I need help securing my home office from the drop kick flatmates! Please Reddit help me!!
Hey Reddit!
I have just moved into a sharehouse recently and need to secure my home office — I've got client files and private gear in there and I'm not comfortable with the current situation.
I want to add a code/ fob or keypad entry so I can lock/unlock from outside without anyone else getting in.
Key constraints:
I want to keep the existing knob and lock (it already locks from the inside via thumb turn see pic)
Minimal damage — screws only, no drilling new holes through the door
Budget around $200
Needs to be reasonably discreet — I don't want a big obvious padlock hasp situation
The complication: The door doesn't sit flush when closed. The timber door stop/frame protrudes about 10mm proud of the door face on both sides.
This seems to rule out most retrofit smart locks that clamp onto the back of the door, since they'd foul on the trim. I've been looking at electric strike + RFID reader setups as a workaround since everything mounts to the frame rather than the door — but open to other ideas.
The existing lock is a knob-style with an integrated turn button (not a separate deadbolt), so standard retrofit motors like August/Nuki don't seem compatible.
Anyone dealt with a similar setup? What would you go with? Please help