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An In-Depth Look At Locksmiths And Their Services




Locksmiths had already been around for centuries, and their basic job description has not changed all that much. They are a specialized group of skilled smiths who manipulate and shape metals specifically to make locks and keys. In recent years, the description has widened to include the creation not only of metal lock-and-key systems but also of electronic security and safety systems, and the art of defeating locks. The diversity of ways that a locksmith can practice his craft has led to specializations within the field, as more and more locksmiths find that the variety of locks, keys and security systems in the world is an ever-growing field of knowledge and practical skills. Below are the most common types of locksmith specializations for buildings and how they can be of help to clients.

 

Residential Locksmiths

residential-locksmith-3As the name implies, residential locksmiths specialize in the various locks, keys and security systems in houses, apartments and condominium units. The most common services that they provide their clients is the installation of home-based security systems, locks, small vaults and safes. They can also be called upon to maintain and change locks for doors, gates, windows, and garage openings. They also make copies of household keys at the request of clients. Sometimes, residential locksmiths also provide consultation services for clients regarding the best types of security systems that will meet the homeowner’s needs. This might involve coordination with alarm and closed circuit television companies. This type of specialization calls for both low- and high-level security systems, depending on the specifications of the home and the homeowner.

 

Commercial Locksmiths

commercial-locksmith-8These skilled locksmiths provide consultation services regarding security options of various business establishments, schools, offices, and banks, again in consonance with alarms and CCTV companies. Commercial locksmiths also order, install, and maintain locks, keys, push bar door, and other such security mechanisms to keep the businesses, employees and customers who use the building safe from outside harm. They may introduce various kinds of security systems, such as biometrics-based mechanisms, that help control access to people into restricted areas or logistics within the building during after-office hours. They can be called upon to create several levels of security systems, then duplicate the keys to this system for distribution to key personnel. Aside from this, they can also assist in defeating locks in extreme cases in which all the personnel entrusted with the keys fail to do their job for one reason or another. Commercial locksmiths are usually involved in completing mid- to high-level security systems.

 

Industrial Locksmiths

These specializing locksmiths are typically employed by industrial-scale factories, manufacturing plants and distributors. They have to create highly-efficient high-level security systems for various needs. They provide remotely controlled, centrally operated, specialized (mostly customized) security systems that are installed in warehouses, vaults, offices, external gates, filing cabinets, laboratories, and company vehicles, among others. They provide encrypted, multi-level forms of security system that usually needs a team of security officers to manipulate. They provide detailed plans and technical design for easy reference between key officers in the company.

 

Automotive Locksmith

They are well recognized to provide emergency locksmith services. The emergency services provided by them include lock repairing in a vehicle, breaking a key off in an ignition or resolution of lost keys. The locksmith normally uses the car locksmith tools to handle the situation. Key making and key replacing are also amongst the other services provided by the locksmiths for the vehicle ignition and vehicle doors

 

Any educated and skilled locksmith can survey and settle all crisis scenarios in a matter of moments. If you contracted an unskilled locksmith, he could harm the lock, and you might come around to having an aggregate mess in your hands. Also, locksmiths are good to go 24 hours a day 365 days a year for the purpose that they could probably give their services even at off times. If you are bolted out of your home or auto amidst the night or if your home is subject to a soften up locksmiths are primed to give you the utility in the blink of an eye that too at competitive rates. So it is truly vital that you have several a locksmith recovered on your telephone resulting from the fact that you never know when you will require their utilities.


Top 5 Reasons You Need a Locksmith




Whenever it comes to an issue related to the servicing of a lock, key or an alarm in your car, home or office, it is always advisable to seek proper help from professionals. There are a number of reasons why you should always rely on a professional locksmith for all your lock related problems. The following are the primary reasons, but for more info, check out atllocksmithpros.com:

1. 24/7 Availability:

24-hourOne of the top reasons of hiring a professional locksmith is that he is capable of unlocking any door in order to get you inside, without actually making the entire process appear suspicious to people who are unaware of the fact that you are the owner. In several occasions, you may be unfortunate enough to find that you are locked out. Whether you left your keys in the house or locked them inside the car, locking oneself out is a very common incidence. There is actually no limit to how cautious a person can be in order to avoid such a situation. Apart from this, it is very important to solve them in a timely manner. Almost every professional locksmith has a 24 hour service and is available even on the holidays. Thus, irrespective of the day or time, a professional locksmith will assist you, even during the most terrible situations.

