In most cases wooden doors come fitted with a mortice lock. Mortice locks are available in lots of different brads and sizes so the one you have fitted to your wooden door will depend entirely on manufacturers preference. Unfortunately, locks that come fitted with wooden doors aren’t always the most secure and often don’t meet British Standard BS3621. To find out if your current locks meet BS3621 then you need to look for the kite mark that should be displayed on the faceplate of the lock. If there is no kite mark displaying BS3621 then it would be advised that you call out your local locksmith to come and upgrade your locks not only to ensure that your locks are as secure as they can be but it will also help you get insurance cover and possible even lower your premiums. You may also find that some insurers won’t offer you cover unless your locks meet or exceed BS3621.

Why Change A Mortice Lock?
There are a few reasons why you might want to change your mortice lock, some are listed below:

• Locks don’t meet BS3621.
• Faulty lock due to wear and tear or tampering. Faulty locks may not always need changing as they can sometimes be repaired but your local locksmith will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
• You have just moved home and want the locks changing to ensure only you and those you trust have a copy of the key.

Rim Cylinders
Rim cylinders are more commonly known as Yale locks. This type of lock is often used along side a mortice lock. Rim cylinder locks will automatically lock when you close the door behind you, this works well for security but not so much when you have left without your keys! Fortunately, any good locksmith will be able to help you gain entry into your property quickly and without causing any damage.

If your wooden door has a Yale lock on its own, then it is highly recommended that you have a mortice lock installed to use alongside it to help improve the overall security of your door.
Similarly, to the mortice lock you would want to have the Yale lock changed if you have move home, its damaged or doesn’t meet BS3621.

Extra Security
There are a few more ways that you can improve the overall security of your wooden door:

• If you don’t already have one, install a rim cylinder lock
• Have a BS3621 deadlock installed at the bottom of your door
• Have, chains or bolts installed, these can only be used when you are inside the property, but they offer that extra bit of protection at night.

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If your having problems with the locks on your wooden door, or would like to have the locks Upgrades then contact Lime Locks Wirral today - 0151 353 9607

Every now and then its worth sitting down and considering the home security measures you have in place. Like anything over time locks wear and they may not be working to their full potential or they may fail which can leave your property vulnerable to a break in. Your external doors are your first line of defence against potential burglars, so it is important that you ensure that both the door and the locks are in good working order. Below our team at Lime Locks Wirral have put together a helpful guide to help you spot the signs that your external door locks are ready to be changed in order to keep your property as secure as it can be.

Why Should You Replace A Door Lock?
Wear and Tear – It would be nice if everything lasted forever, but unfortunately like most things’ door locks have a life span and over time, due the frequent use of the locks they can start to wear and eventually fail and leave your home vulnerable. Try and look out for obvious signs of wear on your locks such as rust. If you have rust on your lock, then it is definitely time for an upgrade. 

Lost/Stolen Keys – By far, this is one of the most common reasons for people requiring the services of their local locksmith. Losing your keys or fearing they have been stolen is incredibly stressful, mainly because it poses two problems, first, you are locked out of your property and second you cant be sure who may have found or even stolen your keys so you cant be sure that once your back inside your property it is as secure as it once was. Most good locksmiths will recommend having the locks changed if you feel there is no chance of finding your keys. This is to ensure that your home stays secure and a potential burglar isn’t going to have easy access to your property and belongings by letting themselves in through your front door. When a locksmith has gained entry to your property and changed the locks you will be provided with a new set of keys so you can be sure you know exactly who has a key to your property.

Moving Home – When you move into a new property getting the locks changed should be high up on your to do list. Unfortunately, most people often overlook this or forget as there dealing with a lot of other stuff during the move. However, it is highly recommended, not just by locksmiths but by the police and insurance companies as well. This is because unless you have built the property yourself and are the first people to occupy it you can’t be sure of how many keys are still in circulation. The same applies if someone moves out of your property, a lodger or tenant for example.

Burglary – If you have been victim to a break in then after the crime has been reported and the police have been to collect evidence one of the first things you should do is get the locks changed. This is incredibly important as any damaged or broken locks will leave your home vulnerable to another break in! It is also possible that the burglars found a spare set of keys to your home during the break in so even if your locks weren’t damaged it is a good idea to have them changed. Also upgrading your locks at the same time will help deter potential burglars from future break ins.

If your having problems with any of your locks, or if they need upgrading to more secure locks then contact Lime Locks Wirral today – 0151 353 9607
 
 
 
 

A break-in is something that no one wants to experience, unfortunately it is something that happens regular and is on the rise in the Wirral area. During this stressful and emotional time, it is easy to lose focus. This is why our team at Lime Locks Wirral have put together this blog post to help you understand exactly what to do in the event of a burglary so you can get your home back in order as soon as possible.

