Knowledge
Latch vs. bolt
Two parts in the mortice lock (DIN 18251 / DIN EN 12209) decide the case – and with it the price.
Two parts in the mortice lock (DIN 18251 / DIN EN 12209) decide the case – and with it the price.
Latch
A spring-loaded tongue with a slanted side. When the door is pushed shut, it clicks in by itself. It can be pushed back from outside through the gap between door and frame – without a key and without working on the cylinder.
Bolt
A thick, square pin that is only moved in and out by the euro profile cylinder (key and cylinder core). If the bolt is thrown, pushing back the latch is not enough. Then the work has to be done on the cylinder; that is the “locked” case.
How the price works
At night, at weekends and on public holidays a separate fixed price applies. The 49 € for fitting is not a night surcharge. Latch or bolt decides the price: slammed shut 99 € (at night 149 €), locked 129 € (at night 179 €). Whether someone is at home or the key is inside makes no difference.
The simple test before you call
Think for a moment: did you turn the key in the lock when you left? If not, the door has usually only slammed shut. If you did, it is locked. Sometimes you can also see it in the gap: the latch (Falle) is slanted, the bolt (Riegel) is a straight, square-edged pin and usually sits below the latch.
Why this changes the price
The latch can be pushed back from outside. That is quick and needs no work on the cylinder. Only the cylinder moves the bolt. That takes more time, experience and tools. That is why a locked door costs more than one that has slammed shut, both during the day and at night.
Common misunderstandings
“The key is in the lock on the inside” doesn’t tell you whether the door is locked. “The door is stuck” can also mean that it has warped. And if someone has locked the door from inside and can’t open it, the bolt is out. Just tell us what happened, and we will sort out the rest.
Doors that lock themselves
Some newer front doors have an automatic lock. When the door closes, bolts come out by themselves, often at several points. For the opening this is like a locked door, or even more work. Tell us on the phone if your door has a lock like this. Then we give you a fixed price beforehand.
If you don’t know
That is no problem and costs nothing extra. We tell you both prices on the phone. On site we can see within seconds which one applies, and we tell you before we start.
When the latch sticks
If the latch no longer clicks in properly or stays inside, the door does not close securely. This is often caused by dirt or a warped door. A drop of lock spray sometimes helps. If the problem remains, it is worth checking the lock and the strike plate in the frame.
A small glossary of the lock
A few words help you understand things. The forend (Stulp) is the metal strip on the edge of the door from which the latch and the bolt come out. The follower (Nuss) is the square hole in the lock that the spindle of the handle sits in. The strike plate sits opposite in the frame and receives both of them. The cylinder is the part you put the key into. Only the cylinder moves the bolt, while the handle only moves the latch. That is the whole difference between the two cases.
One turn or two
Some locks lock with one turn of the key, others with two. With two turns, the bolt moves even further into the frame on the second turn. For the question of whether the door is locked, this makes no difference: the bolt is already out after the first turn. If you can no longer remember how many times you turned the key, all that matters is whether you turned it at all. Even a half turn that got stuck may already have pushed the bolt out a little way.
When the key only turns if you push
If the key only turns when you press the door firmly or lift it, the bolt is no longer meeting the strike plate cleanly. Usually the door has dropped over time or has warped due to heat and moisture. Do not keep turning with force, because the key will bend or break off. It is better to have the door and the strike plate adjusted. The latch often shows the problem earlier: it only clicks into place if you close the door with a swing.
Locking up at night
Many people lock the door from the inside in the evening. That is fine as long as the key is kept in a fixed place near the door. In an emergency, for example if there is smoke in the building, you and your family need to get out quickly. Looking for the key then costs valuable time, and in the dark it is hard to find. A hook next to the door within easy reach is a simple solution that everyone in the household should know about, including children and guests.
Map: ikeytz locksmith Ludwigsburg
The map (tiles, boundary, place card) is protected by copyright (Kashani / ikeytz) — not a free OSM map. Copyright
Frequently asked questions
What does “latch vs. bolt” mean?
Two parts in the mortice lock (DIN 18251 / DIN EN 12209) decide the case – and with it the price.
Where can I find prices?
Prices are on the Prices page and on the case pages, always as a fixed amount.
Back to the overview?
You can find all knowledge topics on the Knowledge page.
Where is the bolt?
On most flat doors it is below the latch, at the height of the cylinder. It is straight and square-edged; the latch is slanted.
Does it cost more if I am not sure?
No. The price is for what we find on site, and we tell you before we start.
Is an automatic lock the same as a door that has slammed shut?
No. It locks itself when the door closes. We tell you the price for this on the phone beforehand.
Is a door that has only been pulled shut just as secure?
No. The latch is easier to push back than a bolt. So whenever you leave your home, you should lock the door, even if it is only for a few minutes.
What is the follower in the lock?
It is the square hole that the spindle of the handle sits in. When you turn the handle, the follower takes the latch with it. It has nothing to do with the bolt.
What does it cost on a Friday evening?
After 6 pm, the price for outside daytime hours applies: 149 € for a door that slammed shut and 179 € for a locked door. We can see straight away on site which case it is.
Related services
Fixed price on the phone
Before we drive — no “from”. Mobile in the service area.