2. Better Cost Control:

Many people feel that it would be expensive to hire a professional locksmith for their lock-related issues but they often fail to look at the entire picture. In return of paying a small one-time amount, you are actually improving your security as well as reducing the chances of burglary. By installing a proper security system, you may even be able to decrease the monthly insurance payment in case you are able to successfully convince the provider that there is considerable risk. Always keep in mind that the insurance fee that you pay is also dependent upon the statistics of one’s neighborhood like average income, criminal rates, etc. The insurance company that you take services from will visit you and evaluate the safety of your house by checking how easy it would be for trespassers and robbers to break into the property. Safety depends on the evaluation of all possible risks and taking decisions accordingly. While the installation of a new security system at home may appear to be expensive, the reduced insurance premium which you have to pay each month will surely make it worthwhile for one’s budget.

3. Greater Security:

home-securityIt won’t be a very unusual situation if a burglar breaks into your house and you have to buy new locks. If such a case occurs, then it is best to hire a professional locksmith in order to increase the security of the property and acquiring some peace of mind. One can select from a wide range of solutions such as extra decorative locks, high-security locks and also surveillance cameras. In any case, if you feel that someone had made an attempt to break in, then definitely report the incident to the local police station. By all means, please do not take the task of establishing security locks in your own hands as it may lead to mistakes. In addition to this, it is always better to carry duplicate keys made by locksmiths whom you have known for some time and can trust.

4. Warranty and Reputation:

A professional locksmith will always provide greater security and warranty although there may be several skilled individuals out there. Apart from the functionality of the lock system, the question of who should be considered responsible if someone breaks in may arise. In certain unfortunate cases, even if a product has insurance, it may not be able to cover the loss due to interference with the security system. Always keep in mind that the law of selection is also applicable among businesses and only the best stays in the market.

5. Peace of Mind:

One’s inner thoughts can turn out to be his biggest enemy. It is completely normal to worry about one’s home and car while being away on a vacation. While you are away for several weeks, many unfortunate scenarios may pop up in your mind, leaving you quite stressed. You should always rely on a professional locksmith as he knows exactly what requires to be done to improve your security.


Why it is a Good Idea to Have Your Locks Rekeyed




A surprising number of homeowners don’t know when or why they need to have their home or business locks rekeyed.In some states, if you have a rental home you are legally required to rekey the lock before new tenants can live in the apartment or rental home.

So what is rekeying a lock? It involves changing the tumblers of a lock’s cylinder so that the old key won’t work on the door. Some people try to do this themselves when they should use a local locksmith. Not only are they likely to break the lock but they can face the challenge of pieces flying everywhere.

When do you need to consider whether to rekey a lock? There are some situations where it is crucial to ensure your locks are rekeyed. If you have just moved into a home, you’ll feel in a more secure situation with a rekeyed door. You may not know how many of the old keys are out there so rekeying is the safest and most secure option after buying a new home. Even if the home were built by a construction company, there could be special keys which the building crew used and which will still open the residential door. Why take a chance?
But be sure you go with a professional locksmith. There are a number of reasons to consider when rekeying a lock. If you have ever had any keys made for you especially for your house but you can’t account for the, rekeying them could be a wise move, especially when you compare buying a new lock.
These professionals can help you out of numerous jams and can, in general, make your life a little easier as you navigate down your path. A good lock industry professional can do more than get you into your car or home if you are locked out. A good lock industry professional can also help you simplify your world by making sure that all your locks are working properly and that you have only the keys you need to open the locks in your life and on your property.

lock repairRekeying locks are one of the most common jobs that a lock industry profession provides to people on a regular basis. Rekeying locks become necessary when you are moving to a new place if someone moves out of your current place and if you lose your keys. Rekeying a deadlock is about the same as changing a deadlock.

