Securing Your Windows

Blog Admin • 7 August 2018

What do you think of the window lock shown in the picture? This is standard practice for the upper floor windows that intruders cannot easily reach. However, on a downstairs window, these locks won’t keep out a determined thief. This is because it is not a locking window handle.

Even if your window installation is of good quality, with multiple points of locking, a thief will happily smash the window and be able to operate the handle from the inside. To safeguard against this, it is imperative for your ground floor windows to be key locked. It is also very important that you do not leave the key in the window handle - this defeats the point.

As always, make sure you are using your security devices as intended to ensure you and your home stay safe.

If you're unsure about the suitability of your window locks or how they work, we can provide a free locksmith security survey in East Birmingham or Solihull to put your mind at ease.

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common questions about locksmith services

Do you have a call-out charge?

CraftLock Ltd locksmiths does not operate a call-out charge for private customers, meaning there is no hidden extra charge just for turning up. In most cases we offer free quotation visits too. We usually have a minimum labour charge of £70 for when we have visited and carried out any form of work. Some commercial invoices are broken down into a call-out charge based upon location plus an hourly labour rate but this amounts to roughly the same as it would otherwise be for private customers. We will however charge commercial customers a call-out where an appointment has failed but it is not the fault of the locksmith (e.g. an agent of the commercial client has failed to turn up). Some locksmith companies will quote prices over the telephone but may not tell you of very significant call-out charges or add on VAT when you did not expect it. CraftLock Ltd does not charge VAT. We are always open and honest about the prices you should expect to pay.

What is your response time?

As a small independent company, we cannot be in two places at once. We can usually fit in your emergency at some point in our day so please do get in touch, leave a detailed message and we will always get back to you. CraftLock Ltd is based in Yardley, Birmingham and can offer a swift response time to the surrounding area. We can usually be in Olton or Solihull within 30-40 minutes of your call if we are not already at work elsewhere. Please remember that some unscrupulous locksmith companies will promise to be with you very quickly in order to get your business, even when they are in reality too busy to see you. You are likely to wait just as long if not longer for national call-centres as they still rely on only one or two local sub-contracted maintenance workers. If you make an arrangement with CraftLock Ltd you can rely on us to look after you and not mess you around.

Are your parts guaranteed?

We work extremely hard to test out and source the best lock products. It can sometimes be extremely difficult to find quality and durable locks to fit every situation, but we know how important your security is and we do everything we can to give you safe security items that you can rely on. All products come with a 2 year guarantee, some with longer than that. We intend to look after you.

How much does a locksmith in Solihull cost?
CraftLock Ltd's basic locksmith services start at £70 with no VAT chargeable and no call-out chargeable - prices offered are all-in with no hidden extras (remember to ask when comparing quotes if there is an additional call-out charge or VAT to be added). A written quote will be provided to you before beginning any work. Average jobs including parts are around £120, up to around £250 for some of the most complex uPVC door repairs. Rogue locksmiths will offer very cheap prices online and over the telephone but you may end up paying ten times as much, see the guidance from the MLA: https://www.locksmiths.co.uk/faq/red-flags-hiring-a-locksmith/

How much do anti-snap locks cost?
Sold-Secure Diamond Standard anti-snap locks cost £59 each from CraftLock Ltd (about the same or less than trade discount stores, which order to store from central warehouses) plus the cost of visiting you and fitting them which may be between £70 and £140 depending on the size of your house. The labour charge is a single charge to visit and carry out work at your house, not an extra charge on top of every lock. Anti-snap locks are also sometimes known as 'snap-proof' or 'snap-safe' locks. Please remember that if your door also needs some kind of repair in order to work properly this must be explained by you beforehand. Changing a lock may not fix the problem that you have and you may need an additional service.

How do I look after my locks?
To maintain most locks CraftLock Ltd locksmith in Solihull and Birmingham recommends that you use WD40 Specialist Silicone Spray oil. For maintaining some high security anti-snap locks Birmingham residents should use microfine graphite powder. Not sure what to do? Just ask and we can have a chat about what you need help with and whatever you have in mind for improving security. See our dedicated page for maximum detail on lock maintenance: Lock Maintenance Page