Door Knobs & Levers
Security grades, brands, and functions — demystified for your LA property.
A Critical Warning About Knob Locks
Knob locks should never be the primary security on an exterior door — the locking cylinder sits inside the knob itself, outside the protection of the door, and can be defeated in seconds with a hammer or wrench. The gold standard: pair a high-quality deadbolt with a simple passage knob or lever.
Understanding ANSI Grades
- Grade 1 — 1 million cycles, tested against hammer strikes and prying. For commercial entries and critical home entrances.
- Grade 2 — 400,000 cycles, the professional standard for residential security and a big upgrade over builder-grade hardware.
Know Your Functions
Entry & Handlesets
Keyed outside, thumbturn inside — or a grand handleset paired with a separate high-security deadbolt for front doors.
Privacy & Passage
Privacy locks for bedrooms and baths (emergency-openable from outside); passage knobs for halls and closets.
Storeroom
Always locked from outside, always free egress inside — ideal for supply closets and IT rooms.
Levers with Clutch
ADA-friendly levers with breakaway clutch mechanisms that spin freely under a torque attack while the latch stays secure.
Brands We Trust
Mul-T-Lock® for the pinnacle of key control and attack resistance, Schlage® Grade 2 as the reliable industry workhorse, and designer lines from Baldwin and Emtek when style matters as much as strength.
Pick the Right Hardware Call / Text 818-652-5269
