Door lock installation | AC Locksmiths Norfolk

Smart ways to be secure

New Smart ways to be secure

No, I’m not talking about locks linked to your smart speaker. As world events make everything more expensive I’m talking about ways to shop smart. I thought this as recently I upgraded the security on a home in a local new build estate. Soon, I had a neighbour asking on recommendation for the same upgrade. That turned into five properties, all occupied by people who knew each other. For me, it was multiple journeys to the same area, multiple measuring visits, multiple ordering from my supplier and multiple deliveries. Had these people clubbed together, I could have done all the work in one day. I would have measured up all the properties on the same day beforehand, thus saving myself costs that I would have passed on to the customer. Those customers could have saved themselves £50 each by clubbing together on the labour charge.

Home security is important, but like everything else, the cost is rising. So if you are thinking of upgrading your locks, putting in some CCTV or an alarm, talk to your friends, If they are local, I will happily split a labour fee between you if it means I save on massive fuel bills. I will visit both your homes (or more) for free security checks, tailor the hardware recommendations personally and then when the work is done, split the labour cost evenly between you.

What about giving security as a gift? We all know a relative that might have outdated locks, don’t we? Well, why not club together with family members and buy them a security upgrade? (It could make a nice change from pants and socks or bathroom smellies.) You would be getting them something they would be using every day for a long time to come. On my rounds, I see so many older folk struggling with doors that have floppy handles or need a ‘knack’ to make the key work. Next time you visit Mum and Dad, plan something worthwhile for their next birthday or Christmas.

And just in case you were wandering how far this locksmith will travel, I am happy to come to you in North Walsham, Aylsham, Fakenham, Cromer, Stalham, and all the places in between. I even venture into Norwich.

My security checks are always free and there is never an obligation to take up my quote. 1st homes or 2nd homes, holiday lets or commercial properties, your security is my business.

Thanks for reading.

admin June 12, 2022

Security as a gift / Smart security /

Smart Locks – Again!

Smart Locks – Again! I am having a growing number of people asking me for help with smart locks they are buying for themselves. Many of you are expecting simple installation (as advised by the manufacturers) only to find things a bit more complicated than you might expect. The same can be said for some smart doorbells and supposedly easy installation security equipment like smart CCTV and alarms.

Smart security is still a young technology. Smart locks can decrease your security level and even make your insurance void in many cases. A lot of smart locks are aimed at an American market and their lock requirements are not as stringent as ours.

Smart Locks - Again!

Smart locks are not always more convenient than key operated locks either. With a key operated lock, you take your key out of your pocket as you approach your door, and you are in without thinking about it. With a smart lock, you might have to carry a tag (easier to break than a key) or you might have to get out your phone, wait ages for the phone to recognise your face/thumbprint/pin code, find the app, open the app and then find the unlock button within the app.

Smart doorbells/doorcams can take loads of footage and send you endless emails of people passing your property but not actually approaching your door, or better still the spider web spun overnight and blowing in the breeze, setting off the sensor. You have to weigh up the options of battery (not good if your door opens onto a busy street) versus mains power (might need long wires or an electrician to wire it in safely).

Your smart CCTV might not be able to tell the difference between a small dog and a human, in which case you are going to be poring through hours of watching what Fido was doing while you were out all day while Fido himself is desperately waiting for you to take him walkies!

And smart alarms can be much better than you thought. Would you like your elderly Mum to just have an alarm for when she goes out to the shop, or would you like a system where if she takes a fall, she can press a button on a neck loop and the alarm system not only calls you, but lets you speak two-way to asses the potential emergency. Do you want your alarm system to incorporate a smoke detector and CO2 detector. Which virtual assistant device do you want it to be compatible with? Do you want it easy to take with you to a new property? Do you want it future proof or easy to do add-ons in order to keep the initial cost down?

There are so many things to think about when buying smart security products and they are rarely as easy to install as their blurb would have you believe. Any decent locksmith/security installer will provide you with free advice and quotations. You should always consult a professional before purchase. Not the person in the shop, but a person who installs and knows the pitfalls.

If you have any questions regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone 07846643176

Thanks for reading!

Previous Smart Lock posts: When is a smart lock not so smart

Smart Locks – what you need to know

admin February 7, 2021

Smart lock installation / Using a professional locksmith /

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 /

More Common Locksmith Questions Answered

Common Locksmith questions I am asked
AC Locksmiths Norfolk

What is Lock Snapping?

