Master Digital Keypad Deadbolt Installation

I was recently employed to install a couple of these Master combination deadbolts for a customer. These deadbolts perform a keyless entry function for mutual access to authorized staff, but they also are available to be keyed to the customers existing master key system. I always recommend customers purchase the key override function, to provide entry in case batteries go flat or emergency mechanical access is required.

The installation was quick, straightforward and painless except that the weather started to get rough.

This is how the installation went...

Search Results for March 2011

It is said (somewhere) that a website is best measured by it's success at being found.

I use Google Analytics to measure the depth of this sites penetration into the world wide web. GA gives an unbiased statistical report of your site's effectiveness at being found.

It does seem that this site is beginning to be found more often by searchers seeking answers to their inquiries or questions. This makes me happy to see the fruits of my labor (writing the content) actually benefiting someone.

March 2011 proved an interesting month with some varied results from last month.

As popular as ever and continuing to increase it's presence, is our article on Schlage Securekey Problems.

This month, Koowy starts to become more popular.

Kwikset Smartkey Problems continues to impress with it's hierarchy in our statistics although the quantity of searches in comparison to Schlage is significantly less. I suggest that this may be because the Kwikset locks appear to suffer from less problems. Whereas I am loathed to recommend the product line because it is NOT secure, I think it is better than the Schlage comparison.

As you can see in the table, our articles on Pocket Door Locks With Key continues to impress. It is most likely because competing product lines are not as stylish, simple and easy to install or as competitively priced.

The results for March are indeed impressive, in my opinion. 1627 visits : 2.19 pages per visit : 45.91% bounce rate. The bounce rate is an important indicator because it proves that searchers are not just staying on the landing page, rather they are finding the landing page of enough interest that leads them to visit other pages.

April is proving slightly different results, wait and see.

Breaking News: Many Manufacturers Raising Prices In Next Few Months

Breaking News: Many leading manufacturers of security products in the USA are planning to raise prices in the next 3 months. Master Lock, American Lock, Sargent & Greenleaf and HATA are just a sampling of manufacturers raising their prices.

Concerned consumers should consider pushing up their planned purchase date for these product lines to beat the price increases.

The weakness in the US Dollar is partly to blame, but I think it is more to do with oil prices. Oil and oil derivatives are used in many materials and machinery required to produce many parts.

Unfortunately, if and when oil prices do decline, manufacturers rarely reduce their prices, so the new prices are most likely to stay (if not, continue to increase).

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Ultralatch by Soss

The Ultralatch by Soss, is another design similar to our popular Meroni entrance hardware. Soss products are proudly manufactured in the USA.

Similar to the award winning Italian door hardware manufacturer Serrature Meroni, Soss have developed their own version of the ergonomical entry handle.

As the above video displays, the hardware is easy to use, convenient and aesthetically pleasing.

Soss Maufacturing company was founded by Joseph Soss in the late 19th century. Born Joseph Schloss in 1863 to Romanian parents, he decided to pursue his dream abroad and emigrated to the America's.

A bricklayer by trade, he began in Montreal in construction. He saved up enough money (working for $2 an hour) to eventually bring his wife and infant daughter over. They migrated to Cleveland Ohio in the 1890's after the birth of their second daughter. The Cleveland immigration officials renamed him Joseph Soss.

At that time, Cleveland was a rapidly growing city but after hearing about the State of Montana's desire to build a capitol building, he eagerly bid for the project, winning the bid and moving to Montana.

In 1902, after completing the Montana State Capitol building, he decided to move his family to Butte to build schools for the rapidly growing city. In later years he pursued business interests in the Philippines, but after the sudden passing of his business partner, he packed up and went home to Butte. While aboard ship, he stumbled on a protruding hinge and came up with the idea of concealed hinge. He patented the hinge and built a manufacturing company to produce it.

Soss Manufacturing ceased being a family business in 1939 and eventually the company was renamed Core Industries. Core Industries was later swallowed up by United Dominion Industries in 1997. That same year, Neil Marko of Universal Industrial Products in Pioneer Ohio bought the rights to the Soss hinge and today continues to produce it to the same quality that has seem the product installed at pre-eminent buildings like The White House and Buckingham Palace. Neil Marko is the great-grandson of Joseph Soss.

The Ultralatch is a new product that they developed and now produce in Ohio.

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The Door Club

The residential security market is an ever changing and growing market. More and more unique products are surfacing that may enable residents to better protect themselves, their families and their properties.

In past articles here, we have discussed a number of products that are designed to prevent door kick ins.