There are different types of locks that a lock industry professional may recommend to you depending on your budget and the situation you’re in when it comes time to rekey your locks. Lock prices can run the gamut from very inexpensive to very expensive. Your locksmith can greatly help you choose the best lock for your needs, and they may have some strong recommendations. Often the more expensive locks are recommended by lock industry professionals if you are in a situation where you have to change locks more often.

corbinThe more expensive locks have a removable core. This means that rather than remove the exclusive lock when you need to change locks or if you need to rekey the lock, the lock industry professional that you have hired can just change out the heart of the locking mechanism and even replace it with a new one. This means they don’t have to remove the whole piece including the handle and replace it with an entirely new fixture. This option is more expensive up front but is helpful down the road both regarding convenience and cost when it comes time to change the locks again.
When you lock industry professional comes to change your locks or rekey your locks, it is a good time to make sure that all your locks are working together with one key. The accountability of this is often not understood until you’ve had it done. Many people carry more keys than they need to, so if you are already working with someone to change your locks you should ask them to go to the next step and make sure that one key can operate all your necessary locks.

Working with a trusted and respected lock industry professional will allow you to ask some questions and get some great answers that will help make your life just a little more convenient.


TYPES OF KWIKSET LOCKS




kwikset logoKwikset is a manufacturer of all types of lock and hardware products. It is headquartered in Lake Forest, California, United Sates of America with branches in Victoria, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand respectively. It is a brand leader in the manufacture of locks. Re-keying their locks is also a breeze due to the great product.

We had some help getting all this data from the professionals over at Columbus Locksmith Pros in Columbus Ohio.  These guys really know their stuff.

The following are the Types of Kwikset Locks: Light Commercial, Electronic, Door Knobs, Door Levers, Dead bolts and Handle-sets respectively.

commercial door lock kwiksetLight Commercial door locks are those that are designed for use both in heavy duty residential buildings as well as for light commercial applications such stores, warehouses, pantries and cargo terminals. They come in various finishes such as Life-time Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Satin Nickel, Antique Nickel,Polished Brass,Polished Chrome, Satin Chrome and Venetian Bronze. They are certified by the American National Standards Institute and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association besides satisfying UL’s fire- rating standards and ADA safety standards. They are sold under three brand names, i.e. Carson, Kingston and Metal Interconnect respectively.

Electronic locks kwiksetElectronic locks are those operated by touch screens or electronic keypads and also have a back-up key ways. They are activated and opened by entering personalized access codes and are locked by the touch of a button. They are available in five finishes, i.e. Lifetime Polished Brass, Satin Nickel, Fob,Satin-Chrome, Venetian-Bronze and Polished Chrome. They are sold under eleven brand names namely: Powerbolt; 909 SmartCode Deadbolt; 910 Contemporary SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect; 910 SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect; 911 SmartCode Lever; 912 SmartCode Lever with Home Connect; 913 SmartCode Deadbolt; 914 SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect; SmartCode 916 Touch screen Electronic Deadbolt; 909 Contemporary SmartCode Deadbolt and Kevo Bluetooth Electronic Lock.

door knob kwiksetDoor Knobs are specifically designed for use in ordinary private residential houses with specific designs aimed at enhancing the home’s interior decors. They are available in eleven finishes namely: Life-time Polished Brass, Antique-Brass, Polished Brass, Antique Nickel, Satin Nickel, Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Rustic Bronze, Venetian Bronze, Rustic Pewter and Iron Black. They are sold under nineteen brand names namely: Combo Pack; Tylo-Combo Pack; Tylo; Tylo Knobs; Polo Combo Pack; Polo; Mobile Home Knob; Cove Combo Pack; Cove; Phoenix; Laurel; Juno Combo Pack; Juno; Hancock; Copa Combo Pack; Copa; Circa; Cameron Combo Pack; Cameron and Abbey.

