Door Knobs

Door Knobs: Understanding Security Grades, Brands, and Functions for Your LA Property

At Guardian Angel Lock & Security, we believe that knowledge is the first step toward true security. This guide is designed to demystify the world of locks by breaking down the three key pillars of choosing the right hardware: the Security Grade (its physical strength), the Brand and Cylinder (its intelligence and control), and the Function (its specific purpose).

Baldwin and Emtek: A Tale of Two Philosophies in Architectural Hardware

 

For the discerning Los Angeles homeowner, architectural hardware is more than a functional necessity; it’s a critical design element that speaks to a home’s quality and character. Two of the most respected names in the industry, Baldwin and Emtek, offer premier solutions, yet they cater to different priorities through distinct philosophies. Baldwin represents the pinnacle of timeless luxury and heirloom quality, while Emtek champions modern customization and design flexibility.

 

Baldwin: The Hallmark of Legacy and Uncompromising Quality

For over 75 years, Baldwin has been synonymous with hardware as a long-term investment in security and beauty. Their reputation is built on two core principles: superior materials and advanced manufacturing.

Solid Forged Brass: Unlike brands that use cast metals, which can be porous and less dense, Baldwin forges its hardware from solid brass. This process, which involves heating and shaping brass under immense pressure, creates an exceptionally dense, strong, and durable product. The result is hardware with a substantial feel and incredibly crisp, clean details that casting cannot replicate.

Enduring PVD Finishes: Baldwin addresses the common issue of tarnishing and wear with its proprietary Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) finishes. In this process, a durable metal like titanium is molecularly bonded to the brass in a vacuum chamber. This creates a surface highly resistant to scratching, corrosion, and the harsh salt air of coastal environments, backed by a Lifetime Finish Warranty.

Fortress-Like Security: Baldwin’s commitment to quality extends to security. Their deadbolts are typically ANSI Grade 1, and their premier Estate collection often features high-security mortise locks—massive cassettes that integrate the latch and deadbolt into one unit, offering unparalleled strength.

Choosing Baldwin is for the client who prioritizes uncompromising material integrity, enduring craftsmanship, and a timeless aesthetic that will last for generations.

 

Emtek: The Architect of Customization and Personal Style

Where Baldwin focuses on a legacy of material excellence, Emtek empowers homeowners to become their own designers. Their revolutionary “mix and match” philosophy provides a level of personalization previously unavailable.

The Assembled-to-Order Model: Emtek unbundles the components of door hardware, allowing you to create a unique combination. The process is simple: you choose your function (e.g., passage, privacy), select any knob or lever, pair it with any rosette or backplate, and finish it with your choice from a vast palette of finishes. This allows for endless creative pairings, such as a vintage crystal knob on a modern square rosette.

A Cohesive, Curated Home: This flexibility is brilliant for creating a consistent design language throughout a property. A homeowner can use the same lever style on every door but vary the backplate—from a grand escutcheon on the front door to a simple rosette on a closet—to match the scale and importance of each space. This level of coordination elevates a home’s interior design.

While Emtek provides robust, reliable hardware with solid security features, its primary appeal lies in this unparalleled design freedom. It is the ideal choice for the modern homeowner who values self-expression and wants to infuse their unique style into every detail of their home.

In essence, the choice between them comes down to vision. For timeless elegance rooted in the finest materials and security, Baldwin is the undisputed standard. For a personalized, stylistic statement and ultimate design control, Emtek offers the perfect toolkit.

The Foundation of Strength: Understanding ANSI Security Grades

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) have created a rating system to certify the strength, durability, and security of door hardware. This grade is your first indicator of a lock’s quality.

• Grade 1 (Highest Security): This is the gold standard, certified for heavy-duty commercial use and homeowners who demand the absolute best. A Grade 1 lock is tested to withstand 1 million cycles (openings and closings) and is subjected to punishing tests against forced entry, including hammer strikes and prying. This is the top-tier choice for commercial entryways, high-risk locations, and any critical home entrance.
• Grade 2 (Heavy-Duty Residential): This is the professional standard for residential security and light commercial applications. Tested for 400,000 cycles, a Grade 2 lock is a significant upgrade in strength and durability over the basic hardware found in most homes. It’s a solid, secure choice for front doors, garage service doors, and back doors.

