Correct locks | AC Locksmiths Norfolk

Copy keys, insurance & locks

It’s been a while since my last blog, so there is plenty to update and remind.

Firstly, I hope all my customers and readers are well and that this Covid-19 Pandemic has not disrupted your lives too much. I know we have all been affected one way or another but can only wish that for you, reading this, those affects have been minimal.

That aside, the first lock related problem I want to talk about is copy keys. In emergency situations, your locksmith comes along and either fixes, or replaces your lock for you. You might get two or three new keys with the new lock. You also get a guarantee from the locksmith that the lock he has installed will last a certain amount of time. Now, you might need more keys cut. So, you go along to your local cobbler/engraver/chain key cutting company, etc and have some copies made. While I endorse the cobblers and engravers, as they usually have years of experience, the pride of running their own business and a local reputation to uphold, I am not so keen on the chain key cutting shops. These commonly have a high turnover of inexperienced staff who have no vested interest in getting the keys cut right. And the cost of returning to have the job done again, is barely worth the effort, so usually we let it slide. But 90% of the problems I encounter regarding badly cut keys come from these chain shops.

But all key cutters have one outstanding issue. Cheap blanks. There are hundreds of different brands of lock out there, and even more variants within each brand. But one cheap, unbranded blank might work for several different lock brands, so it makes sense for them to use the cheaper unbranded blank to copy your key. While this is all well and good for them, it is not so good for you. Using a badly copied key technically invalidates any guarantee your locksmith left you when he fitted your lock. I have encountered this very problem just this morning. A customer has called me back to a lock that has started to not work quite so well when being operated from one side of the door. The first key I was given to try was a copy. With the copy, the lock caught almost every time I tried to turn it. With an original, it took me ten tries to repeat the problem. Was the fault there before? Not when I first tested the lock. Would it have happened anyway? We cannot know because a new element has been added that is now a potential problem. And that is where the guarantee becomes invalid. Now I am not an evil locksmith. I have given my customer the benefit of the doubt and am replacing the lock with extra keys that will have been machine precision cut by my supplier and guaranteed with the lock. All the keys will be hard wearing steel rather than the soft brass alloy key cutters use to make their cutting blades last longer.

If you are having locks replaced, ask your locksmith to supply all extra keys at the same time. It will cost more, but your guarantee will remain valid and your locks will last longer. If you must get your keys cut elsewhere, ask for genuine steel blanks. This will cost more and you might have to come back after the genuine blanks have been ordered, but your key cutter will triple check he has made a good copy, because he will not want to throw away expensive blanks. Always use the originals as the most used keys. Don’t give an original to the cleaner if the cleaner only comes in once a week. Don’t give an original as the emergency spare to a neighbour who will hopefully never have need to use it. And if you need more than three additional keys, you will be better off buying a keysafe, putting an original key inside it and giving visitors the safe combination rather than a key they can lose anyway. For people who need carers, holiday lets, even long term tenancy lets, the people who use the door most are the people who should have the original keys. Especially the holiday lets. The very last thing you want is someone leaving a comment on trip advisor saying their holiday was ruined because the cheap key broke in the lock and they had to wait hours for the locksmith.

If you are having locks changed, ask your locksmith about extra keys at the time you are having the work done. You might have to wait an extra couple of days, but it will be worth it.

My next continuing point is to mention insurance requirements again. In your buildings and contents insurance there will be a sentence that says something similar to this:

All final exit doors should be secured by a five lever mortice deadlock or equivalent.

If you have a door where you must lift the handles before turning the key, that is fine with your insurance. While these doors often have approximately 5 different locking points, they are not what your insurance is talking about. These are called multi-point locking mechanisms. Some have just three locking points, while others have as many as nine. But all of those count for nothing if you have a weak locking barrel. While insurance companies are still satisfied with basic barrels (despite much lobbying from the locksmith industry), you should ask your locksmith to fit a BSI3621 kitemarked barrel for you. These can be anti-pick, anti-bump, anti-drill, anti-snap or all of these and more. You can get versions in your local DIY store, but your locksmith will know the very best ones around.

If your lock does not require the lifting of handles before locking, then it will almost certainly be a wooden door and that will require either a five lever mortice lock or equivalent as stated. A mortice lock sits mostly inside the door and many people in the UK still refer to these as ‘Chubb’ locks, which is ironic as the Chubb brand sold this branch of it’s company to Union and no longer manufactures them itself. But mortice locks come in three types. 2 lever, 3 lever and five lever. Technically, there are seven lever variants as well, but these are rare. The 2 lever and 3 lever variants are designed for low level security. Internal doors or locks on sheds, summer houses, etc. They should not be on final exit doors. Here in Norfolk, I find an insane number of inadequate locks on properties. I am about to start a job that is a relatively new self-build where the person who built the house did a lovely neat job of fitting totally inadequate locks. If you look at lock faceplate on the leading edge of your door, it will tell you how many levers the lock has. If it says 5 levers, you are fine. Better still if it has a British Standard Kite mark to show it has been tested against all sorts of attacks. Anything less than 5 levers and you are not up to insurance standards. If the lock is so old all indicators have worn away, then its time for a new lock anyway.

