deadlock quality

[One]

Hi everyone

We're locking for new deadlocks for our PPOR, and just wondered if anyone knows about the relative quality of the different brands. So far, we've seen Sylvan, Lockwood and Windsor. We gather Sylvan's the cheap end of the market and Lockwood the more expensive; anyone know how Windsor compares? And are there other good brands out there?

We're interested in the quality of the lock itself, not the handles etc - they're kind of secondary.

Ta muchly!

[lidistick]

I can't remember the exact model no, but when I changed front and rear entrance doors to the house, we used a Lockwood commercial deadbolt. Longer thicker bolt and more robust for repeated usage. An extra $5 over the residential deadbolt.
Cheap insurance really

[essence]

Be careful that you compare "like with like".

There are locks advertised on TradeMe as 5-pin but apparently the really good deadlocks are the 6-pin variety. From my understanding of locks - which I admit is fairly rudimentary!! - Sylvan locks aren't 6-pin locks. I expect Lockwood will be and I'm unsure about Windsor.

There's also Securicraft which I know Locksmiths use and install which are 6-pin. You can purchase these from Placemakers for about $50-60/each and supply them to the Locksmiths to install.

If you have more than one property (PPOR or rentals, it doesn't matter) you can get EACH property keyed differently to their respective locks (with as many keys as you wish to issue) and ONE master Key that will fit ALL the locks on ALL the properties (called a "Z" key). That's one good thing about 6-pin deadlocks. This will have to be done by a professional Locksmith.

Only the people you authorise with the company, will be able to get extra keys cut. If tenants lose one set of keys and think they can go to Mr Minit to get another set cut - sorry, won't happen as they are a special profile key type registered to each Locksmith company. If keys aren't returned at end of rental, you just call out Locksmith to change the barrels in the locks and viola!! secure again. The cost of the locksmiths call-out gets deducted from the Bond Refund.

If you're doing it for a large set of locks, it's not cheap initially but in the long run it is. It is a much more secure way of managing keys for rentals.

When you consider that for your own home you may have front door, back door, laundry, ranchslider keys - what's that 4, 5, 6? keys. You can get one master key cut for all locks (only for new types of ranchsliders though).

Have a think about doing that. It's cheap when you consider the cost of being burgled.

P.S. No, I don't work for a Locksmith company and no, I don't get a commission!!

[lidistick]

Yes, we got our locks keyed the same. Only 1 key for the entire house.