Websites for locksmiths.

We give you an arrival window and a price on the phone before dispatching, including the after-hours rate. Be wary of anyone who quotes a suspiciously low call-out and then adds charges at the door — that is the oldest trick in this trade. Have identification ready, because we will ask for proof you belong there.

Rarely. Most residential locks can be picked or bypassed without damage, and non-destructive entry is always what we attempt first. High-security cylinders and some automotive locks occasionally have to be drilled, in which case we tell you the cost of the replacement cylinder before touching it, not after.

Rekey, in most cases. If the hardware is decent and the doors are sound, we simply repin the existing cylinders to a new key, which costs far less than new locks and takes a fraction of the time. Replace when the hardware is worn out, when you want a higher security grade, or when you want everything on one key.

Partly. Most forced entries defeat the door frame, not the lock, so the highest-value upgrades are a graded deadbolt with a full one-inch throw, a reinforced strike plate, and three-inch screws that reach the stud behind the jamb. Good hardware in a weak frame is a strong lock on a piece of cardboard.

Usually yes. For doors we can pick or disassemble the lock and originate a key from the cylinder. For vehicles it depends on the year and system, since most modern keys have to be programmed to the car as well as cut, and some require the dealer. Tell us the year, make and model on the phone and we will tell you honestly which it is.

Ask for a business name and address, get the price up front, expect a marked vehicle and identification, and expect to be asked for your own. Locksmithing is not a licensed trade in every province, which is exactly why those checks matter — anyone unwilling to answer them should not be opening your door.