Mortise style lock sets vs the common cylindrical lock sets

Mortise style locks are the most secure form of an entry set. A special cut in the door allows a longer and thicker mortise to slide into the pocket in the door itself, providing superior protection. These types of locks require special door preparation. This kind of lock was commonly seen in homes prior to 1940 (before the introduction of bored cylindrical locks), but is still available today in single cylinder, double cylinder, and dummy set . In Europe they are widely use in all domestic properties and more recently they have been becoming more commmon in comercial and upmarket residential in north america.

Still the tubular style or cylindrical locks are more common in north america where they can be found on all types of doors, mostly in interior residential and office doors. They are quite easy to install, they not require expensive tools and much knowledge to install them.

Mortise locksets require a mortise in the edge of the door for installation purposes.

 The guts of the lockset are contained within a thin box or case which fits into the mortise. The mortise which needs to be created is often quite deep. It is not uncommon to create a cavity, 7/8 inch wide, six inches long and four inches deep. This mortise must be created with precision and requires a special tool and expertise to get it done right without damaging the door.

Mortise locksets are usually very durable and can often last the lifetime of a house. These locksets also offer a unique feature. Virtually every mortise lockset has a built-in heavy duty deadbolt. What's more, this deadbolt can be activated in conjunction with unlocking the standard door latch. You simply have to insert your key into one slot and turn the key a little more than one full turn. The locking mechanism is very substantial and all parts are precision milled, making the mortise lock superior in strength to a typical bored cylindrical lock.

The body of the lock houses the parts that actually work the lock, including workings for the knob or handle, latch, and deadbolt. When you look at the frame of a door with a mortise lock, you will see a solid metal plate that is flush with the frame and securely screwed in place. Within that plate is an opening, and the locking device on the door, usually a thick, steel bolt, slides into that opening (or mortise) when it is turned with a key. The result is a very secure doorway.

Like any lock, there are pros and cons to mortise locks. The biggest drawback to a mortise lock is the skill needed to install it. Because the frame of the door must be carved out to accommodate the lock body, familiarity with woodworking and the tools of the trade are a must in order to achieve a solid fit.



 From a historical perspective, with the development of bored cylindrical locking devices, the mortise lock began to fall out of favor. The primary reason was the skill required to install it. For quite some time these locks were mostly found on older buildings, doors and furniture which were constructed prior to the advent of newly developed locks. However, since the lock itself is so strong, its security potential couldn't be denied, and the use of the mortise lock is slowly returning in popularity in commercial structures and high end residential buildings.

Complete Condo Renovation

We have started this new year ( 2014 ) with a complete condo renovation.
This kind of work is one of those projects that  we really enjoy to undertake, it will include a total renew, from floors to walls and ceilings.












This first week included :

an almost total interior demolition that covered :
removing old flooring ( carpets and tiles )
dismantle existing kitchen cabinets and counters
removing all metal doors frame and interiors doors
one bathroom total demolition ( keeping second one functional for the time being )

During this week we also re-frame all doors openings for new doors, frame for an extension in the bathroom size and for a kitchen pantry and storage closet.


















There will be a bulkhead all around the open concept kitchen and we also started framing for the bulkhead following the blueprints for the new kitchen cabinets and kitchen island location.

The significance of projects in progress.

When choosing a contractor or a company for a home building or renovation, one of the most accurate screening the homeowner can use to evaluate those applying for the job is the viewing of others projects on progress under the expertise and directions of the same contractor. Nothing shows better how your future project is going to proceed that looking at a project in progress.

Most reputable contractors run several projects at the time or one right after the other with continuous work in order to keep the talented trades busy and avoid good valuables workers leaving during the down time between projects, so it should be always some work in progress to bring potential customer for a walk through.

Taking a walk through a similar project will really tell the homeowner how prepare and experience the contractor really is to successfully undertake the responsibility of his own project.
These are some points to remember when having the opportunity of viewing work in progress :

1- There are trade people working on site at the time of the visit or there are enough tools and machinery on site that demonstrate workers are coming back sooner than later. If you want your project to march continuously  from day one to complexion you will need a contractor that has enough man power to keep your project advancing on the daily bases, sometime trade people come and go to be able to cover many projects at the same time. Only a couple of working days a week can turn a month project into a long tiring enterprise that will feel as never ending.

2- Materials keeping : the way construction materials are kept and organize in the job site is a good indicator for the way they are gonna be handle at your project. Remember you gonna be paying for those materials.

3- A verbal or even better a written plan that describes and outlines in a timely order all the different tasks to achieve complexion. Every step in a renovation or building project has a particular time for execution and the organization of these tasks will have a direct impact in the final product as far as time, cost and quality. Good contractors know how to implement a critical path method for every project as a more efficient approach to achieve good quality work in a suitable time.

4- Cleanness and tidiness. Clean and organize work places are an indication of professionalism and good workmanship.