The Strikemaster 11 Pro is our favored product for securing a residential entry door from the instance of door frame failure, the symptom that occurs when someone tries to kick the door down. It allows the door to be secured when you leave your home or dwelling.

A few days ago we posted a video about the OnGard door brace. A unique product designed primarily to thwart door kick-ins, while you are home, effectively thwarting home invasions. While the product is indeed a revolutionary idea and made from the highest quality materials, we recently came across another variation of the product from a well known manufacturer of other security products. The Door Club (pictured above), effectively does the same thing as the OnGard brace system. It is a competitively priced option that may appeal to consumers for it's aesthetic appearance and simplicity of use/storage.

It is easily installed by drilling one hole into floor surfaces such as wood, ceramic, carpet, tile, marble and granite. The Door Club is designed to withstand two tons of direct force, enough to keep would be intruders from kicking the door open.

Easily installed, the device comes with all installation hardware and instructions, including the mounting storage bracket that attaches to the door itself.

$24.99

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MinuteKEY - Self-Service Key Machine

minuteKEY Introduction video from minuteKEY on Vimeo.


New machine is being released to the world that might make key duplication a simpler experience for consumers.
The minuteKEY self service machine is specifically designed to be simple and easy to operate, offering a limited array of home and office keys in standard brass or designer keyblanks.
This revolution in the key duplication market will change the face of the hardware/key duplication market, speed up consumer wait times and in all likelihood reduce costs as well.
It is my understanding that Walmart is soon to be trialling these in select stores.
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Search Results for February 2011

Time for the updated search results that led searchers to this site. February 2011 Top Ten search terms across multiple search engines.

Schlage Securekey Problems takes the lead this time but it was a close race with Kwikset Smart Key Problems not so far behind.

These indices might also indicate that more consumers are experiencing problems with Schlage Securekey products than Kwikset Smartket Products, but that is not a given.

Koowy, our article about a small piece of software that we have been involved with as a beta tester has taken third this time.

Pocket Door Locks, continue to be an often sought for term, that also lead people here. Sales are through the roof for the product and no wonder. We are expecting replenishing supplies through in a few months, but there will likely be a price rise due to all worldwide costs having increased significantly.

Meroni, the highly respected European lock manufacturer gets a mention too. We are expecting hard copy samples very soon. One of the last remaining independent lock manufacturers left in Italy, Meroni is well known across the continent for it's quality and consistency.

Window Security Film - Preventing Smash & Grab Entry

The above video shows a clear example of how and why window security film is a necessary and wise investment. Protecting property is one of the principle intentions that locksmiths provide. In many neighborhoods across America, residence's front doors are the primary entry point that burglars attack. Secondly, windows are another entry point that burglars attack.

Doors that include glass in them or in the sidelights, next to the door, are often only single pane light windows, that can be easily smashed by a would-be intruder and the front door deadbolt turnbutton can be easily unlocked.

In most towns across America, the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) is usually the local fire marshal or building inspector. These AHJ's base their decisions on the policies and provisions tabled in the International Building Code and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Life Safety Codes and insurance company requirements.

Many consumers think that it is okay for them to install double cylinder deadbolts to their primary entrance doors. In most cases this is a fallacy. The law, as determined and judged by the local AHJ, requires all primary entrances in dwellings to use single cylinder deadbolts.

The fire departments frown heavily on the use of double cylinder deadbolts because they are a severe impediment to residents easily escaping a fire or emergency.

I am asked often and repeatedly by customers to install double cylinder locks. Most often I will refuse and explain in detail why, according to the above.

Once explained, the customer usually agrees that complying with the law is far more beneficial and life sustaining than having an insurance claim denied for failing to comply, or worse still facing a possible negligent homicide charge from authorities, simply by having double cylinder door locks installed.

So, how do we find a solution that will keep everyone happy?

Window security film is definitely the answer. Applying window security film to your vulnerable glass windows can prevent the incidence of smashing entry. It makes your residence comply with the building code, life safety codes, ADA and also sometimes insurance companies may offer a percentage discount on your premium.

The security of our families, colleagues, properties is of ultimate importance to us all. Alarm systems cannot protect, they can only inform. How can we feel secure and protected?

Shattergard is a product that is especially designed to be installed on windows to prevent the windows from shattering. A new package is being developed to provide this product through the locksmith channel, effectively reducing the price for this ultimate security protection product and providing homeowners, residents and shopkeepers with increased security while still complying with all local rules, laws and ordinances.