Garage door locks, their types and specifics of operation: Do-it-yourself garage lock

“Spinner” design and other constipations

Image 2. “Spinner” lock for the garage.
Gate locks are very simple. These include the “spinner”. The bar crossbar is secured with a through bolt, on which it will rotate freely. When the gate is closed, the leaves are completely adjacent to each other. Such a lock cannot be opened from the outside. From the inside, a simple hand movement is enough to open it (image No. 2).

Gate locks or a gate lock can be an ordinary latch, which can be easily placed in the right place. A variation of it is a bolt, which is made from an ordinary strip of iron. To install such a lock, you need to know exactly the quantity and location of all parts. There are quite a lot of design options you can come up with. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to hang locks, which are complex and expensive. They can be cut off, but the bolt can never be cut off. Various devices for deadbolts and other locks are shown in image No. 3.

A car is an item that some citizens are after. We have to protect it in various ways. Some owners install modern electric gates in their garages. For additional protection, a regular lock is attached to them. This is done so as not to open the door manually in the event of an unexpected power outage.

Automated systems

Automated garage locking systems would also be a good solution. Such mechanisms fall into two categories:

1. Electromagnetic. The principle of protection is based on the operation of an electromagnet: under the influence of voltage, it fixes the sash immovable. A key card or code is used as unlocking.
2. Electromechanical. The mechanical basis is the crossbar system that sets the door in motion. You can unlock this lock using a key, code or application.

To prevent the buttons from jamming, we recommend periodically changing the password code. The proposed move will help prolong the use of the automated lock.

A few more ways

Sometimes flask locks are installed on the gates. They are able to open and close very quickly. Constipations are made from a piece of pipe in which special holes are cut. A piece of reinforcement or metal rod is inserted into this pipe. The lock works like a window latch. With this method of locking, the gate leaves are not always attracted to their place in the frame. You have to spend your efforts.

Screw-type locking devices attract gate leaves well. It’s difficult to talk about secret constipation. To make them you need to know and be able to do quite a lot. When making locks for any system, it is necessary to take into account:

Image 3. Various devices for deadbolts and other locks.

Based on the totality of all indicators, mechanical garage locking systems are most preferable. They are able to withstand significant forces directed at them. We must not forget that the simpler the product, the more reliable it is. Espagnolette bolt systems have proven themselves well. They can be supplemented with a spring stop along with a much longer handle. Such devices allow you to save your time. Over time, play may appear in gates equipped with deadbolts. But this device has proven itself on gates made of corrugated sheets.

To make homemade garage door locks with your own hands, you need to prepare:

The manufacture of the locking device itself is not particularly difficult. Welding a ring on a gate leaf is not difficult. Next, you need to mark the installation location of the lock and cut off pieces of rod. Short sections are welded to their upper part, necessary for fixing the rods in the ground.

The deadbolt device for locking a garage consists of a barn lock, which has long earned popularity. The most popular locks are from Border, Cisa, Elbor and Mettem. They are distinguished by the strength of all components and additional mechanisms that ensure secrecy.

Making gate locks with your own hands is not very difficult.

There is no need to use expensive materials and tools for this. You will only need to periodically lubricate locks and other devices. Graphite powder, transformer or spindle oil are suitable for this purpose. Doors, especially metal ones, need to be painted. The powder is simply blown into the gate lock using a straw.

The most successful options for locking garage doors

Of all the different designs of constipation, the least reliable are latches and latches. The design of such a mechanism is simple to the point of primitiveness. Essentially, it is a metal rod in a steel cage. When the rod is moved using the side lever, the edge of the locking element fits into the slot on the adjacent leaf and blocks the movement of the gate. You can install it on the gate with your own hands in five minutes, but its resistance to burglary is extremely low, primarily due to the weak housing of the clip.

If you need a truly powerful garage clamp, you should use one of the following designs:

1. Flask lock for garage doors;
2. Rotating rack mechanism;
3. Constipation - pinwheel;
4. Bolts on welded frame.

Advice! Each option is convenient to use in its own way, but requires careful care and lubrication of the mechanism.

Flask locking systems

Structurally, the flask lock consists of two elements - a lever with a hook and a fixing loop. The lever is installed on the gate leaf or on the door; when closing, it is enough to put the loop on the hook and throw the lever until it stops. This way, a gap is selected and the garage door is pulled tightly to the door frame. You can see how constipation works in practice from the video:

In the closed position, any effort to open the flap is perceived by the thick loop-hook of the flask mechanism; to break such a fastening, a force of more than several thousand kilograms will be required.