The Brains of the Operation: High-Security Cylinders and Trusted Brands

A lock’s grade tells you about its physical strength, but the cylinder and key system determine its resistance to sophisticated attacks and give you control over who has your keys.

Mul-T-Lock®: The Pinnacle of Security and Control

For clients who require the highest level of protection against all forms of attack, we recommend Mul-T-Lock®.

Mul-T-Lock® Interactive®+ Platform: This is not just a lock, but a complete high-security ecosystem built around a patented key and cylinder. Its primary feature is uncompromising key control. Your keys can only be duplicated by an authorized dealer when presented with your unique, credit-card-style authorization card. This eliminates the risk of unauthorized copies being made by anyone who borrows your key. Furthermore, the cylinder’s unique telescoping pin-in-pin design offers exceptional resistance to picking, drilling, and bumping.

Mul-T-Lock® Grade 1 Deadbolt: This is the ultimate security combination: the “brute strength” of an ANSI Grade 1 certified deadbolt combined with the “intelligent brain” of the Interactive®+ high-security cylinder. It provides maximum resistance against both physical force and covert attacks. This is the best deadbolt you can install on a residential or commercial door.

Mul-T-Lock® Grade 2 Products: This offers a strategic advantage for layered security. A Grade 2 Mul-T-Lock product may be physically less robust than its Grade 1 counterpart, but it contains the exact same high-security cylinder and key control system. This is an excellent choice for interior offices or secondary doors where preventing picking and unauthorized key duplication is the primary concern.

Schlage®: The Industry Standard for Reliable Security

Schlage is one of the most reputable and trusted brands in American hardware, known for excellent quality and durability.

Schlage® Grade 2 Locks: These products are the workhorses of the industry. A Schlage Grade 2 deadbolt or keyed lever is our go-to recommendation for a substantial security upgrade on any home. They provide excellent resistance to physical attack, are built to last for decades, and offer a fantastic balance of security and value, making them ideal for front doors, garage doors, and light commercial applications throughout Los Angeles.

The Right Tool for the Job: A Glossary of Lock Functions

Choosing the right grade and brand is only half the battle. You must also select the correct function for how the door will be used.

Handle Sets: The grand statement for a front door. A handleset combines a large, decorative exterior handle (operated by a thumbpiece) with a separate, high-security deadbolt. The interior trim is typically a matching knob or lever.

Entry: A standard locking function for exterior or secure interior doors. It uses a key on the outside and a thumbturn or push-button on the inside to lock and unlock.

Storeroom: Ideal for commercial supply closets or IT rooms. It is always locked from the exterior and requires a key to enter. The inside lever is always unlocked for safe egress, and there is no interior locking button.

Privacy: Designed for bathrooms and bedrooms. It has no key on the outside but can be locked from the inside with a push-button or thumbturn. It can be opened from the outside in an emergency with a generic tool.

Passage: A non-locking function for doors that only need to latch shut. Perfect for hallway, laundry room, and closet doors.

Dummy: A non-operational knob or lever used as a door pull, often on the inactive side of a pair of French doors or on closet doors that use a magnetic catch.

Communication: A specialty lock with a key cylinder on both sides. Often used in schools or adjoining office spaces, each side can be locked or unlocked independently of the other.

Selecting the right hardware is a crucial decision. It involves choosing the correct function for the door, the appropriate security grade for the risk level, and the right brand for your budget and key control needs. Navigating these options is what we do best.

For a professional security consultation or immediate assistance, our experts are ready to help.

Call for 24/7 Mobile Service: (818) 652-5269

Visit Our Shop: 13610 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Learn more about our Residential Products here:

• Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)
• High Security Locks-MT5+
• Mul-T-Lock 800 High Security 
• Mul-T-Lock Grade 1 Deadbolt 
• Intercom Systems
• Safes
• Rekeying/Cylinder Combination Change
• Card Access Control Systems/Keyless Entry
• Smart Locks
• Keys Duplication
• DoorBird
• DoorKing
• Access Control