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Do Decorative Rim Locks Provide Good Security?

susanw | Jun 9, 2010 |

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No, decorative rim locks do not provide good security. In fact, no rim lock is that great when it comes to securing your home. If you do install a rim lock on your exterior doors it is important that you use them only as a supplemental locking system and that you do not depend on the rim lock alone to keep your home secure and free from intruders. It is a proven fact that doors with rim locks alone are extremely easy to break into and that burglars often target homes that only have rim locks installed on their external doors.

What, then, are decorative rim locks used for? As the name implies, their main purpose is to add to your home's décor. Many decorative rim locks are actually replicas of antique style rim locks, such as the Victorian rim lock, although not all are. It is also possible to find modern design decorative rim locks, although these are no where near as common as the antique replicas.

A rim lock from the 18^th and 19^th century was typically made from brass, wrought iron or bronze. By the same token, replica locks are usually made from the same substances today. You can also find some replicas made from wood, such as from oak which really do look very classy and elegant. There are no, or very few at least, surviving wooden rim locks from older days so it is difficult to replicate them exactly. Modern brass or iron replications are actually based on molds and patterns of antique locks that are still in existence today.

If you would like to add some decorative rim locks to the doors in your home, probably the first place to look for them is online. You should be able to easily find either replicas or in some cases genuine antique rim locks online. In most cases the antique rim locks have been completely serviced and have had brand new parts added so that they perform as new. Naturally, genuine antique rim locks cost quite a bit more than the replicated models you are able to find.

You can use decorative locks on your outer doors and even on your inside doors. For outdoor use you may want to get some of the bigger style, highly decorative locks. For internal use, the small brass door knob rim locks look fantastic and really give an old style feel to your home. Remember though that they are only supplementary locks and they should be paired with another, more secure locking system.