The Duties of a Locksmith

The Duties of a Locksmith – What We Really Do

Hey there, Salisbury neighbours! When most folks hear “locksmith,” they picture someone showing up with a bag of tools to pop open a locked door. And sure, that’s part of the job—but there’s a whole lot more we’re doing behind the scenes. Whether you live in the city centre or out towards Downton, Bemerton Heath, or Old Sarum, our day-to-day can involve everything from emergency break-ins to fitting high-security cylinders. In this post, I’ll walk you through the real duties of a locksmith here in Salisbury—what we tackle, why it matters, and how it keeps your home, business, or vehicle safe.

Locked Out? Here’s How We Jump In (Literally)

Ever stepped outside to grab the bins, only to hear that dreaded click behind you? Yeah, you’re not alone. Salisbury’s mix of old cottages and newer builds means doors can be temperamental—some lock automatically, some stick. Either way, if your key ends up on the wrong side of the door, it’s time to call in help.

• Non-Destructive Entry: The last thing you want is a broken-down doorframe. We carry a whole arsenal of picks, jigs, and special tools that let us open most locks without leaving a scratch. From Laverstock to Harnham and right through Old Sarum, we aim to be there fast—usually within an hour—so you’re not stranded in the rain or stuck outside while you’re late for work.
• Late-Night and Weekend Calls: Lost keys don’t keep office hours. If you’re locked out after a night at The Salisbury Arms or on a Sunday stroll around the Cathedral, we’ll make time (and yes, we try to keep call-out fees decent, even at odd hours).

Bottom line: if you find yourself staring at a locked door with no spare key in sight, a quick call can save you a ton of hassle—and money in the long run, too.

Lock Repairs and Replacements: Not Just a Quick Fix

Sorting Out Worn or Damaged Locks

Locks take a beating. Between kids coming and going, pets jostling back and forth, and the general wear and tear of daily life (not to mention Salisbury’s unpredictable weather), components wear down. Sometimes the key sticks in the cylinder, or the lock feels loose in its casing. Rather than ripping everything out and starting fresh, we’ll often open the lock up, replace broken parts, and get it running like new.

• Gearbox Replacements: Many UPVC doors (common in our modern homes) rely on an internal gearbox. Once those gears strip or corrode, you might find yourself spinning the handle and nothing happening. Swapping out the gearbox is usually a one-hour job, and it saves you the cost of a whole new door.
• Cylinder Refurbishing: If your cylinder is jamming—swiveling only partway or grinding when you turn the key—we can usually strip it down, lubricate, and replace any worn pins. If it’s too far gone, we’ll recommend a quick cylinder swap to an anti-snap or insurance-approved model.

Upgrading or Changing Locks

Sometimes a lock has simply reached the end of its life, or you’ve moved into a new place and want something more secure. In these cases:

• British Standards and Insurance-Approved Gear: We only fit locks that tick the BS3621 box or meet your insurance’s three-star requirement. That could be a British Standard euro cylinder, a higher-grade deadlock, or a multi-point lock setup.
• Advice on the Right Fit: Not everyone needs a commercial-grade deadbolt. We’ll chat through how you use your home (kids, pets, ground-floor windows) and suggest the lock styles—cylinder, mortice, rim lock, or electronic—that make sense.
• Timed Replacements: If you’re moving into a rental property in Bishopdown or Bemerton Heath, for instance, we’ll swap out the old tenant’s locks for fresh hardware. It gives you peace of mind knowing there aren’t any mystery copies of your key floating around.

Cutting New Keys: On the Go, No Shop Visit Needed

Need a spare key but can’t spare an hour in town? Our mobile key-cutting service has you covered. We’ll come to you—whether you’re at home, at the office, or even parked by the Water Meadows—and cut everything from basic mortice keys to higher-security “restricted” keys for anti-snap systems.

• Standard House Keys: If you just need a couple of spares for family members, it’s often cheaper and faster to have us come out than to queue at a shop.
• High-Security and Restricted Keys: Some landlords and businesses use systems where the blanks themselves are restricted. We carry those blanks and the right machines to cut and authorise them on the spot.
• Car Keys and Transponders: Modern vehicles sometimes need programming beyond just cutting. If you’ve got a transponder chip key—or if you’ve snapped a key in the ignition—we can handle that too. We’ll cut, program, and test the key while you wait, saving you a trip to the dealership.