This is a particularly vile form of attack burglars use to break in where the house has a upvc or composite door (any door where you lift the handle before locking). The intruders use simple tools to rip the handles off the door and then break the lock itself to gain access to a small lever inside the door that unlocks all the hooks and bolts. It takes less than 60 seconds with ordinary hand tools. If you have a upvc or composite door, look just below where your key fits and you will see a brand name. If you do not also see the British Standard Kitemark, you are definitely at risk of this type of attack. Moreover, I have come across some kite marked locks that still fail to protect. You should always consult your local locksmith when upgrading locks as they have the knowledge and experience to sort the good from the bad. At the time of writing, AC Locksmiths Norfolk are upgrading superior locking euro cylinders to properties in Sheringham and Holt.

How long does it take to fix a broken lock?

This really depends on the lock. Some of the simplest cabinet locks with small parts and tight springs can take surprisingly long if you don’t want to damage the expensive furniture they are housed in. Sometimes, a part inside may have broken and gotten itself lodged out of sight. In my experience, half of the repairs I do are routine and half throw up something completely unique, or at least very uncommon. Just the other day, I was working on a composite door in Fakenham where the only way I could get the door open was to hammer the hooks into the open position as a gear had broken and become stick within the locking mechanism. Doing this with all the wrong angles and trying to preserve the door as well slows a job down. There is a quick way to do every job. If we are taking a long time, it’s because we care about your property. Time frustrates us as well. For a locksmith, there is nothing worse than leaving one job knowing you are already late for the next one, especially in rural areas where phone signal problems deny you the chance to explain to that next customer.

How long should I expect to wait in an emergency?

This all depends on how large an area your locksmith covers, time of day and what work the locksmith is currently doing. Larger companies and the Nationals who sub-contract can usually find someone to be with you within 2 hours, but it is surprising how often people get a call near the end of those two hours to say their locksmith has broken down! A genuine local locksmith can usually be with you in a sensible time. For example, my base is in Holt and if you need me to attend an emergency in Aylsham or Cromer, I can usually get to you easily within the hour. If you need me in Downham Market, or Stalham, or Caister, then you need to expect me to take an hour and a half to two hours. If I am working on a job when you call, I will give you a realistic expectation of time and update you as often as possible. If that time is too long, I will suggest another locksmith, but I can neither guarantee their ability to get to you sooner or the quality of their work.

Do you carry the parts to fix my locks?

In almost all cases we can fix or replace your lock, and if we can’t fix it on the first visit, we can make your door secure until we have had a chance to order the parts required. Carrying everything for every occasion would mean towing a small DIY store around with us! Before writing this blog today, I attended a property in Fakenham where they need a completely new mechanism for their composite door. The brand they need has about 20 different variations of mechanisms and that brand is only one of about 15 common brands, so I have locked their door and rendered it usable in emergencies only. The new part will be with me tomorrow. There is no additional charge for the second visit, just the cost of the part itself and my standard flat fee. Beware, some locksmiths will charge labour for every visit.

Do you cover evenings and weekends?

Yes. AC Locksmiths Norfolk is a 24/7 365 day per year service. However, I am human. I do like to celebrate peoples’ birthdays and observe other traditions and even sometimes get to go on holiday. My phone is always on me. If I cannot cover emergencies, my voicemail will tell you so. If I am away and cannot answer the phone, for non-emergencies always leave a voicemail and if possible, back it up with a quick text and I will get back to you with honest advice, and/or work timeframe estimations. Unlike many other locksmiths, my flat fee labour charge is fixed. So if you have an emergency on Sunday evening in Dereham, the labour charge will be exactly the same as if you call me out on Wednesday morning from Reepham. Pricing for distance is a little different when dealing with car keys due to the minimum amount of time they take to produce, but when you call me, you can be sure you are getting a fair price.

Should I change the locks when I move home?

Yes. If the home has had people living in it before you, you just cannot know how many copies of keys have been made. I once changed locks for a couple in Norwich who after having been moved in for six months, found a neighbour ‘just checking’ their home after they had not arrived back at their usual time. This neighbour had been given a key by the previous owner to use in emergencies. If you move into a new home on a large complex, the developer will have fitted the same brand and types of lock in all the houses on that development. Statistics show that several properties will have keys that open other properties on the estate. Best to change to a completely different brand and upgrade.

What are the insurance requirements for homes in the UK?

