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For years now, UK homeowners have turned to the more friendly and welcoming wooden garden gate. Compared to a metal gate, a wooden gate generally looks a bit more modern and can feel a little more suited to your aesthetic tastes. However, if you are looking to buy a lock for your wooden gate, it’s important to note that gate locks for metal gates are a little different. Using the same gate lock on a metal gate as you do on a wooden gate can create compatibility issues.
Are you having a headache finding the right outdoor gate lock for your wooden gate? Then read on. We asked Lock & Key Bradford, a UK locksmithing specialist, about the differences between gate locks for metal gates and for wooden gates. Using these tips, you should find it easier to locate the ideal wooden garden gate lock and avoid buying one better suited to metal gates.
Why Do Wooden Gate Locks Need To Be Specifically Chosen?
Now, you might be wondering why you can’t just go to a hardware store and buy any old gate lock. After all, surely gate locks for metal gates and gate locks for wooden gates can’t be that different!?
Unfortunately, they are pretty different. One of the main differences that has to be taken into account is how wood reacts to the elements. Wood is far more likely to change in size and shape due to moisture absorption and humidity, and in the UK, we get plenty of wet, humid days. That means your wooden gate is more likely to expand or contract in size more often than a metal gate would.
Why does that matter? The locking mechanism needs to be adaptable to these circumstances. Using gate locks for metal gates is not usually feasible because they do not offer the flexibility needed in their design. The locking mechanism needs to be able to adapt to the warping of the gate; otherwise, the lock soon winds up out of line with the gate frame and the lock mechanism. That means your gate will not lock properly.
As your gate expands when wet and shrinks when dry, you could find your lock no longer works as it should. This could be cause you are using an incompatible gate lock type.
We have come across many stories of people using gate locks for metal gates on a wooden gate, only to find it no longer works as it should. Therefore, you need purpose-designed wooden gate locks – but what matters? What features should you keep an eye out for when evaluating gate lock types?
Key Factors To Consider When Selecting A Wooden Gate Lock
The good news is that it can be pretty easy to tell a good lock apart from a substandard one. If you are shopping around for gate locks for wooden gates, be sure to pay attention to features like:
Weather Resistance
As we mentioned above, wooden gate locks need to be adaptable to the weather conditions. This is doubly true in the UK, where our weather is pretty much constantly either humid or rainy. As such, your gate is likely to take in a lot more moisture than a wooden gate would in, say, Italy!
Weather resistance is key, then. Make sure you buy a wooden gate lock marked as weather-adaptable, meaning it can adjust with the wooden gate as it shrinks/expands. At the same time, make sure that the lock mechanism is weather-protected; otherwise, it is more likely to rust and decay in the rain.
Wood Compatibility
Most wooden gates are made from timber or a similar wood, so it’s important to make sure that your new outdoor gate lock is compatible with your choice of wood.
This is as simple as reading the lock type description and making sure it clearly states it is compatible with your wood type. Buying a gate lock that is not compatible with timber or your gate’s wood type means it is unlikely to adapt or adjust as required.
Generally, you want to make sure that you use stainless fixings as they are more likely to last longer in the British weather. That reduces the likelihood of rusting or loss of mobility in the lock mechanism.
Physical Strength
Of course, what good is a garden gate lock if it isn’t durable? Make sure that the lock you buy is both physically durable and tamper-resistant.
Physical strength usually means the gate lock will be fitted with thicker bolts. The thicker the bolt, the harder it is to wiggle a gate lock off or to force it from the gate itself. Make sure that any outdoor gate lock you buy is physically robust enough to sustain physical impact and blunt force.
Thickness & Length
If you have a wooden gate that is particularly thick or wide, then you might be better off getting a long-throw gate lock. Long-throw gate locks use longer bolts that make it easier to cover large distances between wooden slats.
It also ensures that the bolts will fit into the posts and wooden slats without being too shallow. You need the bolts to be deeply embedded in the wood; otherwise, they are easier to remove.
Finding A Wooden Gate Lock For Your Gate Type
Hopefully, the above will give you some extra detail to consider when choosing your next wooden gate. Just remember: gate locks for metal gates serve different purposes, so they are not the same. If you intended to use the same lock on your metal gate, think again!
You should always choose your outdoor gate lock based on the type of wood your gate is made of, its thickness, and the security level you want. The thicker your gate and the more complex your security needs, the more expensive your new garden gate lock will be.
Keep that in mind, though, and you should find it easier to accept the cost involved and thus be happy with the gate lock you end up with.
