January 10, 2014, 08:04:31 AM
So my wife woke me up this morning because the only door to our third story condo would not open - she had left, and come back, and then couldn't leave the second time.  After a solid 45 minutes of messing with it, I was able to jimmy the latch open with butter knives.  I'm pretty sure the guys installed the knob backwards when they built the place in 2004 as the screws are on the outside.  It is now taped open until we get back from a weekend trip when I can replace it (we have a deadbolt and the door knob doesn't even lock any way).

Recommendations for a good quality knob for this?  Never had to replace one, so I'm not sure what to look for in a doorknob.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Greg on January 10, 2014, 09:44:31 AM
Schlage, Kwickset, Titan are good lockset brands.  If you go to a big box store, they can even re-key it for you if you get a compatible set to your key style.  It's important to get a lock or latch for exterior use, not an interior one (bedroom or bathroom privacy lock).

It's not uncommon to have a locking deadbolt, and the handle not lock (this would not be a set), if you live in a place where casual crime isn't an issue.  Otherwise you can get a lockset that has a deadbolt and latch that are coordinated.

I prefer lever styles for ease of use.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: ohyonghao on January 13, 2014, 06:49:24 PM
Kwikset has a style called smartkey which allows you to rekey the lock to any new key as long as you have the last key which it was set to.  This allows you to quickly rekey the lock to any key, which can be useful in situations where you want someone to house sit, or are renting it while away on a long vacation, just remember to keep a copy of whatever key you hand out so you have one to reset the lock with.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: sol on January 13, 2014, 08:44:25 PM
Speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time with the elderly, and then lost use of both of his arms for a while, I only suggest lever-style doorknobs to anyone. 

Traditional doorknobs are a dumb design.  In the future, all doors will have levers.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Greg on January 14, 2014, 09:34:47 AM
Speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time with the elderly, and then lost use of both of his arms for a while, I only suggest lever-style doorknobs to anyone.  Traditional doorknobs are a dumb design.  In the future, all doors will have levers.

I totally agree with this!  My cats can almost open our doors now.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: ohyonghao on January 14, 2014, 01:40:19 PM
Dead-bolt lock + knob or lever. IMO, I've found combination "lever/lock" to be less reliable.

Echoing others: go to Lowe's or another big box and buy a high grade residential lock. Bring other locks in (assuming the same key type) and they may re-key them all to match, free of charge. (my local store did - saved me a fortune)

Important note, they can only rekey a lock if you have a currently working key.  I had to purchase a new lock for the back door because when we bought the house there was no key for it.  I learned this after spending around $20 on various rekeying kits and making multiple trips to Lowe's to have them rekey it.

I did rekey the other locks to work with the newly bought lock, so you don't need to purchase locks for all doors if only one doesn't have a key, only for ones without a working key.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: GuitarStv on January 15, 2014, 09:23:48 AM
Traditional doorknobs are a dumb design.

You couldn't be more wrong.

As was aptly displayed in the documentary Jurassic Park, velociraptors can open lever style doors.  They can't work shiny knobs though because their claws slip off.  Do you want to be fleeing from velociraptors through a house equipped with lever style doors, or knobs?

Food for thought.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: SwordGuy on January 15, 2014, 09:45:29 AM
Get one that requires a key to lock the door from the outside and requires it to be unlocked to open it.  That way, you can't accidentally lock yourself out.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Greg on January 15, 2014, 09:50:24 AM
As was aptly displayed in the documentary Jurassic Park, velociraptors can open lever style doors.  They can't work shiny knobs though because their claws slip off.  Do you want to be fleeing from velociraptors through a house equipped with lever style doors, or knobs?

Good point.  Also, zombies.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: GuitarStv on January 15, 2014, 10:06:55 AM
As was aptly displayed in the documentary Jurassic Park, velociraptors can open lever style doors.  They can't work shiny knobs though because their claws slip off.  Do you want to be fleeing from velociraptors through a house equipped with lever style doors, or knobs?

Good point.  Also, zombies.

No.  If the zombie apocalypse is upon us, there is no hope for survival.  My plan is to get bitten as soon as possible and enjoy the brains/flesh while there's still plenty to be had.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Spork on January 15, 2014, 10:17:02 AM
Speaking as someone who has spent a lot of time with the elderly, and then lost use of both of his arms for a while, I only suggest lever-style doorknobs to anyone.  Traditional doorknobs are a dumb design.  In the future, all doors will have levers.

I totally agree with this!  My cats can almost open our doors now.

Almost?

I replaced the lever style knobs in my previous house after the 3rd time my indoor-only cat opened it and went out.  Levers are fine when there is a physical need for it.  There isn't anything wrong with knobs, though.  Some places (Vancouver comes to mind) have actually outlawed traditional knobs via building codes -- as if folks are unable to determine what works best for them in their own house.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Greg on January 15, 2014, 12:59:58 PM
Strangely our cats only toggle the lever handle to be let in.  The door opens out, so they can't toggle the lever and pull the door open, they have to jump to toggle the lever.  It's a glass door so guests marvel and laugh at our crazy cats as they do this.  They don't do this to be let out for some reason.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: dandarc on January 15, 2014, 01:22:25 PM
Thanks for all the tips!

We will have to stick with the knob as opposed to lever as one of the cats is already a pretty good escape artist - no need to make it easier on him.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: GuitarStv on January 15, 2014, 03:43:18 PM
Thanks for all the tips!

We will have to stick with the knob as opposed to lever as one of the cats is already a pretty good escape artist - no need to make it easier on him.

Your family will appreciate this choice when the raptors come . . .
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: somepissedoffman on January 15, 2014, 03:44:47 PM
You couldn't be more wrong.

As was aptly displayed in the documentary Jurassic Park, velociraptors can open lever style doors.  They can't work shiny knobs though because their claws slip off.  Do you want to be fleeing from velociraptors through a house equipped with lever style doors, or knobs?

Food for thought.

Should be fine as long as you have a walk-in freezer and your home-security is run on a UNIX system.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Fireman on January 17, 2014, 05:05:13 PM
Loving the Jurassic Park side thread!

Back on the topic of locks, there's a good YouTube video about how easy it is to pick a lock with a single row of tumblers.  It's kind of long but worth watching.  If you only have a few minutes, skip to the end where they recommend locks that are much harder to pick. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpH_t0u5Ybg
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: dandarc on January 21, 2014, 03:30:26 PM
Went with a Kwik-Set knob with the re-key function.

So far, no raptor problems to report.
Title: Re: Doorknob Recommendations
Post by: Greg on January 21, 2014, 07:13:15 PM
What about Zombies?