Working overseas, we are renting our house next year and will be storing a lot of personal items in the loft. I'd like to add a lock onto the loft door without it being 'in your face' obtrusive, and slightly insulting to our (unknown) tenants. So a dangling padlock is not acceptable to me. The existing loft door is on a 'push open/ push closed' latch and is 18mm thick. Picture attached. I imagine a 'camlock' of some type, with a recess cut into the wooden timbers to accept the rotating locking 'blade', ideally with an inset facing plate, rather than just a slot in the unprotected wood? I cannot find anything specifically for this purpose, which surprises me. Can anyone point me in the direction of a suitable product? Cheers.
Locking loft access door (security)
- Thread starter dornfield
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What material?
Couldn't you just fit (a pair?) of rim locks? and if necessary fit a steel plate into the frame with a slot?
Or something similar to this?
www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk
Couldn't you just fit (a pair?) of rim locks? and if necessary fit a steel plate into the frame with a slot?
Or something similar to this?
GateMate Locking Long Throw Gate Lock - 50mm Gate Thickness - 2 Keyholes - 316 Stainless Steel | IronmongeryDirect | Same Day Despatch
GateMate Locking Long Throw Gate Lock - 50mm Gate Thickness - 2 Keyholes - 316 Stainless Steel available at great trade prices with easy and free returns. Order Gate Bolts before 8pm for same day despatch.
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What happens if there is a problem and someone needs to get in loft to inspect or fix?
Also consider the weight of goods stored and where you put it. Best over walls to support weight. I've seen many of bowed ceilings from weight of goods.
Wouldn't bother with a lock. Not going to stop anyone as easily picked or broken
Also consider the weight of goods stored and where you put it. Best over walls to support weight. I've seen many of bowed ceilings from weight of goods.
Wouldn't bother with a lock. Not going to stop anyone as easily picked or broken
They'll give the agents or relatives overseeing the property the keys, perfectly normal set-up. No lock or hatch is unbreakable but it is likely to prevent most normal tenants access the loft. No different to a seperate garage that isn't included in a let.
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Just think it's a critical area with pipes, tanks, roof and cables.. Surprised your allowed to lock it tbh.
Might need to get up quickly and inspect..
Who cares about garage or other building.
Jmo. Having been locked out of boilers and fuse boxes in emergencies in the past.
Frozen pipe burst on job but I could do nothing but watch with no access. Stress especially if you have the skills to do something.
I bet my house that if there was a leak an emergency plumber would turn up and have to smash way through loft hatch. Or drive miles just to get the key
Might need to get up quickly and inspect..
Who cares about garage or other building.
Jmo. Having been locked out of boilers and fuse boxes in emergencies in the past.
Frozen pipe burst on job but I could do nothing but watch with no access. Stress especially if you have the skills to do something.
I bet my house that if there was a leak an emergency plumber would turn up and have to smash way through loft hatch. Or drive miles just to get the key
Gosh. I wasn't anticipating criticism of locking the loft! As Freddie Mercury's Twin says, the agent will have a key. It would be great for any other specifically designed locks for a loft door, but the gate lock suggested above is still a bit intrusive looking. I was thinking more along these lines: 32mm Camlock
It would benefit from a 'face plate' to make the job neater, rather than just cutting a slot into the frame timber.
Tigercubrider: the door is MDF, I think, and the frame looks like pine.
It would benefit from a 'face plate' to make the job neater, rather than just cutting a slot into the frame timber.
Tigercubrider: the door is MDF, I think, and the frame looks like pine.
The slot in the timber frame will be above the hatch door, ie not visible from the hallway.
Yup. That's right. But it might look neater if it had a face plate when open, and as I won't ever remove the lock, it will add to the longevity of the 'female' part of the system. I think I'll go with this 'camlock' solution.
If you are renting the house, remove all of your personal items from it.
If you have nowhere to put them, pay for storage elsewhere.
Sealing off parts of the house and storing your property in there is asking for trouble.
You've had the opportunity to learn something, then.
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The gate lock is similar to a Yale lock. The bulk is inside the loft with just the key bezel on the house side.
a rim lock would only need a key hole drilled in the MDF. (As on a shed)
a rim lock would only need a key hole drilled in the MDF. (As on a shed)
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Sorry.
Didn't mean to upset but locks do my nut vs a bit of trust.
Customer locked me in their house once by accident (habit I guess)
Didn't realise until long gone.
Anyway.
To answer. Buy one of these.
Fit and shut with another person in loft to mark the catch location. All easy enough
Cam Tubular Locks 20mm with Alike Keys for Door Cabinet Mailbox Drawer Cupboard Security Locker Hardware Locks https://amzn.eu/d/drdUFRU
It's the same design as some loft hatch catches and will be easy to fit.
Also can't pick or break
Check thickness required before you buy.
You could fit a bolt and padlock but it's not easy to get a latch hole with not much to drill in. Also looks terrible.
Didn't mean to upset but locks do my nut vs a bit of trust.
Customer locked me in their house once by accident (habit I guess)
Didn't realise until long gone.
Anyway.
To answer. Buy one of these.
Fit and shut with another person in loft to mark the catch location. All easy enough
Cam Tubular Locks 20mm with Alike Keys for Door Cabinet Mailbox Drawer Cupboard Security Locker Hardware Locks https://amzn.eu/d/drdUFRU
It's the same design as some loft hatch catches and will be easy to fit.
Also can't pick or break
Check thickness required before you buy.
You could fit a bolt and padlock but it's not easy to get a latch hole with not much to drill in. Also looks terrible.