The other alternative is the night latch, often called a ‘Yale’ lock. These are only acceptable if they have the British Standard kite mark.

Please check your own locks and if you know people who might not know or be able to check for themselves, have a little look for them. If you are unsure, a good local locksmith will do a free security check with no obligations.

Finally, for this blog an update on my services. Covid-19 has forced me to branch out even further. So here is an updated selection of the things I can do for my customers in Norfolk.

Emergency call outs (domestic and commercial)

Free security checks (domestic and commercial)

Lock upgrades (domestic and commercial)

Vehicle key production and programming

Emergency vehicle entry

Wireless smart alarm supply and installation (domestic)

Interior CCTV supply and installation (domestic).

UPVC window valeting service (domestic – please check for details)

Light house clearance (please talk to me before paying others)

UPVC door adjustments (domestic and commercial)

Thanks for reading,
Alan

admin August 27, 2020

Copy keys problems / Extra keys /

Keys

Besides your mobile phone, what is the most important thing you carry around with you every day? Very few people even think about their keys, but without them you cannot function. Be it getting into your home or office, or starting your keys are always needed. So when was the last time you bothered to look at your keys, clean them even, or check that they were not bent or damaged in any other way?

A lot of locks fail because the keys being used to operate them are worn, damaged or badly cut copies. I’ve seen people try their best to service their own locks, but then fail to keep the actual keys clean. We know toddlers love to put keys in their mouths and we snatch those keys away because we know they are dirty, but we never even give those grubby, bacteria ridden lumps of metal so much as a quick scrub to remove surface dirt.

The bodies at the top of the locksmithing industry in the UK suggest that we locksmiths should tell you to change your locks every 5 years, one of the main reasons for this is that people just do not maintain their locks, or they use too many copies that are cut poorly. So here are my top tips for keys:

1. Keep your keys clean. I know it is obvious, but I see loads of grubby keys, especially in the work place or where anyone needs a big bunch of keys. Dirt and grime collects in the grooves, which is then transferred into the lock where it builds up, wearing away the internal moving parts. Hot, soapy water and a stiff nail brush should get rid of the worst of it and be sure to dry the key straight away so as to avoid rust.

2. Only take the keys you need. Big bunches of keys just rub against each other and generally wear away. If you have mortice (Chubb) keys with thin prongs, those prongs are likely to get bent far easier when the keys are on a big bunch. Separate your keys into smaller bunches for use when you need them. This will also keep the keys cleaner.

3. Don’t get too many copies made. Any more than four keys is going to be more expensive than a basic keysafe. If you run a business, giving staff members the code to the keysafe that can be changed is a lot better than chasing them to return their key when they leave, and if they leave under nefarious circumstances, you might have to change your locks when they don’t return their key. A keysafe just requires changing the code to the keysafe. It also saves a load of bad copies wearing out the lock quicker.

4. Having said that, do not let your stash of keys run down to just the one, especially if that one is a copy. You should always be in possession of a branded original key for the lock. All locks come with at least two keys. If you only have one, not only are you going to be in trouble when you eventually lose it, but that means there is at least one other key in someone’s possession who can gain access to a door you want to secure, be it your home or workplace.

5. If you need to get copies made, always keep the originals as primary use. Just the other day, I attended a job in Blakeney where the lock wasn’t opening or locking on one side. I asked the customer to fetch me the original keys which worked just fine. Your original branded keys are the most important. Treat them with the utmost care. If you need to change your locks, think about how many keys you might need and get you locksmith to order them with your new lock.

6. If you must keys cut at a later date, shy away from chain outlets. They have a higher turnover of staff who are not always trained to high standards. Your local engraver/cobbler will be running their own business and will more likely have years of experience. But, they will not often have genuine branded blanks. Be prepared to demand genuine branded keys, even if that means coming back a few days later and paying more for the keys. The key cutter will take even more care to cut the key perfectly as they will not want you coming back with a bad cut key. It will cost them more to honour a guarantee of a good cut if the blank is branded.

7. As said above, any more than four keys should be negated by a basic keysafe, but it is worth investing in a high quality keysafe. Dial keysafes are easier to change the codes on, so perfect for holiday lets, etc, but push button keysafes are more secure and so better for the home where you might not need to change the code too often. Keysafes should be positioned near the door the key inside is going to open, but not on general view if avoidable. If you can position in a corner, or make the angles difficult for levers or hammers, then even better, but most burglars ignore keysafes as they can usually find easier ways in.

8. Many new high security locks are coming with special keys. At least one brand uses a magnet in the key. From personal experience, I can tell you not to have these keys anywhere near vehicle keys as the small magnetic field can scramble the signal between car and car key transceiver.

