Dorm Room Safety: Why Students Should Use a Mortice Sash Lock
While life in dormitories is a hugely enjoyable one for students, it does come with challenges. For one, privacy. If you are a student moving into dorms, you might want to consider upgrading the locks you have. With the permission of your landlord or faculty, you could bolster security and privacy with the help of a mortice sash lock. For more information about the benefits of a mortice sash lock in dormitories, we asked Locks & Hardware – UK experts in lock types – for some advice.
There are many benefits that come from having a 5-lever mortice lock installed on your doors. Not only could they make your dorm far less likely to be targeted by criminals, but break-ins are far less likely to succeed. Let’s take a look at why students benefit from a mortice lock in their dorm rooms.
Why Do Students Living In Dormitories Need Additional Security?
Most dormitories are going to be shared accommodation with another student. That means that you are often beholden to how security-minded the other residents are. Students who are living in shared accommodation or dormitories need to do everything they can to keep their living space safe. After all, it only takes one member of the household to forget to lock the doors for everyone to suffer!
The more durable your locks are, the more secure your property stays. The more private it remains, too. A mortice lock is a popular choice for people looking to help protect their privacy and bolster security. These are affordable and, in some cases, can even be installed using DIY guidelines. Most of the time, though, you would be better served hiring a local locksmith to carry out the fitting.
Additional security should be a priority for any student who wants to make life in the dorms safer. It does not take much for risks to emerge within dorms; a carefree resident or someone who is blasé about locking the doors is all it takes to find themselves in a dangerous situation. Then, there is the fact that many dormitories have only generic locks, latches and/or door chains fitted. That’s not enough.
With a mortice sash lock, you install a far more secure locking mechanism. It might cost more than a basic little lock, but the benefits it bestows on you are worth the extra cost.
Mortice Sash Locks For Dual-Function Solutions
Before we go any further, then, what is a mortice sash lock? This is a lock type that brings a ‘best of both worlds’ approach to locking your door. It combines the strengths of a door latch and a deadbolt into one locking system.
A Note About Installing Mortice Locks
It should be noticed, though, that a mortice lock likely needs to be installed with the permission of your landlord or property provider. Why? A lock mortice needs to be created, or a pocket, if you prefer. That means cutting a gap into the edge of the door for the lock mechanism to fit into. Doing this without permission from your landlord – even though it makes the property more secure – could be an issue.
Where Are Mortice Locks Most Suitable?
Generally, mortice locks are used in commercial environments. You might find them in hotels and in many commercial settings. Thanks to the multifaceted nature of a 5-lever mortice lock, these remain very durable. These are key-operated lock systems that are incredibly hard for someone to clone the keys for and for a thief to break into with a lockpick.
That makes them perfect for dormitories. Just make sure that you take the above advice and get express permission before installing. Ideally, you could meet your landlord halfway for installation, but most of the time you will be asked to pay the full cost. The price, though, is worth the peace of mind.
Why Are Mortice Sash Locks So Useful For Dormitories?
For one, you now have two locks instead of one. If you are reliant on just a basic little key lock in the door, someone can easily break through that with a lockpick or a lock snapping device. With a mortice sash lock, you have a solution that requires two separate locks to be broken.
The latch itself is also cut into the door, meaning that it would require extensive physical force to bash open. That makes it far less likely that a criminal will succeed; they are far more likely to give up. With two locks having to be undone – and a key required to operate the lock without brute forcing it – it means there is far less risk of someone successfully breaking into your student accommodation.
Also, mortice sash locks are designed using far more durable metals. They are less likely to corrode or suffer from wear and tear, and they are also designed to handle extreme temperatures. Other lock types can become victims of the UK’s feast-or-famine weather patterns, meaning they degrade quickly than they should. That means your new locks are primed for long-term use and protection.
Installation is also relatively easy, too. That means you might be able to carry out self-installation, but the whole process is far quicker if you hire a local locksmith. They can usually have the system fitted and in place in far under an hour, meaning your valuable studying (or partying!) time isn’t wasted.
Finally, a mortice deadlock tends to look very low-profile and stylish. Other lock types can be more Spartan in design, making them visually unappealing. That is not the case here.
Invest In A Mortice Sash Lock For A Practical, Lasting Upgrade
As noted by Locks & Hardware, mortice sash locks are one of the most effective choices for dorms and shared accommodation. Students want peace of mind, privacy, protection and also easy-to-use lock systems – that’s exactly what you get with a mortice sash lock.
Invest in one today, and you should see and feel the benefits for the duration of your tenure in dorms!