For wooden doors, insurance usually states a five-lever mortice lock on all final exit doors or a kite marked equivalent. Basically, if the locks on your wooden door do not have kite marks, then they are probably not covered unless you have a special agreement because of preservation orders, etc. Some five lever mortice locks do not have kite marks and are fine with your insurance, but make life so much easier for the burglar. Be very careful when looking at ‘smart’ locks as many will actually downgrade your security. For upvc and composite doors, there is no kitemark requirement for most insurers, but having kite marked cylinders might well reduce your premiums. For peace of mind, you should always upgrade to kite marked products. At a time when we are all worried certain standards will drop after we leave the EU, rest assured, in many cases the kitemark outstrips EU standards in the area of locks. Insurers will try all things to get out of paying. If you have a kite marked lock and the burglar does manage to defeat it, the insurer might inspect your home and find another lock that does not meet standards and refuse to pay because you have a lock that does not conform. All ground floor windows should have locks and most insurers will insist on first-floor windows as well with a note that all accessible windows be lockable. If you have children of any age, window locks or cable restrictors are highly advisable anyway as kids are very good at falling from windows and they make such a fuss when bones break!

If you have any questions regarding the above, please don’t hesitate to get in contact via any of the usual methods found on my contacts page.

Thanks for reading
Alan,
AC Locksmiths Norfolk

admin November 22, 2019

British Standard Kitemark / broken locks / emergency locksmith / lock snapped / locksmith emergency / Locksmith questions /

Is your builder installing the right locks?

I have just come away from a job that is going to cost my customer a lot of money. He had an extension built just last year with lovely bi-fold doors opening out onto his garden. All well and good. The trouble is, the installers put a multi-point locking mechanism into a wooden door. As I have said in previous posts, I personally think this is a bad idea, because wooden doors swell and contract with British weather and the mechanisms either retain water and rust quickly, or the wood swelling causes extra pressure on the moving parts and they break.

The other thing that happens when these doors swell, contract and generally settle into position, is that they do not align in the same position as when they were first installed, meaning adjustments are nearly always needed at some point. For this customer, the installers also used imported parts. I don’t understand why. Aesthetically, they look nice, but you can get plenty of nice looking parts here in the UK, which are easier to replace when things go wrong. I am awaiting results from several suppliers who are taking up much time to try and source the parts I need, but I expect them to all come up blank. I can’t use alternative parts because of size differences which will take away from the desired look of his doors. This is not the first time this has happened to me, and I doubt it will be the last.

So, here is the suggestion. A builder is a builder. While I can’t put up a wall, or do the many skilled things a builder does, I do know about locks. I know what future problems there might be when having new locks installed. I know which locks work best with which types of doors. So does your local locksmith. If you are having an extension, or alteration that means you need new doors with new locking products, get your local locksmith in to advise on the best products. He might charge for his time, he might not, even if they do, that labour charge could still potentially save you £100’s down the line. I still haven’t come across a new build where high security locking cylinders are fitted as standard by the builders. How would they know that the new kite marked diamond standard cylinders are out there? It would be like asking a dentist to perform a limb amputation. Get a locksmith to advise on security.

My other recent problematic case has to do with DIY UPVC installation. Now, I know that double glazing companies have a bad reputation, based on hard sell tactics of their sales forces. But once you get past the man in the suit, the installers really know what they are doing, especially the ones who have been doing so for a long time. (Always check the firm has been operating for some time). Buying a double glazed door from a DIY store and installing it yourself is fraught with dangers. When measuring for sizes, you might not realise the doorway is not quite square, or the wall might bulge in places, making all sorts of things uneven. All this can lead to a bad installation. Now, if you installed the door yourself, who can you complain to if it all goes wrong? With a professional installation, you can call them back to re-do it if its not to your liking.

An example is a customer of mine who bought a UPVC DIY door. He used laser equipment to make sure his measurements were correct. He went for a supposedly better make of door. But, when it came down to it, the door doesn’t fit. There is a gap at the bottom I can almost get my little finger into. He did the installation quite quickly, but then spent hours making adjustments so that everything lined up. But he is still going to have to cut bits off and out that should line up better in the first place. If he doesn’t, his door locking mechanism will break sooner rather than later. A professional job does cost more, but there is peace of mind for compensation. He was lucky, I advised him on the correct locks to have because the door only came with standard quality locks.

If you are undertaking any work that requires locks or locking doors, whether doing it yourself, or having it done professionally, ask your local locksmith for his/her advice. It might save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you would like to discuss any of the items on this page, please contact me through any of the methods on my contacts page.Thanks for reading.

admin June 10, 2015

Ask the expert / Door lock installation /