9. If you have a digital safe, hand the override keys to a trusted friend or family member. There is no point keeping the keys in the house where the burglar might find them. But do not keep the keys inside the safe – they will be useless to you if the batteries fail. If you only have a manual key safe, again give one of the keys to a friend or family member and ensure the second key is not left in the home while you are out.

10. The glove compartment is not the place for your spare car key. The only person who can possible benefit from the key being there is the car thief.

11. If you drive to your holiday destination and it is more than a hundred miles from home, take the spare key to the car. Leave it in the holiday accommodation, because there is nothing worse than having to call a locksmith knowing you could get in yourself if you had the spare nearby.

12. If you have a special knack for unlocking your door, or you have to hold the key at a certain angle, either the key or your lock is not right. Check the key before any further damage is done. If it’s not the key, then change the lock before it fails completely just before you need to be in and out for an important event.

If you have any questions regarding any of the points raised above or in any of my other blogs, please contact me through any of the channels mentioned on my contacts page. (Text gets fasted response).

Thanks for reading!

admin February 21, 2020

car keys / Looking after your keys / property keys /

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me

What I have learned after 10 years as a Locksmith?

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me:

1. The multipoint locking mechanism on a double glazed door (or any door where you lift the handles before locking) is NOT a five lever lock. Five levers refers to the internal levers in a mortice lock which sits inside a wooden door.

2. All of those hooks, bolts, mushrooms, and rollers on a lift handle door mean nothing when burglars can attack the lock barrel easily. Having the correct barrel is vitally important and while you might get the insurance company to reimburse your financial loss, they cannot replace the heirloom given to you by Grandma that has enormous sentimental value. If your locking barrels do not have British Standard kite marks, you are practically inviting burglars into your home.

3. Home security is not necessarily about keeping intruders out. We all know they can smash a window. But they do not want to leave through that window carrying your stuff. You are looking to make it as hard as possible for them to leave with their arms full.

4. Look at your neighbour’s house when thinking about home security. Your aim should always be to make them look like an easier target. Crunchy gravel, CCTV, alarms, sensor lights are instant barriers before they even reach your door. Burglars recognise good locks and will go elsewhere. Your local locksmith knows the best brands you can’t buy on the high street.

5. That sneaky place you hide a spare key in the garden is glaringly obvious to the burglar. You are much better off with a quality keysafe.

6. You do not need multiple keys for carers. A keysafe can be much cheaper and easier for all. No more worries when keys go missing.

7. A home safe is not just about deterring criminals. A good one will protect important documents in the event of a fire. But batteries should be changed annually whether the low battery warning beeps or not, and override keys should be kept with a trusted neighbour or family member. Leaving the keys inside the safe is not a clever idea.

8. Taking your car on holiday? Make sure your partner takes the spare key. Nothing worse than calling a locksmith to open your vehicle when you lock the keys in the boot knowing a spare key is at home. Do not leave the spare key in the glove compartment.

9. Very few smart locks conform to BS3621, meaning they are not covered by your insurance.

10. Most lock failures can be avoided. If you notice your lock is getting harder to operate, or you have a special knack for opening the door, then something is wrong and needs addressing. It will be cheaper to sort now and if you don’t, the chances are it will fail when you are stuck in the pouring rain and are desperate to get in because you need to get ready for that important date/job interview/wedding/etc.

11. Hanging keys on a hook in plain sight of your door, or putting them in a dish/on a saucer near the front door is not good. Most luxury cars are stolen from drives after thieves use tools to hook keys through the letterbox. Seal the letter plate on your door and install a post box at the end of your garden. The postie and those who deliver your paper will love you for it.

12. Burglar alarms are not just about burglars; They now come with optional extras like smoke alarms and panic buttons allowing you to call a family member and talk to them through the system if you take a fall and cannot get back up.

13. Modern CCTV puts you in control. If you post images or film of a crime, the local community might help. A friend knew someone who did this when Christmas decorations were stolen from their garden. The theft was captured by a smart doorcam and posted. Locals soon identified the thief and the stolen items were returned (along with a box of chocolates!).

14. If you need to get copies of keys made, still use the originals as your primary keys. Ask your local key cutter to order genuine branded blanks, even if it costs more and you have to come back. 90% of my recalls for faulty locks end up being poor copies not working properly. When you order a new lock, think about the number of keys you need, and order them at the same time. If you need more than four extra keys, a keysafe can be cheaper.

15. Plastic doors are just as prone to weather conditions as wooden doors. Be aware of direct sunlight and salty sea air. Check regularly for signs of rust. Lubricate your doors every time you change your clocks (spring and autumn). You can find out how by reading my blog on door maintenance.

16. The industry recommends changing your locks every 5 years, especially when keys have been handed to builders, carers, lost by teens, etc. While 5 years might seem a bit too much, adult children might do well to check their older parents’ locks. Many older houses are simply not up to insurance standard. If you cannot find a British standard kite mark on their lock, they are probably paying insurance for nothing as the insurers will not pay out in the event of a burglary.