In addition, the flask version of the garage locking device is absolutely insensitive to clogging and contamination. Making and installing such a mechanism on the gate with your own hands is not difficult.

Rotary rack locks

An eccentric or rotary lock, made in the form of a vertical tubular post mounted on the gate leaf in four support clips, is considered no less reliable. In the central part, a lever is attached to the rack, with the help of which the rack pipe can be rotated around a vertical axis. For convenience, the lever is bolted, which makes it possible to fold it by lowering it down.

A massive hook is welded onto the upper and lower ends of the pipe. Thick and short cylinders are installed on the threshold and on the top beam of the garage door frame. When the tubular post is rotated, the hook rotates around a vertical axis and engages with the cylinder at the top and bottom of the gate.

The strength of the mechanism is not inferior to the flask design, but a more complex version to make with your own hands requires the use of alloy steels and high-quality welding.

Locking pin and rod locks

Twenty years ago, a very popular design among garage owners was a locking design in the form of a pinwheel or a rotating steel rail mounted on one of the doors. To make such a lock, it was necessary to weld a rotation axis on one of the gate leaves and make two stops to fix the locking element in the closed state; most often, two pieces of steel angle were used.

To close the mechanism, it was enough to rotate the locking frame around a horizontal axis. A simple and relatively reliable device has made this design one of the most popular options among car enthusiasts. For a long time it was believed that it was impossible to open it from the outside.

The simplest schemes were, and will remain for a long time, vertical clamps installed in the upper and lower parts of one of the sashes. This scheme is very simple to manufacture; for reliable operation and door locking, special sleeves or pipe cuttings will need to be installed in the upper and lower beams of the gate frame. Over time, dirt accumulates inside the sleeves, and in winter - frozen condensation, so periodic cleaning and purging of the fastening is required.

Features and types of locking mechanisms

Modern materials and technology for manufacturing gate locks, which differ in the type of manufacture, location and method of locking, are produced by manufacturers in a large assortment.

The main types of devices are:

Horizontal constipation. it is placed at the top, center or bottom. You can do it yourself. This is the most common type of garage structure.

Horizontal gate bolt

Vertical lock. in location and purpose it is similar to the previous type.

Vertical lock in the garage

This type is best used for sliding gates. The design consists of a pipe into which a regular piece of pipe of a smaller diameter with holes is inserted. The disadvantage of the device is the lack of a tight fit of the door leaf to the frame.

Tip: To improve the fit of the sashes to the frame, the vertical lock needs to be modified.

Such gate valves can be placed on the gate leaf and frame. In this case, the direction of the tongue is done individually.

According to the locking method, locks can be:

• Rotary.
• With fixation.
• Crossbar or screw.
• Mortise locks.

"Spinner" or butterfly valve for garage

For swing gates, many garage owners want to purchase just such a lock. Its general appearance is shown in the photo.

Turntables for the garage

If you wish, you can assemble this version of the shutter yourself. In this case, it will be strong, durable, the doors will be tightly closed, and besides, you won’t have to put much effort into the device when closing or opening.

Advice: You won’t be able to purchase a turntable at any hardware store; they don’t produce them, and if necessary, the shutter can be made to order or made by hand.

The operating principle of the device is as follows:

• The crossbar is attached in the center with a through bolt.
• When turning, the crossbar fits into grooves made of bent strips or mechanically.
• It is impossible to open them from the outside.

Gate latch

This is a fairly simple and reliable design. When installing such a lock, the only problem is the presence of a small gap between the sashes. Thanks to this design device, the latch, which fits into the slide with a stop, does not allow opening the garage door.

Tip: When using such a lock, you can make the sliding system more convenient - weld a metal eyelet for the vertical entry of the latch into it at the bottom of the sash, which will make the structure reliable and guaranteed safe.

Lock for swing garage doors

To lock swing gates, you can make a design without using bolts, rivets and other fasteners that quickly fail. They are ideal for gates made of corrugated sheets.

The instructions for such a mechanism suggest choosing the desired design from two different options:

• Fastening the lock to profile pipes. This option does not have a very aesthetic appearance, but is a reliable and strong lock for any type of gate.
• A castle whose base is a corner. Its strength is not high, which does not allow it to hold heavy gates.

Lock design from a profile pipe

The shutters are attached to the frame by welding. Their number is calculated taking into account the size of the canvas. With two doors, you will need to install a device on each half.

When making a constipation:

• The location of its installation is marked.
• Select the length of the rod that will go into the ground.
• The mark of his entry is marked.
• Rods of equal length are cut.
• Small sections of a profile circle are welded to the upper part of the structure for convenient fixation of the constipations.

