New or upgraded locks
Most doors fail at the frame, not the lock. A better cylinder in a soft frame with short screws is a stronger lock on a weaker door.
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While you wait — please don't
- A high-security cylinder in a frame secured with short screws is money spent on the wrong half of the problem — ask about the frame too.
- Smart locks still need a mechanical key or an alternative way in when the battery dies. Ask before you buy.
- Ask which locks genuinely need changing. Some are usually fine as they are.
What has probably happened
- The existing locks are old, worn or basic.
- There has been a break-in, or one nearby.
- You want keyless entry, a keypad or a smart lock.
- An insurer has asked for a specific grade of lock.
- A rental changing over between tenants.
What the technician does
- Deadbolts and lockset upgrades, graded for how the door is actually used.
- High-security cylinders that resist picking, bumping and snapping where it is worth it.
- Reinforced strike plates and long screws into the frame stud — the cheapest real security improvement there is.
- Smart locks and keypads fitted and set up, with the trade-offs explained honestly.
- Matching everything to one key, or to a master system for a rental or an office.
Questions people ask
- What actually makes a door harder to get through?
- Usually the frame. A reinforced strike plate with three-inch screws into the stud does more against a kicked door than any cylinder upgrade, and it costs very little.
- Are smart locks a good idea?
- They are convenient and they let you give and take away access without cutting keys. They also need power, they can be fiddly to set up, and they still need a way in when the battery goes. Worth it for some households, not all.
- Can everything work on one key?
- In most cases. If you have mismatched hardware from different eras it may mean replacing some of it.
Get a technician out
Free estimate. The price is agreed before the work starts.
Questions about new or upgraded locks
- What affects the cost of installing a new deadbolt?
- How long should the screws be for a deadbolt strike plate?
- Why does a new deadbolt need a reinforced strike plate?
- What does a locksmith check on the door and frame before fitting a deadbolt?
- Do I need a locksmith to install a deadbolt on an exterior door?
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Something else going on?
- Locked out of the house
- Locked out of the car
- Lost car key or fob
- Keys lost or stolen
- Key broke in the lock
- Lock is stuck or broken
- Just moved in
- Business locked out
One Call Locksmiths arranges the visit; the technician does the work and gives you the price.