17. Making a new car key when you have one to copy from is much cheaper than calling out the emergency locksmith when you are stuck in the rain and locked out of your vehicle because you just dropped your car key down a drain. And some cars, like Fords, will require you to make two new keys when all keys are lost as the car will not start without two keys programmed and the process automatically deletes all existing keys.

18. Cloning a car key means any lost/stolen keys will still start your vehicle. Making new keys allows you to ensure only the keys you hold will start the vehicle.

19. Car keys have a huge difference in prices from vehicle to vehicle for many reasons. Some can only be reproduced with genuine branded parts. Others require the removal of the dashboard in order to read a certain computer chip. While most can be done on the day, you might find yourself without the use of your vehicle for some time. Another reason to have a spare key made when convenient rather than leave it to an emergency.

20. Everything comes in all shapes and sizes. Locks are no different. Beware of what you buy in shops or on the internet as they might not be the easy DIY job you were expecting. Always consult a professional locksmith. For example, lots of internet-based car key makers advertise Landrover Discovery keys, but these can only be produced by the manufacturer. In the home, only Chubb branded locks fit exactly into the place where a Chubb lock has been before. Any other brand will need carpentry work and movement of handles (which might expose paintwork that needs touching up that might lead to the painting of the whole door, meaning a quick job becomes a whole day event).

Thanks for reading. Please call us to find out more or ask any questions.
07846643176

admin January 26, 2020

car keys / changing your locks / copy keys / Key cloning / smart locks /

All about Smart locks

All about Smart Locks – What are Smart Locks?

The name ‘Smart locks’ applies to locks that can be opened with technology like your mobile phone and does away with the need for keys. They can be fingerprint activated, voice-activated or have keypads and sensor proximity tags, depending on the lock and how you want it to operate. Smart locks are a relatively new technology with new products appearing all the time.

What are the benefits?

Smart locks can offer controlled access to your home without having to hand out multiple keys, so they are great for people who have carers or home help and find it difficult to get to the door themselves. Teens are fantastic at losing their keys; I know of one unfortunate customer in Aylsham whose daughter got in with a bad crowd and was giving her key to unsavoury friends, who then stole from the property. Smart locks here could have quickly been re-coded to bar anyone who she did not want having independent access. Keypads and proximity tags save you from having to hunt in your bag for your keys. And some more and more are now connecting to home smart networks, which in turn, connect to your mobile phone. Connected to one of these systems with cameras and zone restricted alarms, you can be on holiday in Greece, sat by the pool and when the delivery you have been waiting for arrives, you can let the delivery driver put your parcel in your house, watch them leave and lock the door up behind them.

How secure are they?

This is where you really need your local locksmith. So many smart locks lose security for convenience. Many are latch type locks that are easy to bypass if you have the right tools and know-how. If you change your existing lock for a smart lock then you might be invalidating your insurance. Always consult your genuine local locksmith before making any purchase. They are used to the requirements of insurance companies and will be able to offer the best lock to suit your needs. Also, you might be paying too much for features you do not need. If your smart lock requires you to have a key-operated lock in the same door for security and insurance purposes, then there is no real point in the smart lock. While there are many smart locks available, few will actually be BS3621 rated. You don’t need this rating on UPVC doors (yet) but even here, there is still a mechanical aspect that the lock cannot do. It will not lift the handles that engage all the hooks before locking. That sort of takes all meaning out of the hands-free point.

Are smart locks expensive?

Yes and no. As with everything, there are cheap and expensive ends of the scale. This is another reason to talk to your local locksmith. We know brands and their quality. We do the research so you don’t have to. We go to the nerdy lock conventions and get to see the items in action before we buy them.

In summary, smart locks are a great idea for certain situations but often lose security for convenience and often that convenience can be misleading. For example, with a normal lock, you approach the door and with one hand, take your keys from your pocket, insert into the keyhole, turn and you are unlocked. With some ‘faster’ smart locks, you approach the door and take out your smartphone. Holding your phone in one hand, you turn it on with the other, insert your security code, find the app, open the app, find the button that unlocks the door and eventually you are in. If you are trying to do this while laden with shopping, the process just got longer. There are better products out there, but you will need your locksmith to help you through the minefield. However, if you are really into your gadgets, then a smart lock is a great one that you will use every day. Paired with Alexa or other smart devices and part of a home network that includes CCTV, alarm and a decent door cam, smart locks show potential intruders that you mean business (if you get the right one).

If you have any questions about smart locks or any home security issue, please do not hesitate to contact me via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin January 2, 2020

Are smart locks expensive? / How secure are smartlocks? / Lock technology /

Numbers of unsolved burglaries

As I passed the papers in my local supermarket this weekend, a headline from the Sunday Times caught my eye. It read: Under 5% of all burglaries and robberies solved.