New Lock Installations: Securing from Day One

Just Moved In? Time to Change Those Locks

You never really know who the previous owner or tenants trusted with keys. If you’re settling in anywhere from Downton to Old Sarum, swapping the locks is one of the first things you should do. We’ll take the existing lock off, run you through your options, and fit a brand-new, insurance-compliant cylinder or mortice lock. It doesn’t have to break the bank, but it does give you confidence that you’re the only one with access.

Extra Locks for Garages, Sheds, and Gates

Don’t forget about those side gates and garden sheds. If you keep tools, lawnmowers, or bikes in a shed, a simple padlock often won’t cut it. We fit:

• Mortice Deadlocks on shed doors for sturdiness.
• Sash Jammers on garden gates to stop someone from jimmying them open.
• Garage Door Locks if you have a manual up-and-over or roller shutter.
• Padlocks with Hardened Shrouds to deter bolt cutters on exposed hasps.

UPVC Door and Window Locks: The Modern Home Staple

UPVC frames are everywhere—lightweight, energy-efficient, and fairly low maintenance. But their locking mechanisms can be temperamental if something gets misaligned.

Repairs and Adjustments

• Realignment: If a door has “dropped” (common in older builds), it won’t meet the strike plate cleanly. We shim or pad the hinges and adjust the keeps so that the multi-point locking points line up perfectly.
• Cylinder and Gearbox Swaps: As mentioned above, replacing the gearbox or cylinder inside a UPVC door or window often fixes the problem without touching the outer frame.
• Handle and Striker Replacements: Sometimes it’s as simple as a worn handle spindle or a misaligned striker plate. A quick swap, and your door closes and locks smoothly again.

Mechanism Replacements

If the locking strip (the long metal strip on the edge of the door) has bent or corroded, we can replace it in situ—no need to rip out the whole door. The same goes for window mechanisms: if your handle spins or the shoot-bolt won’t engage, a new mechanism often does the trick.

Home and Business Security Upgrades: Beyond Basic Locks

Sure, a functioning lock is crucial, but sometimes you want more than “it turns.” Maybe you’ve got expensive kit in your garden room, or you run a café on Catherine Street and worry about break-ins overnight. Here’s how we help step things up a notch:

Security Advice and Audits

• On-Site Surveys: We’ll walk around your property—checking back doors, windows, sheds, garages—and point out weak spots like poorly lit entrances or flimsy sheds.
• Tailored Suggestions: Whether it’s fitting an extra deadbolt on a French door or adding a window transom lock, we give you straightforward options instead of a sales pitch.

Better Locks, Better Peace of Mind

• High-Security Euro Cylinders: Ultion, Yale 3-star, ERA 3-star—these cylinders resist snapping, bumping, and drilling far better than your basic euro cylinder. And they’re insurance-approved, so you don’t have to worry about policy nasty letters.
• Mortice Deadlocks and Sash Locks: For wooden doors or internal doors, a heavy-duty British Standard mortice deadlock can make a huge difference. Sash locks are ideal for internal rooms where you want extra privacy or fire escape compliance.
• Keyless Entry and Digital Locks: We fit keypad or smart-lock systems for clients who like the idea of not carrying keys. Perfect for Airbnbs, guest houses, or home offices where you might want timed access codes.
• Master Key Systems for Businesses: If you run multiple flats, offices, or warehouses across Salisbury, a master key system means staff can access the areas they need without carrying a ring of enormous keys.

Helping Salisbury Businesses: More Than Just Front Doors

Local shops, cafés, offices, and warehouses have unique security needs. It’s not just about keeping customers out; sometimes it’s about controlling staff access or securing valuable stock.

Commercial Locksmith Services

• Digital and Electronic Locks: From keypad entry to proximity fobs, we help modern businesses ditch the old key ring and move to coded access.
• Master Key Systems: Perfect for hair salons on Castle Street, restaurants on Fisherton Street, or offices near the Guildhall. One master key for you, unique sub-keys for staff. Easy to revoke or replace if someone moves on.
• Emergency Board-Ups: If a break-in happens, we can board windows or doors overnight and follow up with a permanent solution—whether that’s new glazing bars, laminated glass, or more robust hardware.