Advice: The length of the rods should be such that they can be pushed into the ground enough to ensure that the gate is securely locked and will not allow them to be opened without effort.

It is quite simple to make such locks for gates, their price is not high.

Screw locks

The screw mechanism is mounted on the front side of the gate. This is a fairly simple device to use.

It includes:

• Rod, with screw thread.
• A key with a base that has a notch and a small spire.

A special key with a corresponding recess and pin operates the shutter mechanism. You can make it yourself.

The disadvantages of this design may be:

1. there should be enough space in the gate opening for a recess for the thread into which the rod will be screwed directly;
2. Such a device is relatively easy to hack by selecting a similar key.

What you can do yourself

Any protective system made independently has its advantages: it allows you to manufacture a structure that is no longer produced, and also save time and money. We offer detailed instructions for making garage locks with your own hands, so that you can choose the most suitable option.

Pinwheel

The easiest way to create locks will be the “spinner,” which has been proven over the years. Finding it on sale is extremely problematic. In short, it is a strip fixed with a through bolt; when locked, it rotates around a horizontal axis and fits into the grooves.

The “spinner” closes only from the inside and ensures a tight fit of the swing gate leaves.

The materials you will need are a metal strip or beam (optimal thickness - 50 mm, length - two-thirds of the width of the gate).

1. We fix the beam in the center of the gate, to the edge of one of the leaves, secure it with a through bolt (10- or 12-mm) and place washers on it.
2. We install several hinges for locking at the top and bottom, which will allow the doors to be opened with a rotational movement.

It would not be superfluous to treat the materials for the lock with an anti-corrosion compound to preserve the mechanism in bad weather and precipitation.

Horizontal crossbar

In other words - a latch. This type is often used for entrance gates. Unfortunately, it will not create a tight fit of the sashes, however, it still remains a reliable and durable system.

Creating a locking device:

1. We bend a piece of reinforcement (diameter – 20 mm) into the shape of the letter “L” or weld a handle.
2. We install pieces of pipe, rings or hinges on the sashes.
3. We attach a tube (diameter a little more than 20 mm) to the opposite flap to tightly fix the segment.

Threaded locking mechanism

To make locks on this type of garage door, you will need a metal strip. The length of the material must exceed the length of the sashes. On one side, we install the bar on a separate eyelet on the wall.

At the end of the other side you need to create a hole in the rail for the bolt. We make a thread in the wall or gate hole. A metal casing is attached on top of it to further protect the mechanism.

Security vertical bolt

We install the structure on the frame; a lever is attached closer to the edge of the sash. The main material is a profile pipe or a metal corner. To make the bolt, you need to weld several pieces of pipe to the frame and make holes in it to secure the sash.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of swing gates is reliability. But this is far from their only advantage. The simplicity of the design provides other advantages:

• there is no need to configure and maintain the automation;
• among the budget alternative options for sectional, overhead and sliding gates, there are no comparable in cost to swing gates - the latter are always more affordable;
• you can install automation: drives that open and close the doors;
• there is no need to strengthen the opening and the top floor, which is often required when installing sectional or overhead doors;
• the possibility of insulating the doors and frame;
• many door design options.

The main disadvantage is the need to get out of the car and close/open the gate under any, even the most unfavorable weather conditions. In addition, in winter it is necessary to clear the space in front of them from snow.

Advantages

Some consider locks to be an outdated way of locking swing gates, gates, and doors.

Currently, stores have a large number of new locks, electric keys, CCTV and remote control systems. However, deadbolts have a number of advantages that determine their popularity today:

• reliability;
• ease of use;
• high quality material;
• low price;
• clear mechanism;
• opportunity to do it yourself.

Homemade option

Types of deadbolts

There are many types of constipation, some of which are readily available in hardware stores. But recently, owners prefer to create locking mechanisms on their own, using materials such as metal (rods, channels, strips) or wood.

A gate latch made of wood is made for wooden entrance gates, as for a metal latch - it is more universal and is installed on combined, metal, profiled or wooden gates. There are various manufacturing methods. For example, forging - products are reliable and attractive in appearance

But for this method it is important to have certain knowledge, skills and equipment. Since forging equipment is not so easy to use, owners prefer to use compact welding machines, grinders, drills, etc.

Among the most common types of deadbolts, it is worth noting the following:

1. Rotary - such as “barrier”, “turntable” They are distinguished by their ease of manufacture, reliability and strength of holding the shutters. Most often, wooden beams are used for production. The disadvantages are that the product does not look modern enough, and in some designs it is physically difficult to operate the mechanism. Although these parameters are not always considered a disadvantage, since a certain gate design requires a “rougher” bolt design.
2. The “latch” also refers to a rotary door, but it can only be installed if one of the gate halves is firmly fixed. Mainly used on gates and doors.