Now, that figure includes the recent rise in moped robberies that seem to be in fashion with the criminal element right now, but it does suggest that if you are burgled, the chances are slim that you will ever get your possessions back again, and while that is ok for the things insurance can replace like games consoles, laptops, etc, it is not okay when it comes to special one off gifts from a departed relative, or the files that you need off that laptop in order to start contacting all the people you are going to have to inform about the burglary.

The good news for where I live in North Norfolk is that detection rates are good in comparison to the whole of the UK, but I have personally seen a rise in burglaries and if the criminal is caught, it can be weeks later, long after your belongings have been stolen.

So what can you do? We all have heard someone say; ‘If the criminal really wants to get in, he can.’ And that is correct. What you want to do is make getting in a time consuming, noisy affair with as much light as possible. When I approach a job where a customer has locked themselves out, I can tell by looking at the door and its’ lock/s just how long I can expect to get them in. Sometimes it is seconds, sometimes it takes a good long while. But I am prepared for what I have to do through experience. The burglar is no different, If your lock has a British Standard Kite mark, he recognises that and knows that is extra time. He might well be able to get in faster than me, because I am taking my time to limit damage to door and lock, whereas he can be a bit more heavy handed. Believe it or not, the window is not a worthwhile entry point if you have to come back out over broken glass with hands full of stolen items, so the burglar always wants to leave by a door. So all those keys left in a bowl on the side or hanging from hooks nearby, are just making life easy for him, especially if they are visible from a window. If your car keys are there as well, you are giving him a getaway vehicle and the capacity to take more. Contact your local locksmith, If they are any good, they will offer a free security check. Whether you can afford to act upon their advice is down to you, but you will know your vulnerabilities and how to deal with them. If my customers want to take my advice, but cannot afford the whole job in one go, I make allowances to return at reduced rates within certain time frames. Do not think your UPVC doors are especially safe, cylinder snapping is a rising attack method and once employed, renders all the hooks and bolts in your door useless. Talk to your locksmith about anti-snap cylinders that are better than the ones you can buy in DIY stores.

Slowing the burglar down is still not going to stop them all. You have to allow for the opportunist and inexperienced intruders who will have a go at anything. Wireless alarm set ups are now available in DIY stores and all over the internet. They can be controlled by mobile phone apps and can have panic buttons and smoke detectors all linked in. A kit you can buy yourself is going to be the cheapest option, but they often come with sensors you don’t want and not enough of the sensors you do want. There is also the minefield of pet friendly devices and best possible places to maximise coverage with the simplest set up. Again, your local locksmith should be familiar with good alarm systems or able to point you in the direction of an alarm specialist who will be more expensive, but will have an even greater range of products such as central control centre monitoring. Alarm systems now come with CCTV which not only keeps you safer, but because it is mobile phone app controlled, you can also use it to check your kids are not having any parties while you are away.

Make sure your alarm box is easy to see and difficult to reach. Then put up plenty of warning signs that the house is protected by CCTV. I install alarms that let you communicate with whoever is inside the house. A burglar is going to scram quick when a disembodied voice starts warning him you are just around the corner.

Security lights are worth their weight in gold. Burglars are constantly on edge. A sensor light that shines bright at night illuminating their antics is going to make them jump like they’re watching a 90’s slasher movie. They can never be sure if it is a senor or if someone is actually in the house putting lights on.

Safes are now much more affordable than ever they used to be. And if you really want to protect that information on your laptop, or that piece of jewellery that belonged to your Nan, that might be worthless to anyone other than you, then you really should look into having a safe. If it is a small safe, do not mount it on a wall where it can be easily hammered down. Safes should always be on the floor where possible and if they are awkward for you to get to, then that means more time the burglar will have to spend trying to get into the thing. If you have a small safe with lots of room, I can get into it (destructive method) within minutes. Bolted down in an awkward position is going to make it much harder. If you have an electronic safe with override keys, do not keep those keys in your house. Trust two relatives or two good friends to look after those keys (but don’t trust them enough to tell them where the safe is). And please, change the safe batteries regularly. A safe not only helps protect from burglars, but from fire damage as well.

Having spoken to victims, a burglary is more than just having your stuff stolen. Many say they go months, if not years without being able to sleep properly. There is a feeling of personal invasion. A home sometimes ceases to be a home anymore and you can then add the expense of having to move to the cost of your belongings while the villain has just sold your heirloom for a fiver at a boot sale. Don’t be a victim. Don’t resign yourself to that ‘if he wants to get in, he will,’ mentality. If you have done everything you can to deter him, he will go elsewhere to where pickings are quicker and easier.

If you have any questions about this topic or any of my other blogs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin June 22, 2018

Minimising risk of burglary / More security / Rise in burglaries /

Which lock have I got?

Can you see your lock? Do you know what type of lock you have? Is it secure? Is it insurance standard? – All are important questions to look at your home security.