door lever kwiksetDoor Levers are shaped in the form of levers and just like the Door Knobs, are suited for private residential homes and are specifically designed to complement and enhance the interior decor of a home. They are also available in eleven finishes namely: Life-time Polished-Brass, Antique-Brass, Polished Brass, Antique Nickel, Satin Nickel, Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Rustic Bronze, Venetian Bronze, Rustic Pewter and Iron Black. They are available for sale under twenty-one brand names namely: Dorian Combo Pack; Doran; Delta Combo Pack; Delta; Balboa; Milan; Halifax; Vedani; Tustin Combo Pack; Tustin; 911 SmartCode Lever; Pembroke; Lido Combo Pack; 912 SmartCode Lever with Home Connect; Lido; Katara; Avalon; Commonwealth; Austin; Ashfield and Brooklane.

kwikset deadbolt lockDead Bolts are designed to protect homes from break-ins, thefts, burglary, arbitrary trespasses and unauthorized entries. They come in a plethora of styles and security grades. They are available in twelve finishes namely: Life-time Polished-Brass, Antique-Brass, Polished Brass, Antique Nickel, Satin Nickel, Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Rustic Bronze, Venetian-Bronze, Rustic-Pewter; Iron Black and Fob. They are sold in thirty-two brand names, which are: Tylo Combo Pack; Powerbolt; Polo Mobile Home Lock;Combo Pack; Dorian Combo Pack; Delta Combo Pack; Cove Combo Pack; 663/667 Single-sided Deadbolt; 660/665 Deadbolt; 660 Deadbolt Combo Pack; 909 SmartCode Deadbolt; Milan; 910 Contemporary SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect; Halifax; Tustin Combo Pack; 910 SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect; Lido Combo Pack; Key Control Deadbolt; Juno Combo Pack; 913 SmartCode Deadbolt; Gatelatch; 914 SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect; Copa Combo Pack; Austin; Cameron Combo Pack; SmartCode 916 Touchscreen Electronic Deadbolt; 980/985 Deadbolt; 993/994 Square Deadbolt; 993/994 Round Deadbolt; 780/785 Deadbolt; 909 Contemporary SmartCode Deadbolt and Kevo Bluetooth Electronic Lock.

handle set kwiksetHandle-sets are those that are designed for use in the front door entries since they have both secure deadbolts and stylish handles. They are available in eleven finishes namely: Life-time Polished-Brass, Antique-Brass, Polished Brass, Antique Nickel, Satin Nickel, Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Rustic Bronze, Venetian Bronze, Rustic-Pewter and Iron Black. They are sold under thirteen brand names which are: Dakota, Belleview, Wellington, Tavaris, Shelburne, Montara, Hawthorne, Avalon, Austin, Chelsea, Ashfield, Arlington and Amherst.

All the products come along with warranties that are aimed at retaining customers with a view of long-term loyalty building.

Kwikset is a great company and we also offer Re-Key services for almost all of their products as well.


What Is Rekeying? Is It Expensive?




lock-rekeying-If you move into a new house, or rent a new commercial space or an apartment, change cleaning companies, or fire an employee, you may find yourself thinking about changing your locks. Even if you get back the keys from previous occupants, owners, contractors or employees, they do have had the opportunity to duplicate all your keys. So you don’t have a way to know how many duplicate keys have been made, or who all have them. In almost any situation where you feel lock needs to be replaced, a local locksmith can easily rekey your locks at a fraction of cost and time it would take to choose new locks and replace them. There’s no need to replace the entire lock for protecting your cash, files and property. We had a little help from the Arvada Locksmith Pros in the editing of this article as well.

lock and key doing rekeyUnless your existing locks are flimsy or have been irreparably damaged, both rekeying or replacing locks offer the same degree of security. Rekeyng offers many advantages. First, there no need to install new hardware as it uses the existing one, so the process is cheap. Secondly, rekeying is much faster than installing new locks. A trained locksmith can easily rekey the locks of entire house or building within few hours. What’s more, many businesses and homeowners end up buying locksets that aren’t simply made for their type/style of doors. In such cases, both your jamb and door will need to be retrofitted in order for new lock system to be properly fitted. And if you have to purchase a lock that matches other hardware in color, finish and style, it can be very difficult to find an ideal match. Where match is necessary, some homeowners find themselves buying the complete set of hardware which increases the cost manifold.

