Over the years I have been called out to homes many times because a child (or children) has figured out how to unlock the front door and venture outside without supervision. I’m talking about children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old. This can be very frustrating for the parent who is trying to clean or bake or just relax during the day, only to discover junior playing near the street during a spot check. In an ideal world children are supposed to stay magnified to the TV or video so adults can be productive with their time. Children however seldom do what we expect in the ideal world. In the real world watching or supervising children can be exhausting and unrealistic, yet it only takes a few minutes for an unsupervised child to get into trouble.
The “Thumb-turn only” deadbolt has been the answer for many parents. The deadbolt can be installed high enough where small children cannot reach, yet an adult can unlock the door in less than a second. The hole for the lock is not bored all the way through the door, so there is no key cylinder way up high on the door looking out of place and disturbing the balanced symmetrical look of the existing hardware.
If you decide to install Thumb-turn only deadbolts on every door be mindful at least one door leading into the house must be unlockable with a key from the outside. I learned this from a customer who locked her husband out of the house. The husband had a key, but it was useless for a lock with no keyhole. I had to return and install a key locking deadbolt in the door most likely used to enter the home after work.
The other reason for the Thumb-turn only deadbolt is to add a little extra security and privacy to a bedroom door. Since bedroom doors are usually thin 1 3/8 inches thick, the door would not last long were someone to kick the door down. The deadbolt would offer little resistance, but it would let you know someone is breaking-in. The deadbolt does offer excellent privacy because unlike the traditional privacy knob or lever, there is nothing to pick or manipulate to get the door unlocked.
I remember one customer was separated from her husband, but they were still living in the same house. The woman wanted a deadbolt installed on the bedroom door, but I refused the job. I informed her there is nothing which would enrage her husband more than to install a key locking deadbolt on the bedroom. The husband may just kick-in the door to show he cannot be locked out. I did install the thumb-turn deadbolt so the wife could feel some security while she was home. I installed a key locking door knob for her to lock while she was not home. Since there was no keyhole for the husband to see on the deadbolt lock, the reason to become enraged was removed.