This weekend, I found myself walking through the high street of a Norfolk coastal village. One that is much quieter in winter because most of the homes are holiday lets. My wife, who is usually bored by my lock information, has obviously been taking in a lot more than she cares to admit, because she pointed to a door and told me it was not insurance rated. She was correct. This prompted me to look at all the other doors we passed and I soon discovered the majority of houses in that street would not receive insurance pay outs if they were burgled. On top of that, many would have been extremely easy for the burglar to gain access to.

So here is another visual guide to what makes you a burglar’s target, and what makes him look elsewhere.

If you have a door with one of these Horizontal sashlocks;

then beware! Most of these in Norfolk at least are three lever locks. If this is the only lock on your door, the burglar might just have a go because they have short bolts, no anti-drill reinforcement and are usually quite old. The five lever versions are very strong, but equally very expensive and require more holes in the door. Having a five lever deadlock fitted as primary security is the cheapest option that will satisfy the insurance people.

If I see a door with handles like the one in this image below,

then I have no clue as to the strength of the lock fitted into the door as the mechanism is essentially hidden when shut. While your insurance is still going to demand a five lever version of this sashlock, the burglar is less likely to waste time on this unless he knows what is in your house and is specifically going after it.

Now, if you have a lock like this as your only security, then get it looked at right now. This is the nightlatch (often called a “Yale” lock) and will probably take seconds to bypass. Seriously, I could walk up to one of these and be in so fast, a passerby wouldn’t even notice I didn’t use a key. There are some that have handy little additions to slow the burglar down, but mostly it is so easy, the burglar has nothing to lose when attacking this type of lock. The outside of the British Standard version of this type of lock looks like this.

When I am faced with this type of nightlatch as a locksmith, I know I’m going to be earning every penny of my fee and there is probably going to be sweating and cursing going on before that door is open. The burglar is simply going somewhere else. Again, these are more expensive than their basic cousins, but they do have many features to make life harder for the intruder.

Next, we have the upvc door;

Or composite doors;

These doors are supposed to be super secure. After all, they have all those extra hooks and bolts and rollers that engage when the handle is lifted. But the door is only as good as the lock, and the standard locks are not very good.

Here is the standard lock,

And here is what happens with cylinder snapping.

So, while these locks are still acceptable by your insurance provider, they will not deter the burglar.

To do that, you need a cylinder like this one;
From a distance, the intruder can see the lock is not standard. If he does get close, he will see the kite mark. These locks are reinforced where the standard ones are weak, and actually designed to break closer to the front, meaning the attacker still cannot get to the bits he wants to.

Finally, if you have any version of a rim lock which will be in a similar style to this,

as your only door security, then you need something else as well. I find these on many farm houses and older buildings. They are very poor for stopping the burglars and easy to spot from the outside because they look like the horizontal locks but the key hole is usually lower or higher than the knob handle, so the intruder can identify them with ease.

There are many variations to all the types of lock mentioned above and this information is for guidance only. If you feel your security is not adequate, then ask your local locksmith for a security check. If he/she is any good, they will provide this service for free. Please also check elderly friends and relatives. I often visit older people who have lived with the same locks since before British Standard kite marks were even thought of. By talking to them about their security, you just might be saving them from an intruder.

Should you have any questions about the information above, please feel free to get in touch via any of the ways on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin March 1, 2017

What lock have I got? / What's wrong with my lock? / Which lock? /

Scandinavian Locks

All about Scandinavian locks

While Scandinavian multi-point locking mechanisms are not very common in Norfolk, there are enough of them to warrant a mention.

The locks look something like this :

These locks operate with a mechanism that typically employs two hooks that come out from the door and fit into specially cut spaces within the door frame, just like many upvc doors. They are always fitted to wooden doors, which is where the problems start.

In Scandinavian countries they are geared up for cold, damp weather and treat woods accordingly. Here in the UK, we seem to use any wood going and think a coat of paint or varnish will be adequate. That works okay for standard locks where all the working parts are protected within a lock case, but locking mechanisms have exposed moving parts which get pinched and moved by doors that expand and contract in wet weather. The untreated inside of UK doors holds water like a sponge, right next to the metal of these mechanisms which quickly become prone to rust. The problem is compounded by the fact that there used to be several variants of these mechanisms available, but now all but one design have been discontinued, meaning that if your mechanism does go wrong, the replacement is likely to be different. An example being a job I have recently done where everything looked identical, but the door needed much chisel work to accept the replacement.

The next problem is cost. These units are extremely expensive. A complete set up can cost between £250 and £400 depending on who you use to fit the device with labour and VAT to be added to that figure.

Finally, these locks are not particularly secure. While many insurance companies will accept them as adequate, they do not get the British Standard 3621 rating I would recommend to feel properly protected.

If you think you might have Scandinavian locks and they have not been serviced recently, it might well be worth contacting your local locksmith to have a look at them, especially if they are hard to lock, or the handles have gone floppy. A little maintenance now, might save a lot of cost later, or at least alert you to the likely cost of replacement, rather than have it all come as a shock when you can least afford it.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please feel free to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin August 20, 2016

insurance standard locks / What are Scandinavian locks /

Locksmith Pricing

What are you paying for with your local locksmith?