   The latch lock can be installed when one of the doors is firmly fixed

3. Horizontal sliding ones - “espagnolette” or simple strip type. The product is fastened to a frame or a turning mechanism. As in the case of the “latch,” vertical-type clamps or locks are additionally installed on one of the sashes.
4. Vertical sliding gates are installed separately at the bottom of each gate leaf, which allows them to be securely fixed in both the open and closed positions. If the locks are installed in a garage, then the fastening is made either in the upper or lower (provided the frame is reliable) part of the gate. If the frame is easy to bend, then it is better to install it on top and bottom on each half.

Vertical gate lock

Based on the type of construction, there are 4 types.

1. A simple type is a deadbolt. It assembles in a short time. At the same time, they are highly durable and the gates will not open in strong gusts of wind.
2. Locks on additional lugs. Durable steel is used for production and is often mounted on garage doors.
3. Pin deadbolt - scraps of metal pipe and metal rods are used. Rods from 0.5 to 1 meter long.
4. Latch for tilt-type sliding gates - works due to 4 curved hooks and a steel plate. Wood can also be used for production. A wooden bolt can be seen not only on the gate, but also on the gate.

Why it is better to make swing gates with your own hands from a profile pipe

The width of my gate should be 4.10 m. This is exactly the distance between the supporting posts of the fence made of corrugated sheets. The span is quite large - each leaf should be 2.05 m wide. To ensure rigidity, I decided to use a steel profile pipe for the frame.

Since the outside cladding of the gate is made of corrugated sheets screwed to the frame with self-tapping screws, the frame itself had to be made rigid only in a plane perpendicular to the area of ​​the gate. Simply put, so that the wind does not break it. And the frame should not fold in the corners, since the sheets will provide it with decent additional strength.

The simplest option, it would seem, is to make a frame from wooden blocks, connecting them with galvanized strips on self-tapping screws. Sheets are also easier to screw to wood than to metal. However, the wood will have to be protected from rot and mold and the coating will have to be renewed regularly. The gate is on the street all year round.

A profile pipe with a cross-section of 40 x 20 mm, even with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm, already has sufficient rigidity for a length of up to two meters. I used a pipe with a wall of 2.0 mm. The weight of each canvas increased slightly. In addition, thick metal is easier to weld, especially for beginners. Thin walls are easy to burn through. For welding, I used a regular semi-automatic welding machine and electrodes 2.5 mm thick.

Types of bolts and features of installation work

Door deadbolts come in the following types:

1. Built-in models.
2. Mortise structures.
3. Simple or overhead products.

The latches are installed in the middle of the door and secured. The task becomes more complicated when the well is large. For this, a turbine and nails are used. The latch must be tightly mounted on both sides.

In the case of a simple method, a drill and fastening nails are used. The diameter for fastening is 2–3 mm. The length of the bolts is permissible up to 50 cm. The choice of the bolt affects the degree of protection. Mortise and built-in methods are used for apartment locks. Installation takes at least two hours. For this purpose, a full range of construction equipment and fastening materials are used.

Door lock for gate

Without the efforts of a lock installation technician, the process is impossible. Removing or picking a lock is just as difficult as installing it. Although the latch opens in one motion, breaking it will take a long time. The stores offer open and closed type latches. The closing rod, design characteristics, and purity of the material all affect prices. Therefore, the range is diverse and accessible. Take care of protecting the apartment and install a latch. As a result, the door will be locked with ease.

Manufacturing and installation of sashes

There is only one way to properly weld a garage door - you need to clearly calculate the future dimensions of the structure and the spare gaps necessary for the doors to close and open smoothly. Experienced builders recommend 2-3 cm from the floor, 1-2 cm from the ceiling and 5 cm from the side walls for attaching hinges. Based on the calculations obtained, the profile pipes are cut and a cut is made at their edges at an angle of 45 degrees.

Metal pipes are laid out on a welding table or prepared surface, adjusted to length and the corners are checked. Using a welding machine, a monolithic rectangle of a suitable shape is created. Before starting to clean the seams, the finished structure of the future doors is applied to the frame with hinges welded onto it.

Garage door installationSource tildacdn.com

If the dimensions match, you can begin installing the finished structure. The places where the fittings are attached are marked on the pipes and welded. The gate frame is checked by putting it on the frame hinges - if it fits like a glove, you can proceed to the next stage. Using a tape measure, set the middle of the horizontal crossbars. They retreat 1 cm from it and weld vertical crossbars so that there is 2 cm between them.