Landlords and Letting Agents

If you manage multiple properties—say, a handful of flats around Milford Hill—you know how critical fast turnarounds are between tenants. We help by:

• Quick Lock Changes: New tenant moving in tomorrow? We can be there before they arrive, swap out the cylinder, and leave a fresh set of keys.
• Key Cutting for Tenants: One tenant loses a key on Mill Road? Instead of hauling everyone to the office, we can pop over, cut a key, and get them inside.
• Emergency Call-Outs: From a broken lock at 11pm to a jammed door at 6am, we’re on standby so you don’t have to field frantic calls at all hours.

Safes and Security Boxes: Keeping Valuables Under Lock and Key

It’s not all about doors and windows! Many people in Salisbury—be it a solicitor’s office downtown or a homeowner with precious jewellery—need help with safes.

Lost Access to Your Safe?

• Non-Destructive Opening: We can drill a tiny hole or use decoding tools to recover combinations without ruining the safe’s interior.
• Code Resets and Combos: Forgotten your safe code? We’ll reset it if possible, or guide you through the manufacturer’s official process so you don’t invalidate any warranty.
• Vintage and Antique Safe Expertise: If you’ve inherited an old Hamper safebreaker from Gran on Devizes Road, don’t worry—we know how to handle older mechanical dials without doing permanent damage.

New Safe Installations

• Selecting the Right Safe: Floor safes, wall safes, freestanding options—we’ll size it up based on what you want to store (documents, firearms, jewellery) and where you want it installed.
• Professional Fitting: A safe is only as good as its fixings. We bolt them to solid ground or cavities, concealting installation points so it’s not obvious where a thief should attack.
• Fire-Rated and Data Safes: For business records in Salisbury offices, we’ll point you to safes rated for heat and water resistance, certifying them if necessary for insurance.

Vehicle Locksmith Services: Not Just Homes

Locked out of your car on Salt Lane? Whether you’re driving a modern Volkswagen Golf or a classic MG on the edge of Laverstock, we’ve got you covered.

Emergency Car Entry

• Non-Destructive Car Opening: We use specialized tools to flick open car locks without damaging weatherstrips or paint. From early-model Fords to newer Audis, we know the pin-and-tumbler systems and keyless setups alike.
• Late-Night Roadside Assist: If you’re stranded near the Salisbury Racecourse late on a Saturday, a quick call gets us there to let you back in. No smashed windows. No trips to the dealer.

Replacement and Programming of Car Keys

• Transponder Keys and Fobs: We can cut traditional metal keys and program transponders, whether it’s a Toyota Corolla or a Range Rover. We carry a stock of common blanks, and our diagnostic gear talks to most ECU systems on-site.
• Keyless-Go and Remote Fobs: Lost your remote fob for your Honda Jazz? We’ll order the right replacement, programme it in your driveway, and test every button—locking, unlock, boot release, panic alarm—so you don’t get halfway down Exeter Street and realise something’s off.
• Motorcycle and Scooter Keys: Two-wheelers aren’t left out. From scooters in Harnham to high-spec BMW bikes, we’ve got the right gear to get you back on the road.

Final Thoughts: “So, What Does a Locksmith Actually Do?”

Hopefully this gives you a peek behind the curtain. Locksmithing isn’t just about unlucky moments when keys end up inside—although that’s part of it. From fitting new locks in a freshly renovated home to helping a café upgrade to digital keypads, or rescuing you from a jammed safe, our role is all about security solutions tailored to Salisbury life.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Who do I call when…?” now you’ve got a clearer picture:

• Emergency Entry: We’ll get you back inside, fast and nondestructively.
• Lock Repairs & Replacements: Gearboxes, cylinders, entire mortice lock swaps—you name it.
• Key Cutting & Programming: House keys, restricted blanks, car transponders.
• Security Upgrades: High-security cylinders, master key setups, digital locks.
• Commercial & Rental Properties: Quick tenant changes, business master systems, board-ups, and all that jazz.
• Safes & Security Boxes: Cracking forgotten codes, installing fire-rated safes.
• Vehicle Assistance: Car and motorcycle lockouts, key replacements, fob programming.

So next time you’re wandering along Fisherton Street and think, “I wonder what locksmiths really do?”—now you know. If you’re based in Salisbury or any of the surrounding villages (Wilton, Laverstock, Downton, Bemerton Heath, Old Sarum, you name it), drop us a line. We’re always happy to chat about keeping your home, business, or ride as secure and stress-free as possible.