Home Building/Improvement thread

[Nordstern]

Figured a new thread would be better than resurrecting a tangentially related one.

I am still looking for a place, but in the meantime, my father's house needs some upgrades. The door locks have worn out after some 15 years, and I'm looking for some European-style locks, since American brands like Schlage, Master, and Kwikset are trash. I found an Abloy lock on Amazon, but I can't justify spending $450 for a single deadbolt. Is there a way to get Abloy or similar locks for cheaper, say $200 for a pair?

[Elriche Oshego]

A gun is yer best defence, pardner. Might I suggest a fordeefive, best pistol ever made.

[Nordstern]

A gun is yer best defence, pardner. Might I suggest a fordeefive, best pistol ever made.

870 MCS or bust. But home invasions are virtually unheard of in my area, so I'm mostly looking to deter burglary.

[Dorvil Barranis]

Don't invite over any FHC mates then.

Oh wait, I read that as "deter buggery," guess it works either way.

[Fortior]

Assa abloy is quality worth paying for. Do it faggot.

[Nordstern]

So, my dad found a house on our street that was for sale near the top end of my price range. Turns out it's the home one of my childhood classmates grew up in. Very much updated, it could easily sell for 20k over the list price, and I was prepared to offer at least 5k over list.

Unfortunately, offers were due by 5:30 PM today and I heard about it at 8PM. It's only been listed for 3 days. Called my real estate uncle, who confirmed it sold today. I'm really bummed, as nothing else as good sold for anywhere near that price, and few things at that price point were anywhere near as good.

[depili]

protec2 is just about assa abloys flagship cylinder, a decent lock. Just remember that if you have the typical USA doors made of paper the lock ain't doing much good. In the glorious Finland we have abloy locks even on crappy outdoor sheds (exec in my case..) and we pretty much can't understand how anyone could use crappy pin tumblers on house locks

[Keckers]

A gun is yer best defence, pardner. Might I suggest a fordeefive, best pistol ever made.

Own a musket for home defense, since that's what the founding fathers intended. Four ruffians break into my house. "What the devil?" As I grab my powdered wig and Kentucky rifle. Blow a golf ball sized hole through the first man, he's dead on the spot. Draw my pistol on the second man, miss him entirely because it's smoothbore and nails the neighbors dog. I have to resort to the cannon mounted at the top of the stairs loaded with grape shot, "Tally ho lads" the grape shot shreds two men in the blast, the sound and extra shrapnel set off car alarms. Fix bayonet and charge the last terrified rapscallion. He Bleeds out waiting on the police to arrive since triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up. Just as the founding fathers intended.

[Lowa [NSN]]

A gun is yer best defence, pardner. Might I suggest a fordeefive, best pistol ever made.

Own a musket for home defense, since that's what the founding fathers intended. Four ruffians break into my house. "What the devil?" As I grab my powdered wig and Kentucky rifle. Blow a golf ball sized hole through the first man, he's dead on the spot. Draw my pistol on the second man, miss him entirely because it's smoothbore and nails the neighbors dog. I have to resort to the cannon mounted at the top of the stairs loaded with grape shot, "Tally ho lads" the grape shot shreds two men in the blast, the sound and extra shrapnel set off car alarms. Fix bayonet and charge the last terrified rapscallion. He Bleeds out waiting on the police to arrive since triangular bayonet wounds are impossible to stitch up. Just as the founding fathers intended.

I will never not laugh at that text!

[Nordstern]

Follow up to the house hunt: The house sold for 22k over list price. My uncle suspects the winning bid had an escalation clause, which is something my dad and I had never heard of.

[Sparq]

Seconding the 'spare no expense' (within reason) train of thought. A good lock on a solid door (and frame) will do more than a gun ever will to secure your home. It's not like this is something you have to buy often - I would hope. There's plenty of lockwood/assa abloy branded locks here in Aus available from our big-box home hardware chain, I was surprised by how shit the offering from Home Depot is, though. You're right about those brands being garbage, but the really good stuff tends to come from specialists anyway.

If you're after PROTEC2 stuff though, you might have to talk to a *drum-roll* ... locksmith. Call around. Ask. Get quotes.

[Equium Duo]

Im putting in a house offer today! Exciting!

[Sandzibar]

Im putting in a house offer today! Exciting!

Nice. In Chichester ? My grandparents used to live around there. Its a nice town. Very fond memories of walks along the river to the harbour etc. Whats the house price market like?

I did look at Arundel down the road briefly but that was insane £££.

[Totally Not Larkonnis]

Seconding the 'spare no expense' (within reason) train of thought. A good lock on a solid door (and frame) will do more than a gun ever will to secure your home. It's not like this is something you have to buy often - I would hope. There's plenty of lockwood/assa abloy branded locks here in Aus available from our big-box home hardware chain, I was surprised by how shit the offering from Home Depot is, though. You're right about those brands being garbage, but the really good stuff tends to come from specialists anyway.

If you're after PROTEC2 stuff though, you might have to talk to a *drum-roll* ... locksmith. Call around. Ask. Get quotes.

Have a stronger door than your neighbours by all means. You should always have a back up.

[Keckers]

If your door is too strong you'll never see any return on investment for the puckle gun

[Totally Not Larkonnis]

If your door is too strong you'll never see any return on investment for the puckle gun

Ambushing and cannibalising looters is a risky strategy...

[Fortior]

If your door is too strong you'll never see any return on investment for the puckle gun

Ambushing and cannibalising looters is a risky strategy...

Glittering gold, trinkets and baubles - paid for in blood.

[Equium Duo]

Im putting in a house offer today! Exciting!

Nice. In Chichester ? My grandparents used to live around there. Its a nice town. Very fond memories of walks along the river to the harbour etc. Whats the house price market like?

I did look at Arundel down the road briefly but that was insane £££.

I need to update, I've gone back to Wales. House pries in Chi are crazy! We've gone for a nice 3x bed detached bungalow. Its needs a total renovation. But luckily its a sturdy box with alls tud walls internally.

[Spaztick]

All about risk management. If you have a gun but not a fire extinguisher you have overlooked the bigger safety issue in a home in the West.

[Dogbeast]

Forget the locks, doors, or guns. Use Beanie Babies.



In today's market, you can get them cheaply. And in a few years time they will appreciate with the property, add value, and keep the criminal element at bay.