Guides
Locksmith Guides for Hastings Homes and Businesses
What the work costs, how to tell a repair from a replacement, what an insurance-approved lock means and what to do after a burglary. Written for Hastings; call when you would rather talk it through.
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14 guides, in the order most people need them
How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in Hastings
What a locksmith costs in Hastings in 2026, priced by the job rather than the hour, plus the call-out, cancellation, parking and VAT charges added on top.
How to Choose a Trustworthy Locksmith and Avoid the Common S
Nobody licenses locksmiths in the UK, so the checks are yours to make. Five to run before you call, how the common scams work, and what to do at the door.
How to Replace a Door Lock
Replace a door lock in under an hour. How to identify what is fitted, the five measurements to take before you buy, how to fit and test it, and when to stop.
Lock Repair or Replacement
A door lock is several parts, so the real question is which one failed. Match the symptom to the component, see what changes on its own, and decide from there.
Types of Door Locks in the UK
The four lock families found on UK doors, what each looks like, which doors they belong on, and how to read the spec on a lock's name and faceplate.
BS 3621, TS 007 and What an Insurance Approved Lock Really M
No body approves locks for insurance. Here is what BS 3621 and TS 007 actually certify, which applies to your door, and how to check what is fitted.
Anti-Snap Locks, Lock Snapping and How to Check Your Own Doo
Anti-snap is a marketing phrase, not a certification. Here is what lock snapping targets, the two marks that mean something, and a 30 second check on your door.
How to Change the Lock on a uPVC Door
Three different jobs get called changing a uPVC lock. Here is which one you are doing, how to measure the cylinder before you buy, and when to stop.
Why Your uPVC Door Will Not Lock, and How to Tell Which Faul
A uPVC door that shuts but will not lock is usually one of three faults. Run the open door test, check the keeps before the hinges, and never force the handle.
Why a uPVC Door Will Not Open, and What to Do From Each Side
Two questions decide what to do: are you inside or outside, and is the door locked or just stuck? Here is what each answer means, and what not to try.
What Is Inside a uPVC Door Lock Mechanism, and What Goes Wro
A multipoint mechanism is matched on four measurements and a locking point count. Here are the parts, the four types, what fails first, and how to size one.
Key Snapped in the Lock
Leave the broken piece where it is, keep the other half and stop using the lock. Why DIY removal backfires, what a locksmith does, and how to prevent it.
Why Your Key Will Not Turn, and What to Do Before You Force
Three different faults get called a stuck key. Here is how to tell them apart, why a uPVC key will not turn until the handle is up, and what never to force.
What to Do After a Burglary
Been burgled? Here is the order to follow: what the police need you to leave alone, when you can repair the door, and what your insurer will ask you for.