Additional Security - Rackbolts

Rackbolts are a locksmith installation often seen as additional security items placed in pairs on back doors or an exit from a kitchen into a garage.  They are a simple in-out bolt using a splined key shape or 'star key'.  They are NOT recommended for those doors you would expect to use in the event of an emergency - in such a case they are an extra hazard over and above the locks already in place.  When inspecting older doors during a locksmith visit they tend to be found in-operative as the warping of wood along the length of a door will easily mis-align the lock with the frame.

It is common nowadays in Solihull for additional security to be fitted throughout a house and a customer will sometimes request a single rackbolt or a pair to prevent burglars from moving through specific doorways.  They can be extremely strong locks but this will mainly be determined by the strength of the frame and the strength of the door.  Be warned: most internal doors are extremely light construction.  Again, they are not recommended for rooms that you may be sleeping in, just in case you had a problem escaping in the event of an emergency or even if rescuers needed to reach if you had a medical issue.

As described above, they have the potential to be extremely strong, however the keys used for them are generic - all the same - so if anyone carries any rackbolt keys they will easily open the rackbolt lock on your door if they had access to the key side.  For this reason these locks are usually only fitted with the key side on the inside of the door and the other side blank.  They are sometimes referred to as 'concealed bolts' as they are hidden within the wood and cannot be seen from the outside.