Need A Locksmith?

29th May 2020/in Locksmith Edinburgh Blog /by liam smith

Not sure if it is a locksmith you need? Here is a guide of the more common reasons people might call on the services of a locksmith.

Locking Yourself Out Of Your Home

Managing to lock yourself out of your house is the most common mistake people can make. It can be a distressing experience being locked out of your home because you lost the key, locked them inside the property, mislaid the keys or because your key has been stolen. A locksmith can soon have you back into your home without having to resort to smashing windows or breaking down the door.

Lost Or Stolen Keys

We have all been there and lost our keys at some point. They are easy to mislay or can accidentally fall out of your pocket when you pull out your money or phone.

Maybe your keys to your home were stolen and now you feel insecure and would prefer a new lock and set of keys. In this situation it is best to contact your emergency locksmith to replace the locks and prevent the thief from using your keys to burgle your home

Damaged Key

Sometimes after years and years of use, a key can be weakened. A weakened key can snap whilst inside the lock leaving bits of key missing. In this case a locksmith can be of assistance in extracting broken bits of key from the lock and replacing your key. It is not advisable to try and extract your broken key from the lock as this could cause damage to the locking mechanism.

Lock Repair

As a result of wear and tear a lock can fail us. A locksmith may be able to repair the broken lock rather than you having to replace the whole lock.

Lock Changes and Lock Upgrade

Locksmiths are frequently called to upgrade or change substandard locks that might not comply with your insurance regulations. If you have a non insured approved lock and you have a break in at your property, your insurance will not cover your possessions. A locksmith can change your locks and ensure that they snap-safe and insurance approved locks that will give you added security and protection.

Burglary Protective Locks

A locksmith can check your security locks to ensure you are protected with anti-snap locks. None anti-snap locks can leave your open to crime by means of burglary. Many uPVC doors were fitted with locks that could be snapped by criminals with a tool. Many of these locks are being replaced with more secure locks. It is important to make sure your locks are not snap locking locks and your locksmith can advise. Your locksmith can examine your locks and make sure they meet the standard of protection for insurance purposes.

Moved To A New Property

If you have recently changed house, office or any other property it is recommended that you get the locks replaced. A locksmith can change the locks and give you a new set of keys. This will take away any worries about some stranger out there who might still have a key and access to your property. Changing the locks will give you added peace of mind.

When to Change Wooden Door Locks

29th April 2020/in Locksmith Edinburgh Blog /by liam smith

There are a number of different wooden door locks available but if you have a wooden door then it is likely that you have a mortice lock fitted as this is what the manufacturers tend to use. They come in a range of different sizes and brands so the lock you have will much depend on the manufacturer’s preference. Unfortunately, not all locks that come supplied with wooden doors, particularly older doors, will meet the current British Standard BS3621. To find out if the lock you have on your wooden door meets BS3621 then you need to check the lock for the kite mark that should be displayed on the face plate of the lock. If your lock does not display the kite mark then it would be worth calling out your local locksmith to come and upgrades the locks as soon as possible, this is not only to ensure that your home is better secured but also you may find that having substandard locks can mean your current insurance policy is invalid and you may not be entitled to make any claims!

When To Change A Mortice Lock?

Below we have listed just a few of the reasons why your mortice lock might need changing:

Current Locks Don’t Meet BS3621.
Faulty locks due to wear and tear or tampering, in some cases a faulty lock can be simply repaired however it is best to have a locksmith come and diagnose the problem and advise you on the best course of action.
Recently moved into a new property and need the locks changing to ensure that only yourself and those you trust have a copy of the key.

Rim Cylinders

Rim cylinders are often installed to work alongside a mortice lock, they are often referred to as a Yale lock. This type of lock will automatically lock behind you when you close the door. This is a great measure for extra security however if you have left your keys inside it can be quite frustrating! Luckily, a good locksmith will be able to help you gain entry into your property in no time without causing any damage to the existing lock or door.

If your wooden door only has a rim cylinder, then it is strongly advised that you have a mortice lock installed to work along side it, this will vastly improve the overall security of your door.

When it comes to needing a rim cylinder lock changing the reasons are much the same as those for the mortice lock, your current lock does not meet BS3621, it is damaged, or you have just moved home.

Further Security Measures

Below are a few tips on how to improve the overall security of your wooden door:

Have a rim cylinder lock installed if you don’t already have one.
Have another BS3621 deadlock installed at the bottom of your door.
Have either a bolt or chain installed. These can only be used whilst you are in the property but are great for extra protection at night!

If you need to improve the security of your wooden door locks, or just need your locks repairing, replacing or upgrading then contact Budget Locksmiths – Edinburgh today – 0131 235 2069

Locksmith With No Call Out Fee Edinburgh

7th April 2019/in Uncategorised /by liam smith

locksmith with no call out fee Edinburgh: When your make the sometimes horrific realisation that you have a problem with your lock. You will want to hand the number of a locksmith you can trust to treat you right.

Reasons to require a locksmith

Failed UPVC door mechanism. These types of doors are now becoming the norm for new build houses. Unfortunately the working parts in these doors tend to wear out between 10-15 years. If the parts fail whilst the door is locked, it can leave the occupants locked in or locked out of the property.
Lost keys. Unfortunately most people lose their keys at some point or another. If they do not have spare keys, there is almost no other way in apart from using the services of a professional locksmith firm.
Closing the door whist leaving the keys inside. Most people that have a nightlatch type lock will have locked themselves out at one point. This type of lockout is one of the most simple jobs for a locksmith. Usually they will have the customer back in the property in a few seconds, with no damage to the lock.