I have recently had a couple of customers who have questioned the prices I charge for my work. With that in mind, I felt it might be important to explain why some things can seem expensive.

I’m sure none of my customers begrudge me making a profit, but I also understand that it might feel like you are being overcharged if the product I supply you is more expensive than you can buy elsewhere. Therefore, I want to break down the cost as a policy of openness and fairness for my customers. It’s worth pointing out here, that to my knowledge I am still the only locksmith in the area willing to put prices on my website.

If we take a British Standard 5 lever mortice sash lock, I know that on the day of writing this, I can go to the two main DIY superstores and pick up the same product with a ten pounds price difference. Same brand, same product code, but one charges ten pounds more. I can then go to a local DIY store and get a similar product, with a lesser known brand name, but for twenty pounds more than the highest of the two big chain stores. As a specialist, I supply a product that I know is better than those you can get in any of these shops, even though the chain stores use a well-known brand name. And yes, my price is slightly higher than the local DIY shop. The big shops have huge buying power. They can get incredible discounts through bulk orders, brand exclusivity and offsetting profits and loss against other products in store. If they couldn’t do that, their prices would have to be closer to the local store. To maximise his profit, the local store owner has to purchase generally cheaper products and still charge a lot more than the chain stores. I run my business from a van. I cannot keep huge quantities of stock and have to go through a dedicated supplier to get my parts, who also wants to make a profit. I could charge less and supply poor quality products, but I want my customers to recommend me to their friends and therefore I have to supply market leading products.

There is another way to get your locks, though. You can get branded products online much cheaper even than the chain stores. Internet businesses are springing up all over the place. These people can really undercut the rest. They get your orders shipped straight from the supplier, so they have no storage costs. They don’t have vehicle costs or virtually any overheads at all so they can really drive the price down. But you really need to know what you are looking for. Is your mortice sash lock a 2.5 inch or a 3 inch model? If you are changing brand, is the new one going to fit in place of the old one, or are you going to have to do some chisel work to fit it? What you save in cash with these people, you might well find you are suddenly spending in new tools, time and effort to fit your new lock. And all the time you may be sweating and your partner looking over your shoulder, telling you that you should have simply called a locksmith! And that’s after you have waited a day or two for the part to even arrive. Did they include VAT in the head line price? Is shipping twice the price of the actual lock once you have clicked through too many pages to be bothered to cancel the order?

All this means that the price I charge you covers my own purchase of the part (at a higher rate than the chain stores), the storage of many less regularly needed items just in case something needs to be replaced on a bank holiday (for example) and there is going to be no way to get a replacement, the peace of mind that the product I supply is of top quality and won’t break in a month, the peace of mind that if something does go wrong with my supplied product within the guarantee period, that I will be able to replace it for you without any fuss or demands of extra money and in most instances, gives me the ability to have the part you want when you want it, or at least a temporary fix until I can get the required part.

The other payment I ask you for is my labour, It’s fixed at £50.00 and has been for the previous two years. That means morning, noon or night, you pay me £50.00 whether I take five minutes or five hours. I don’t charge more for weekends or bank holidays, I don’t charge more if I don’t have what you need on board and have to come out a second time and I don’t charge for security checks. It’s simple and easy; Considering that when you factor in that my average travel time to a job is around 30 mins (1 hour round trip), and that my labour fee also covers replacement of worn out tools, fuel and car maintenance, there is very little actual profit from this fee.

All this means that yes, I do turn a profit. But I believe my profit is fair. I am happy to break down the costs of every job with my customers if they desire.

Should you have any questions regarding the above or any of my other blogs, please feel free to get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin June 14, 2016

What are you paying for with your local locksmith? / Why get a professional locksmith? /

Multi-point lock problems

Lock maintenance

In previous blogs I have mentioned the importance of regular lock maintenance. This has been highlighted recently, as I seem to be going through a series of cases where doors with multi-point locking systems seem to be causing problems. This is especially true when the doors have shoot bolts at the top and bottom of the doors.

The bolts themselves are never particularly strong, so if the system is engaged without the door being properly closed first, it is very easy to push these bolts out of shape, which then causes them to wear as they do not fit properly into the holes in the frame. I do see this happening a lot with French doors. UPVC doors are usually easier to correct as there are often adjustments that can be made, but wooden doors that warp, expand and contract with the weather, can be very tricky.

If your door handles are hard to raise, or you need to hold them up to turn the key, then there is likely to be a problem. Stand back and look to see if the doors are straight and even. Check they fit into the frame properly. Look for signs of wear caused by bolts scraping woodwork. If there are signs of damage, call your local locksmith while there is a chance the problem can be rectified.

