After an emergency opening, should the entire door lock be replaced or just the damaged part?
Let's call the client Mikhail. After a malfunction, the door had to be opened emergencyly. The next question arose immediately: Not necessarily.
The client's name has been changed.
Let's call the client Mikhail. After a malfunction, the door had to be opened emergencyly. The next question arose immediately:
“Now do I need to buy a whole new lock?”
Not necessarily.
It all depends on what happened
If the problem was related to:
- cylinder;
- key;
- one separate piece,
the main body may remain intact. In other cases, it really makes more sense to replace the entire mechanism.
What to check after opening
Need to evaluate:
- lock body;
- cylinder;
- crossbars;
- fittings;
- door and response part.
Why a new lock must match an existing door
When replacing, it is important to consider:
- dimensions of the old case;
- holes;
- handle position;
- location of the key area;
- door appearance.
Otherwise, after installation the following may remain:
- unnecessary holes;
- traces of old fittings;
- the need for large-scale remodeling.
Is it possible to assess compatibility from photographs?
Often in advance - yes. It is especially useful to attach to the photo:
- ruler;
- roulette;
- known sizes.
But final compatibility is sometimes determined only after inspection.
Why the type "inlay or mortise" matters
It is usually easier to replace the existing mechanism with a solution to the same general design unless there is a reason to change the door design. But this is not an absolute rule.