The canvas is cut into 2 equal parts, and the protruding pieces of pipe are removed using a grinder. To strengthen the sashes, you can install additional horizontal or diagonal cross members. All welds are cleaned, the structure is painted and installed on the hinges. To prevent the doors from opening inward, a control profile pipe is welded to the top of the frame, which will limit their movement.

Covering the doors with metal sheets

It is not enough to know how to weld a garage door from a profile pipe with your own hands; it is important to sheathe them beautifully so that the final result is pleasing to the eye. Most often, galvanized iron plates 2-3 mm thick are used for cladding.

They are marked and cut with a grinder, the edges are polished, removing metal burrs and shavings. Small slits for hinges are also made on the sides of the sheets.

Garage covered with metal sheetsSource nick-stroy.ru

Welding requires two people. As soon as one aligns the canvas, the second welds it in several places to the sash. You should not make a continuous weld - there is a serious danger that in the future the entire sash will leak. The seam should be spot-on with an interval of 2-3 cm. The finished structure is decorated with forged decorative elements and painted with metal paint.

Installation of locks and latches

Ready-made garage doors must be equipped with a good-quality lock, which will reliably protect the car and other utensils from intruders. The most popular option is a mortise lock. It is welded to the frame of one of the doors. To ensure smooth movement of the crossbars, holes of the same diameter are drilled in the corrugated pipe.

Installing a lock on a garage door

If your budget does not allow you to use reliable mortise mechanisms, you can use a proven option. A small loop is welded to the edges of each of the doors. They are used to install a barn lock. Despite the fact that this option is cheaper, it is seriously inferior to mortise mechanisms for safety reasons.

To fix the valves in the open position, locks on metal springs are used. Even an inexperienced technician will have no problems installing them. The lock body is welded to the bottom of the sash closer to the middle of the garage opening.

Insulation and internal lining of garage doors

The final stage of creating a metal structure is covering it with insulation on the inside. This will allow you to maintain a positive temperature in the room even in winter. Glass wool, polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam are used as insulation.

Insulation of garage doorsSource vikbud.ua

A wooden sheathing made from edged boards is mounted to the frame of the doors. All cavities are carefully filled with insulation, avoiding air pockets. To retain a sufficient amount of heat, a 5 cm layer of mineral wool is sufficient. To give a finished look, the sheathing is lined with PVC panels, clapboard or other materials based on the individual preferences of the garage owner.

How to weld a garage door with your own hands

Welding garage doors yourself is quite simple. Using a welding machine and available tools, a frame is first mounted, onto which the doors are then installed. To give a finished look, the doors are lined from the outside and inside.

Video on the topic “Simple gate clamp. clamp for gate"

Today there are a lot of options for deadbolts and locks. They all differ not only in appearance, but also in location, type of locking, and direction of movement of the main element. Among the main types it is worth noting the following:

• horizontal, divided into central, lower or upper. They are most often used for garage doors;
• vertical, having the same arrangement;
• additional ones, which are placed on the gate, doors of outbuildings.

All structures can be located on the frame of the doors or on the door leaf. The direction of the tongue can be oriented parallel or perpendicular.

According to the mechanism options, the most acceptable are:

Notification as a means of protection against intrusion

At dachas, “vocal guards” of a sound alarm system are installed everywhere. Those who are more or less familiar with electricity and electronics equip windows and doors with sensitive sensors that respond to any attempts at intrusion. The same analyzers can be fixed on the gate at the entrance. The information received from them is transmitted to the general system, where it is converted into a signal. A loud tonal sound scares not only uninvited guests, but also the entire neighborhood. The more sensors, the more efficient the system, and therefore, the more expensive. But no matter how perfect it is, you still cannot do without a gate in the complex chain of receiving and processing information.

Lock selection

The choice depends on the available facilities and security requirements. If you want to save money, then a padlock or a simple padlock will suit you. If the goal is to provide greater security, then you need to consider options for more expensive overhead or mortise locks. And if funds allow, then choose electromechanical locks or electromagnetic systems with electronic and radio keys.

When choosing a lock, you must take into account the design of the gate. For example, if the gate is lattice and you can reach its inner surface from the outside, then a lock that opens and closes with a key on both sides is preferable than one that opens from the inside simply by turning the handle.

When buying a lock, you need to consider where the gate opens: inward or outward, and whether it is left-handed or right-handed. Each of these cases has its own modifications. Remember that you are buying a lock for outdoor use, which means it is resistant to weather conditions.