Should you have any questions regarding this or any other issues mentioned in my blogs, please get in touch via any of the methods on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading.

admin May 29, 2016

double glazed door problems / Double Glazed Wooden Doors / multi-point locking mechanisms /

Different locks explained Part 4

Having looked at the locking barrels for double glazed doors in my previous blog, this blog is dedicated to the actual locking mechanisms themselves. There are several different ways in which they work.

The first and most basic is called a roller;

When the door closes and you lift the handles, it simply rolls into position behind a keep that sits on your door frame and looks like this.

Very few doors only have rollers on their own nowadays as they are incredibly easy to bypass. Their main purpose is to hold the door a bit tighter when closed to stop draughts and they might be the only option on small doors. They are harder to bypass on smaller doors. Without giving the reader tips on how to break into a home, I can only suggest that if you have a double glazed door and it only has these rollers holding it in place, you might want to seek advice from your local locksmith to see if alternatives are available.

Over time, these rollers can shift a little in position, making the door difficult to lock and unlock. You can see from this next image that the correct sized allen key (hex key) can be inserted to rotate the roller. A quarter turn should be tried before attempting to lock the door again and if that does not work, then a further quarter turn and so on until you have established the problem is not with the roller or the problem is fixed.

If this does not rectify the problem, it might mean the door has dropped a little and simply moving the keep up or down a few millimetres might do the job, but at this point, I would suggest calling your local locksmith as there could be more serious problems to contend with.
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A step up from the roller is the mushroom;

It is more secure than the roller because it slides into a slotted keep where it holds tight. There is nothing to adjust on these mushrooms, so if it causes trouble, and the door cannot be adjusted, the only option is to move the keep accordingly.
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Next we have hooks and bolts that come out of the mechanism like this:

The hooks and bolts themselves do not adjust, but again if the door is out of position, there are adjustments that can be made, this time to the keeps, that look something like this.

You can see from the picture that an allen key will allow you to adjust this keep. Some only allow backwards and forwards movement, so again, if you are unsure, please call your local locksmith.

Hopefully, you will never have to see behind the scenes of one of these mechanisms, so here is what goes on in the hook case itself.

You can see this one has a hook and bolt. These parts do not often go wrong by themselves, but when they do, the door is extremely difficult to open without damage to either the door itself or the door frame. Therefore basic maintenance is vital and any signs of stiffness when lifting the handles should be dealt with by a professional.

We can now take a look at the gearbox, or centre case, where all main action takes place. There are many brands of these each with differing sizes and shapes within the brand, so this picture is just one example;

This example is called a double spindle and can be set up in two ways. The standard way is to have both handles operating through this hole.

In this case, the door will only be secure when the handles are lifted and the key is turned. However you can have handles where the inside handle operates through the top hole, but the outer handle is slightly lower and goes through this hole

In this case, everything operates exactly the same, but the lower hole does not allow the latch to pull back, meaning that you need the key to get back in. of course, if you are going further than the end of the garden, you should engage the locking mechanism completely as normal, but with this configuration, the door is at least technically secure.

These next two pictures show the hole that the locking barrel slides through and the barrel in place.

This is the simplest part of the lock. Everything inside above that, however is a minefield of cogs, levers and other moving parts. Please don’t expect your locksmith to be able to open these up and replace inner parts as with so many products around, knowledge of every one would be amazing and the locksmith would need an extra trailer to carry the spares, which would only be second hand as our suppliers do not provide anything other than complete products.

The centre keep for this part, looks something like this.

And again, we can adjust certain parts like the latch keep on this one. Loosening these screws, allows the keep to move forwards and backwards.

I have come across many problems where simply adjusting this part, which may have moved when someone slammed the door, has rectified the situation. Quite often, the locking mechanism will not operate if the latch is still being pushed in, which it can if this part is in the wrong position.
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Now, in this blog, I have mentioned doors dropping, which they often do. A sudden gust of wind, stroppy teens slamming, or even direct sunlight warping can all affect how the door sits in the frame.
Most modern upvc doors have hinges that are adjustable. If you have a door with hinges like this;

Then there is a good chance the door can be adjusted. The picture shows the one type of hinge that can be a little awkward because you have to prize it apart gently but firmly to get at the adjuster inside. Most actually have a plastic plug easily visible, which when removed, allow access to another allen key adjuster inside. If you are in any doubt, call your local locksmith. But if you feel like taking the job on yourself, half a turn of the adjuster should be all you move before trying to lock the door again. That should be enough to tell you if the door is easier or harder to lock. If harder, then you need to turn the opposite way. Remember, there are anything from two to four hinges that may be adjusted, so this is not an easy job.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me through any of the methods on my contacts page.
Thanks for reading

admin February 3, 2016

Different locks explained / Lock mechanisms /

1 2 3

Copy keys, insurance & locks

Keys

Lessons 10 years as a locksmith has taught me

All about Smart locks

Numbers of unsolved burglaries

Which lock have I got?

Scandinavian Locks

Locksmith Pricing

Multi-point lock problems

Lock maintenance

Different locks explained Part 4

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