Mortise Locks: How They Work and What Benefits Can They Offer?

Mortise locks are typically used in heavy duty, high frequency use applications and are common in commercial buildings, entry glass doors, and some apartment doors. This type of lock requires a pocket (otherwise called “the mortise”) to be cut in the door where the lock will be fitted. In general, mortise locks are a more complicated type of cylindrical locks and are mostly installed and maintained by professional locksmiths.

Mortise locks consist of:

• Lock body – the part that is installed inside the mortise. The “mortise” is a pocket that is cut out of the door and the lock body is fitted inside of the pocket inside the door
• The lock trim, that is similar to trims used in other locks (levers, pulls, handle sets),
• Strike plate that is used to reinforce the pockets in the doorframe. The latch can extend inside to secure the door.
• The keyed cylinder which enables the door to be locked.

If you do have this type of lock and are going to speak to your locksmiths about it, it is a good idea to have some basic information for them. Our locksmiths are always available, so phone us at (773) 825-5625.

The benefits of mortise locks

While quite complicated in installation and maintenance, mortise locks provide benefits, such as:

• Difficulty for intruders to open – since mortise locks are fitted inside the door itself, they are much more difficult to force open. It also presents complex challenges to lock picking, and if you chose a lock that has more than 6 lock levers, it will be extremely hard to open without a key.
• Come in different sizes which allows you to select a lock that best serves the purpose you need it for.
• They are well crafted and have a certain antique charm that makes them aesthetically pleasing.
• Can have a passage function, meaning they will not require a key and cannot be locked. This function is particularly useful in children’s rooms to avoid accidental locking and provide easy access for children.

Mortise locks are very useful in properties, that require that extra security that regular cylinder locks lack, which is why we highly recommend them for commercial facilities. These locks are enduring, hard to force open and can be adjusted to fit your unique needs.

Choose Unlock Chicago for professional mortise lock installation and maintenance

Since mortise locks are fitted in the door frame, the strength of the lock depends greatly on its quality of installation. So choose experienced and professional locksmiths from Unlock Chicago for your mortise lock installation and maintenance, and we will make sure that your commercial or residential property is properly secured. Call us at (773) 825-5625 and we will help you select the lock that best secures your home and business.