Locksmith questions, answered

Check any other access point you legitimately have, work out whether the key is lost or simply not working, and if you rent, check whether the agent holds a key. Do not force a door or window — the damage usually costs more than the original problem. Then ring us and describe the door.

Sometimes. Alignment problems, stiff mechanisms and some worn components can be adjusted or serviced. Locks with significant internal wear, water damage or unavailable parts are often better replaced. It depends on the specific lock.

Common reasons include damaged hardware, worn mechanisms, lost keys, moving into a property, a change of tenants, renovations, or a decision to improve entry points. On many doors the cylinder can be changed rather than the whole lock.

Yes. There are two parts to it: getting access now, and deciding what should happen to the lock afterwards. If a key is genuinely missing, many people choose to change the cylinder or lock so the old key no longer works.

Yes — houses, apartments, townhouses, rentals and investment properties. For rental properties we need authorisation from the owner or managing agent before changing locks.

Yes. Offices, retail tenancies, hospitality venues and commercial buildings. Our focus is mechanical locks, cylinders, commercial door hardware and key arrangements rather than networked electronic access-control systems.

It depends on the work, the hardware and the situation, so we do not publish a single figure. Ring us, describe the door and what is happening, and we will talk through what is likely involved. We explain the work before starting it.

Which door it is, what the door is made of, what the lock does and does not do, whether it changed suddenly or gradually, whether you have a working key, and whether anyone has worked on it before. The property address and suburb also help.

We can look at your existing locks, door hardware and entry points and explain what an appropriate improvement would cover. What suits depends on the property. No lock makes a property completely secure and we will not suggest otherwise.

Yes — we are based at 692 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122.

Hawthorn and surrounding eastern suburbs including Hawthorn East, Kew, Camberwell, Richmond, Abbotsford, Balwyn, Canterbury, Surrey Hills, Glen Iris, Burnley and Auburn. Our service areas page lists them.