What to look for in a locksmith company

A locksmith with no call out fee Edinburgh policy should definitely been the first consideration to bear in mind. some companies can charge over £100 call out fees. They also charge the prices of parts and labour on top of that fee too.

Before you know it, your small problem has just been compounded with a major bill.

At Budget locksmiths Edinburgh we do not change call out fees or add vat onto the final bill. Our mentality is to get to a job, and get it done whilst keeping the costs down.

However, just because we keep our prices down, it does not mean we need to sacrifice on professionalism. We will still use quality locking products too (if required).

In all our years of trading we have never had one bad review to our website, social media platforms, or any other online review platform. This is due to our ethics described in the above statements.

locksmith with no call out fee Edinburgh

To conclude, if you require a free quote or even some advice, just give us a call. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or if you feel more comfortable, drop us an email and we will usually respond straight away.

Edinburgh Locksmith

1st February 2019/in Uncategorised /by liam smith

Find A Cheap Emergency Edinburgh Locksmith

At time moment you discover your keys are lost or not working, its time to think of how to quickly get out of that situation. You will more than likely be needing the services of a professional locksmith firm who are not going to charge you an astronomical fee.

At Budget Edinburgh locksmith service we have built up a reputation of trust over the years with customers to not only deliver an excellent locksmith service at a cheap price.

If you are looking for a company to gain access to a private home, a commercial property, or even a mobile property such as a caravan we are definitely the company to call. We Provide a 24 hour locksmith Edinburgh service that can be relied upon to turn up at the exact time that was estimated on the phone.

Why choose our Affordable Edinburgh locksmith service

Affordable, responsive, and always professional, we strive to deliver an unrivalled service. We are friendly and always on the other end of the line to give a quote, or even some advice regarding your lock issues.

Our emergency Edinburgh locksmith service always look to open locks non destructively. If however a lock does need destroyed to gain access we stock a host of locks in the van designed to meet all budgets. in addition if a lock does need replace the customer only pays for the lock and a small fitting fee.

To find out more about our services and prices, get in contact with us today.

Budget Locksmith Edinburgh – Our Ethos

9th October 2018/in Uncategorised /by liam smith

Local Locksmith Edinburgh – and we mean it!

locksmith Edinburgh blog post 9/10/18

Nowadays when you search for any services on the internet, you will be bombarded with hundreds of results. sometimes it can be hard to decide which company to choose.

The problem is, the majority of these companies who advertise as local, are actually national companies. These companies can charge vast amounts for the services they provide.

The work they do is no better than what you would receive from a local tradesman.

At Budget Locksmith Edinburgh, we are a genuinely local locksmith in Edinburgh, and we Charge genuinely local prices.

We can supply and fit locks for as little as £60, probably half the price you would pay a national company.

Locksmith Edinburgh – no hidden costs!

The reason we can keep our prices low, is because we operate under the vat threshold. This means we do not add 20% onto the final bill. This may not seem like much, but it can save the customer £20 for every £100 worth of work done.

We also do not charge any type of call out fees.

Many companies advertise this perk, however they will charge the customer, if they do not get any work from the visit.

At Budget locksmith Edinburgh we only charge for the work we do. If you want us to come out and give a free quote, that is not a problem.

If we have to return to the job at a future date because parts need ordered in, no charge will be added to the final bill either.

For every job, we tell the customer at the beginning what the price is, and under no circumstances will that price change!

Locksmith Edinburgh – customer care

At Budget locksmiths we believe in treating customers the way we would like to be treated.

We will take the time to explain to customers what needs done, and what doesn’t need done.

We have the patience to deal will all types of people, including the elderly and the disabled.

Edinburgh Locksmiths External Security Tips

18th September 2018/in News /by liam smith

Edinburgh locksmiths

At Budget Edinburgh locksmiths, we believe the most important part of anyone’s home security is the OUTSIDE of the property.

This is what any criminal will have to cross before reaching the property. Therefor safeguarding this area should be a homeowners main priority.

External gardens

If the property has gardens, there are ways they can they can be made a nightmare, for any would be thief.

If the gardens have walls or fences, they could be painted at the top with vandal grease – overlapping the edges to make visible. This will make people think twice about climbing them.

Another security measure could be to install wall spikes. These spikes are cheap, and easy to install – not to mention an excellent visual deterrent.

Leylandii

Homeowners could also plant new bushes, hedges or trees. Hedging plants like the Leylandii are extremely fast growing, and can make accessing a garden very difficult.

External doors and windows

If traditional wooden doors secure the property, make sure they are fitted with a 5 lever British standard mortice lock. These types of locks are almost impossible to force open. They are also a requirement for almost all insurance policies on the market.

If the property is secured with multi point locking doors, insure they are fitted with a high security Euro lock. At Budget Edinburgh locksmiths, we install high security anti snap Euro locks for as little as £75.

These locks will insure nobody can pick, drill or snap the lock out of the door.

As for windows. Make sure they are fitted with locking handles – and the keys are not left in the locks.

If the windows are lift up sash windows, having sash stops installed is a cheap and effective way of preventing a window from being forced open.

External walls

The external walls the property could have motion sensored lights or CCTV installed. These act as a great visual deterrent, for intruders scanning for a target.

Most thieves will move on to an easier target, when there is a risk of being caught!

Happy to help

This article was designed to increase awareness, and give an insight into the psychology of an intruder.

For any questions or further advice, give Budget Edinburgh locksmiths a call. We can arrange a free home security survey at your convenience.