Ask The Finish Hardware Experts | Lacoto Industries, Inc. in Snohomish County, WA

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Ask The Lacoto Finish Hardware Experts

Below are some frequently asked questions that Lacoto installers answer on a daily basis concerning finish hardware. We hope this information may help you if you need it.

Q: DO YOU KNOW WHY MY DOOR KNOB DOESN'T WORK?: A: There are many reasons a door lock may malfunction. The first thing to check is to open the door and see if the door lock operates correctly when the door is in the open position. If it does the door lock is fine, it is the door that is the problem. You may need to adjust the hinges to get the door to hang straighter, or grind down the strike plates on your jamb so the bolt on your door lock operates smoothly.
Q: DO YOU KNOW WHY MY KEY DOESN'T OPEN THE LOCK?: A: The only reason for a key to not work in a lock is that the pins in the lock core are not lining up correctly. This is due to the cut of the key. Many people, after the installers have left, go to a big box store and get more keys made by a person that is not qualified to cut keys (It is not their main job). If the key is off just a little in its cut, you will not open the lock. Make sure when you need more keys to speak with the company that provided them originally. It may cost you a dollar or two more, but it will save you a lot of explaining if a family member can't get in when they need to.
Q: WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON MALFUNCTION IN A LOCK?: A: The most common part that fails on any particular lockset is the bolt. 9 times out of 10 this is the piece in the lock that goes bad. The bolt is the part that extrudes from the edge of your door and locks the door in place. Most often you can get a replacement bolt and that will solve your problem. The cost of a new lockset may not be necessary.
Q: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REPLACE ALL THE LOCKS IN MY HOUSE?: A: The answer here varies greatly on the type of home you have, and what style of locksets you want to use. Lacoto can put in new locks in a home for as little as 300.00 installed, and it can go as high as 15,000.00 or more. Most homes using a mid range lockset can be installed for around five or six hundred dollars. Check with one of our consultants for a more accurate estimate.
Q: DO YOU HAVE TO USE THE SAME LOCKS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE?: A: No. Many people use a more extravagant style of lockset on their entry doors, while using more moderately priced items inside the house. There is no right or wrong. You can even save money by changing style from upstairs to downstairs. Ask our experts where to save you money. They will be glad to help and share their expertise with you.
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE LOCKS ONCE I ORDER?: A: Many of the locksets you are looking at are in stock. We can deliver to your jobsite or ship within 48 hours. If we are installing your product, our shipping department will be able to give you a firm date upon your order confirmation. The majority of our orders are installed complete within a 2 week timeline.
Q: WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS PART?: A: Below is a small glossary of terms that should help you when discussing locksets.

Door Knob:A door knob is a lockset that is a round cylindrical shaped sphere.

Door Lever:A door lever is any other lockset type that is elongated and is molded in many shapes and sizes other than cylindrical.

Entry Handle:An entry handle is a grip handle typically mounted on your front door that has a fairly ornate profile along with extra plating for decoration.

Passage Lock:This is a lockset that opens and closes freely and cannot be locked at anytime.

Privacy Lock:This is a lockset that can be locked from oneside, but can be opened with an emergency key or screwdriver if locked by accident. Typically used on bathrooms.

Keylock:This is a lockset that can be locked from oneside and opened with a key only from the otherside when in a locked position. Typically used on exterior doors.

Dummy Lock:This is a lockset that is only used for aesthetics and cannot operate. It is mounted in a stationary position on the door and is used for pulling the door open.

Deadbolt:This is a locktype that is used for higher security on exterior doors typically. It has an extended/rectractable fixed bolt that can be operated with a thumbturn or key.

Escutcheon Ring:This is the backplate of the lockset that goes against the face of the door. It typically is round, but can come in many shapes and sizes, and is removeable on onside of the lockset.

Bolt:This is the part of the lock that extends out from the edge of the door and allows the door to be secured in place when it is closed. It typically comes in 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backsets.

Quarter Radius Bolt:This is the edgeface of the bolt that is on the edge of the door where the corners of the faceplate are rounded.

Drive In Bolt:This is the edgeface of the bolt that is on the edge of the door where there is no faceplate and the bolt is a circle.

Strikeplate:The strikeplate is a piece of metal that is machined into your doorjamb. It is made to receive the bolt from the door to secure it when it is shut. These come in many shapes and sizes and its proper installation is to key to good lock operation.

Finish:Refers to the color of your locksets. Names of these are fairly inconsistent, but many have numbers that are recognized nationally. Satin Nickel(US-15), Oil Rubbed Bronze(US-10B), Brass(US-3), Antique Brass(US-5), Antique Pewter(US-15A), Satin Chrome(US-26D). There are other finishes available. These are the most common.