What Is The ReKeying Process?

In rekeying process, the locksmith changes the tumblers of the lock cylinder with new tumblers of varying sizes. Once you rekey lock, you can throw away old key as it will no longer be ale to open the lock. The lock will require new key that perfectly coincides with the new lock tumblers. Local locksmiths can easily rekey locks at significantly lower cost than full replacement of locking mechanism. If the lock has ANSI (Grade-1 designation) then there’s no need to replace the entire lock.

rekey processIn addition to rekeying locks to ensure safety, some homeowners also rekey their locks for convenience. An easy way to reduce weight of many keys and confusion is to have all your exterior or interior locks rekeyed to use just one key. A locksmith can easily rekey unlimited number of locks in your house to work seamlessly with the same key. For rental property owners, such as condominium associations and apartment buildings, it’s often necessary to have one master key to open multiple locks. These locks will also have one key that will only open the tenant’s locks. Locksmiths can easily perform master rekeying to almost any configuration to meter the requirements of businesses, property owners and home owners.

The decision to replace or rekey your locks may come down to the expense. In fact, in some states you’re required to rekey your old locks between tenants if you an owner a rental property.




What Does It Mean To Re-key A Lock?




Key in LockChances are that you may have heard people talk about changing all the locks in a building many times. In most cases they may not have been aware of the option of re-keying the locks or may have been under the impression that re-keying will not fully protect them from those who may still be able to gain access using the old keys.

Actually re-keying is enough and one does not need to incur the much higher expense of changing the entire hardware and installing new locks. It is an unnecessary expense when re-keying is possible.

Resource: www.chandlerlocksmithpros.net

So what exactly is re-keying? What does it mean to re-key a lock?

Simply put this is the process of altering or making adjustments to a lock so that it stops using the old key and starts using a new designated key. It is a very simple procedure that will take an experienced locksmith only a few minutes to complete but it is as good as changing the lock because old keys will no longer work.

 

rekeyThe way it is done is that the interior chamber of a lock usually has a series of upper and lower pins. All the key does is to push this pins into alignment and the door opens. Now what the locksmith does when re-keying is to replace the lower pins in the chamber so that the ridges fit into the new key when it is inserted into the key hole. Thus only the new key will open and the old key will now be useless.

This process also means that countless number of locks can be adjusted (re-keyed) in exactly the same way so that they all use the same key. In this case one master key will open all the locks.

Re-keying is the best option and beats changing locks because the former costs only a fraction of what it would take to remove and replace entire locks.

Another Great Article On Rekeying:How To Rekey A Door Lock




Why Re-key Your Home?




A lot of people do not realize how important it is to re-key your new home. Also, re-keying your house from time to time is also a great idea for security reasons. You can easily re-key your entire home with the help of a locksmith like the Denver Locksmith Pros who helped us with the info for this article. If you are not convinced that re-keying your home is that important, then below are a few reasons why you should do it:

hand-putting-key-in-lock-blk-white

Security
Miniature House With Lock and ChainAsk any locksmith after a burglary, and he/she will tell you that you will be surprised how many homes are being burglarized with no signs of forced entry. In cases like these, it highly possible that the burglar used old keys that still work on your old locks and doors. Re-keying your home so that old keys would not work on your locks and doors is one of the primary reasons why you should hire a locksmith to re-keys the locks for you.

Insurance Requirements
insurance-papers filesAside from giving your new house a fresh set of keys, nowadays, most insurance companies already requiring that if you have a new house then you must re-key the locks before you can avail full insurance coverage on your property and the contents within it.

Convenience
It is possible to re-key multiple locks and doors to a single key and by doing so it will be more convenient for you and avoid confusing situations. Having a single key is also advantageous for property owners, such as corporate organizations, joint property owners and rental property owners, to better manage and secure their properties. With one master key, you should be open multiple lock and doors within the same property. With the help of a locksmith, you can also customize to which doors and locks will a master key opens.

Re-keying is crucial for new renters or property owners as it will offer many advantages such as increasing security, insurance requirements and convenience. If you are a new renter or bought a new property, then it is best that you consult the services of a local locksmith.