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kateskouros

one key for all locks?

kateskouros
13 years ago

all of our door knobs came in and are installed but the keys are the SAME for all locks, inside and out. i can get them changed if i want, but the salesman told me a lot of people have just one key for all the locks ...it's simpler. sounds good to me, but is there any reason this wouldn't be a good idea? TIA.

Comments (11)

  • kymike
    13 years ago

    I actually prefer this setup. The only downside I can think of is that if you lose a key and want to ensure security, you would need to rekey all of the locks.

  • athensmomof3
    13 years ago

    We have that situation here and it is great - although there is the downside kymike mentioned. Some brands you can rekey yourself with a special pin - we did this when we replaced our front door handleset.

  • musings
    13 years ago

    We have all keyed the same EXCEPT for one (the side door). Only my husband and I have the main key. The exception is the only key that we give out as necessary -- to our kids, the housekeeper, neighbors (in case someone is locked out or we ask a favor of them that requires access, etc.), etc. We can deadbolt the exception from the inside as well, so we can control when that door can be used. This also reduces the chances of us having too many main keys out there, lost, etc.

  • chispa
    13 years ago

    We did the same thing as Musings. Our exception is the side door into the garage and you would still have to go through the door from the garage into the house, which is keyed with the main key. Might be a bit convoluted! The side door into the garage is also alarmed, so it could not be used unless we program the alarm to bypass the signal for that occasion.

    The house also came with a deadbolt on the master bedroom door. The previous owners had many kids hanging out at the house and would lock up their room. We are just approaching the teen years and it seemed like something we might want to use in the future. The main keys (DH and I) will open that door and all other. Secondary keys open everything else, but not master. Tertiary key only opens the side garage door.

  • charles_y
    13 years ago

    Set interior locks all the same. Side doors 1 lock, front 1 lock and back 1 lock. That should be ok.

  • bh401
    13 years ago

    All ours on our current build are keyed the same. The door to the mud room will have a keyless entry system with dead bolt. That way we don't have to give out any keys and can reprogram the keyless with a new code whenever we need to.

  • singingmicki
    13 years ago

    I think your problem could be solved by a keyed/code combination lock on one door. Anyone had actual experience with the code locks by schlage and kwikset? I'm planning to key all my doors the same and put the code deadbolt on my side door; then I won't have to give out a key to anyone.
    It even has the ability to have a main family code and a secondary code for service people. Then if you need to change the code, the family code doesn't have to change.

  • bh401
    13 years ago

    My BFF has the schlage and that's what I'm going with. She has had hers for about 2 years now and no problems.

  • dyno
    13 years ago

    If you use the SmartKey system (found in Weisers and Kwiksets), the key coding can be changed very easily by the homeowner. It takes under a minute each and that's with reading the instructions.

    Here is a link that might be useful: SmartKey

  • kateskouros
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    emtek came out recently with a key pad entry that goes with the rest of our knobs. i ordered it a couple of weeks ago, so should be in soon. thanks for all the good advice.

  • Happyladi
    13 years ago

    All of our doors are keyed the same and I like it.