Ring The Police – when you discover you have had a break in the first thing you should do is call the police so the crime is on record. The police will also issue you with a crime reference number which you should keep handy as you will need this when it comes to making an insurance claim. If, when you discover the break in you are outside of your property it is important that you stay outside until the police arrive as you could destroy crucial evidence.

Don’t Touch Or Move Anything – When you are waiting for the police to arrive don’t touch or move anything in or around your property as it could be evidence. If any evidence has been left behind it can play a crucial role in helping the police find and prosecute the culprit which could even result in the recovery of your stolen items. So, no matter what wait for the police before you start, tidying and taking inventory.

Make A List – When the police have finished gathering evidence then you can start putting together a list of any stolen or damaged goods to provide to your insurance company. It is important to try and be as detailed as possible, list any distinctive marks, serial numbers and a rough estimate of the items value.

Call Your Bank – This step is particularly important if you had credit or debit cards in the house at the time of the burglary. Even if your cards haven’t been stolen you should ask the bank to cancel them and verify the last few transactions. This is because the thieves could have taken not of the card details and left them behind allowing them to make online purchases without you being none the wiser.
Contact Insurance – Make sure you make a call to your insurance provider within the first 24 ours of the break in so that your claim can begin to be processed. You will need to provide them with the crime reference number the police provided you with and a list of stolen or damaged items so make sure you have these handy before the call.

Secure Your Property -After the police have done what they need to and give you the all clear you can finally get down to straightening up and getting things back to normal. While you are clearing up the mess you should also consider making your property secure once again. You should call out a local locksmith to come and board up any broken windows and repair, replace or upgrade your locks to ensure that your home is once again secure.

It would be worth considering upgrading your home security measures to help prevent any future break ins. This is something you can discuss with your local locksmith who will be able to advise you on the best security measures for your property and your budget.

If you have fallen victim to a break in or would like to improve your home security to prevent a break in then contact Lime Locks Wirral today - 0151 353 9607

Everyone will experience being locked out of their property at some point in their lives. It is a very stressful experience for most, not just because their keys are lost but also the uncertainty of who may have found them! Luckily, help is only a phone call away. Any good locksmith will be able to help you gain entry to your property without causing any damage and also change the locks if necessary.

Below our team at Lime Locks Wirral have put together a handy guide on what you should do if you ever fine yourself locked out of your home or business.

Other Entry Points – Take a good look around your property and check for any other possible entry points such as a back door or open window if it is safe to do so. If you manage to get into your property, then that’s one problem solved and all you have to do is retrace your steps to try and locate your keys. If you can’t gain entry to your property or can’t find your keys then it is worth calling out a local locksmith who will be able to gain entry and change locks if necessary.

Spare Keys – Have a think back and try and remember if you have ever given out a spare set of keys to a friend or relative while you have been away. If this is the case then you can give them a call to let you in your property then you can relax a bit and start to retrace your steps, again if you cant find your keys then call a locksmith and they will be able to come and change the locks for your own piece of mind that no one else can easily gain entry to your property.

Carry ID – Most people will always have some form of ID on them at all times but if your one of the few that doesn’t then it might be a good idea to start. If you ever find yourself locked out of your property any trustworthy locksmith will ask to see some form of ID to prove that the property, they are letting you in is yours. If locksmiths never did this then would be burglars would just call a locksmith break into your home for them!

Find A Reliable Locksmith – Unfortunately there are a lot of national locksmith companies out there that are renound for overcharging and poor workmanship. So, when you need to call a locksmith do a bit of research, ask friends and family for a recommendation or go on google and read reviews to be sure that you are getting a reliable local locksmith.

If you ever find yourself locked out of your property or just requiring the services of a locksmith then contact Lime Locks Wirral today – 0151 353 9607 or 07588 999 247
 
 

To help all our customers with solid wooden doors Wirral locksmiths have added to our home page all the current and relevant details about the latest BS night latch that can be fitted in a host of finishes and is maximum security for your wooden door. Don't fit a sub standard night latch get a BS night latch that feels solid and is well up to the task of keeping your home secure. Contact Wirral locksmiths today to discuss.  Here is the link to our home page - /

Wirral locksmiths have fitted many Yale Keyfree systems recently and are available for fitting and advice. Please see our update on the bottom of the home page /

Wirral locksmiths are proud to present our first online Blog. We have chosen to do this for a number of reasons:

1.  To keep all our customers in Wirral up to date with security news
2.  To engage with our customers on a more frequent basis
3.  To allow you the customer to give feedback and or questions that you may have

​Wirral locksmiths look forward to the next few posts and also hearing from our customers...