Rim locks: make the right choice

Take a look at our complete range of surface-mounted single-point locks. You can find them for all types of doors (sliding, swinging, interior or exterior, etc.). Depending on your aesthetic or security needs, choose a cylinder, lever, or combination lock. Finally, we offer the best prices on the biggest locksmith brands: JPM, Thrirard, Vachette.

This key element of your home must meet certain aesthetic, practical, and above all, security requirements. It is sometimes very difficult to balance these three criteria.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises during your purchases, it is necessary to proceed step by step.

The first step is to define the intended use of the lock. For example, you won't need the same locks for your interior living room doors as you would for your front door. Indeed, living room doors are generally of the latch type, meaning they do not offer a locking mechanism for practical reasons, while front doors are very frequently equipped with cylinders or other mechanisms more oriented towards security.

Secondly, you need to define the frequency and location of use of your lock. A shop door lock is equipped with a roller instead of a latch bolt, allowing the door to open both ways and withstand daily repeated use. A sliding door lock, on the other hand, is equipped with a hook, which is more practical and relevant for that type of door. Otherwise, most interior and exterior doors are equipped with spring-loaded latch bolts, which are a good compromise between security, reliability, and ergonomics.

The choice of opening system is also crucial. Depending on your habits or needs, you can opt for a pull mechanism, a spindle (classic knob and handle), or even a pull handle (common on apartment doors).

Finally, it is necessary to define the direction of door opening. Although this is a simple step in the process of choosing your lock, it is often the one that causes the most confusion among users. The direction of a lock is always defined from inside the closed area. You must then note whether the door pulls or pushes when you exit and whether the lock should be located to the left or right of the center axis during this action.

Lastly, note that by default, the direction of a lock or handle is indicated for doors that need to be pulled to exit the room. So, if you want to install a lock on a right-pushing door, you need to buy a lock with the "left" attribute.

Now, it's time to install!

In this category, you will find only surface-mounted locks, which means they are not very difficult to install for a DIY enthusiast. However, it is recommended to use components (strike plate, lock, door, or other accessories) with equivalent security levels to optimize the overall effectiveness of your setup.

To install them, you only need to take a few measurements, which are provided below:

The keyhole distance is the space between the keyhole and the nearest edge of the door (typically around 45-50 mm for vertical locks).

The backset is the distance between the keyhole and the spindle (or square, located at the base of the handle).

The door thickness is generally around 40 mm.

Finally, you need to mark the passage holes for the fastening screws of the escutcheons or other components.

Your lock no longer holds any secrets for you, get to your tools!