![]() ![]() Its size makes it sit snugger in its plate on the frame of the door, giving less room for the door to jiggle. When comparing the Schlage bolt with the Kwikset one, it is easy to notice that the Schlage bolt is bigger and stronger than the bolt made by Kwikset. Needless to say – the stronger and longer the bolt is – the harder it is to kick or pry the door open. When trying to kick the door open or forcing it using a crowbar, the bolt is the part that holds the door from opening. The bolt is the part that keeps the door from opening when the lock is locked and therefore it plays a main role in securing the door. The Schlage housing is significantly heavier than its Kwikset counterpart making it sturdier and more resistant to forced entry methods. Schlage deadbolts have a thick, solid housing that protects the cylinder all around, leaving no hollow areas, in contrast, the housing of the Kwikset deadbolt is much lighter and somewhat hollow, making it much easier to drill through. ![]() ![]() Naturally, the stronger and sturdier the housing, the harder it is to drill through it and reach the interior mechanism. Although this method is destructive and messy, it is considered by burglars to be a quick and simple way to gain entry. One of the most common ways that burglars break in is by drilling through the lock housing and engaging directly with the interior mechanism. The lock housing is the metal part that surrounds the cylinder of the lock. It is important to keep in mind that burglars use forced entry much more often than non-forced entry to break in, so the lock that gives better protection from forced entry may have an advantage over locks that are harder to pick but provide no protection from forced entry methods of breaking in. Non-forced entry methods require skill and practice and they usually leave no sign of break in. Non Forced Entry – non-forced entry is a way in which an intruder breaks in by manipulating the way the lock works to gain entry in a non-destructive way, using tools such as pick tools or bump keys. Forced entry methods will almost always destroy the lock and leave visible signs someone broke in. Throughout the comparison I will be mentioning 2 different ways by which burglars break into houses: forced entry and non-forced entry.įorced Entry – As the name suggests, forced entry means gaining entry by using force in a way that will allow us to open the door, like drilling the lock or using tools to pry the door open. So by comparing their deadbolts we can easily determine which company makes better locks.ĭeadbolts: Kwikset (Left), Schlage (Right) The standard deadbolt is the most common lock being sold by both companies, however, the rest of the locks of each company go through a similar manufacturing process, share the same materials (sometimes even the same parts) and are held to the same quality standards. To keep things simple, I will compare between the standard deadbolt lock of each company. Comparing commercial products is a much more complicated task and I wouldn’t necessarily choose any of two companies in question for my commercial needs. In this article I will be focusing on residential locks only. Schlage also has a vast line of commercial products, including some heavy duty and high-security locks, whereas Kwikset has a more modest line of “light commercial” locks. Both companies, Schlage and Kwikset make many different types of locks, such as residential doorknobs, deadbolts and keypads. If you want to jump straight to the conclusion – Click here.īefore we dive into the comparison, it’s important to understand that Schlage and Kwikset are just brand names and not specific lock models. I accept no liability for any consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. In this article I’m presenting my opinions, based on the research that I’ve done and my years of experience as a locksmith. The information you’re about to read is a result of independent testing that I’ve done using my own tools. No one has paid me to write this article. In this article I will try to answer one of the ultimate, most basic questions of the home security world: Which locks are better – Schlage or Kwikset? This question has a direct effect on the most basic way we secure our home, and as you are about to learn – the answer is very clear.ĭISCLAIMER: I’m not affiliated with any company other than my own: Front Range Locksmith. You can find them, and hardly any lock but them, in every single hardware store in America, which leaves us with a very obvious question. Although they are certainly not the only ones, combined they dominate over 95 percent of the market for residential locks. You probably already know that when it comes to buying locks for your home, there are mainly 2 players in the field – Kwikset and Schlage. If you are reading this article, you’ve probably done some research. ![]()
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