Door opening without damage

The aim: access without damage to the door leaf, frame and door plate – wherever this is technically possible. The method depends on latch or bolt, the cylinder and the security door plate.

1) Slammed shut: work on the latch through the gap between door and frame. 2) Locked: work on the cylinder without damage (lock picking, an electric pick gun or similar). Anti-pick pins (mushroom, spool or serrated pins) make it harder to set the pins at the shear line – we still try without damage first.

Only if necessary and only with your consent. Afterwards a new cylinder is almost always needed (material is never silently included in the opening price). A new fixed price is given before we carry on.

The door, frame, paint and door plate stay intact. If the door has slammed shut, the cylinder is not touched either. If the door is locked, the cylinder can still be used afterwards in most cases. So you save on material and there is no damage to the door.

Specially protected cylinders are built so that they are hard to move without a key. A security door plate with a cylinder cover, locked multi-point locking or an already damaged cylinder also make the work more involved. Then it takes longer, but we still try without damage first.

If it can’t be done without damage, we explain why. Then we tell you the new fixed amount. We only drill once you agree. Afterwards a new cylinder is almost always needed, which is added as material.

Drilling is often quicker than a careful opening, and afterwards they can sell you a new cylinder. So always ask before anyone drills. A trustworthy locksmith first tries the gentle opening.

We tell you the price on the phone beforehand. On site we briefly explain how we will go about it. At the end you get an invoice listing every item.

Don’t try to force the door open or work on the cylinder with tools. That often causes exactly the damage we want to avoid. Better to call us straight away, even if it is just a question.

For a door that has slammed shut, we use thin, flexible tools that let us push the latch back through the gap. The seal and the paintwork are protected while we do this. With a locked door, we work on the cylinder. There, fine tools bring the pins into the position that the key would normally put them in. Both take practice and steady hands, but no force. Anyone who needs force is usually doing something wrong.

The material of the door plays a part in the work. uPVC and aluminium doors often have rubber seals running all the way round and a narrow gap. Here we take particular care not to damage the seal. On wooden doors the paintwork is delicate, especially on old doors with several layers. Metal doors, for example on basements or side entrances, often sit very tightly in the frame. There are suitable tools for each type.

If the door has a glass panel, some people think about smashing the pane and opening the door from the inside. That is almost always the most expensive solution. Safety glass or double glazing costs a lot and often has to be made to measure. Until then, your home is only temporarily secured. There is also a risk of injury from broken glass. A door opening by us is generally cheaper and leaves no damage.

A cylinder that someone has already worked on with wire or a screwdriver is often damaged inside. A cylinder after an attempted break-in or with a broken-off key also behaves differently. In those cases, the gentle method does not always work. Tell us honestly what was tried beforehand, even if it feels awkward. That way we can better judge how to proceed and whether we should bring a replacement.

We often hear this worry after a door opening. The answer: it takes tools, knowledge and a lot of practice. A high-quality cylinder withstands attempts without a key much longer than a simple one. A cylinder with drill protection and pull protection and a good door plate make it even harder for anyone without permission. If you would like to upgrade afterwards, we are happy to advise you on site and tell you the price beforehand.

Before we start, we check that you are entitled to enter. Then we take a quick look at the door, the cylinder and the door plate and tell you which method we will use. While we work, you can watch and ask questions. After the opening, we test with you that the lock and the cylinder work normally, from the inside and from the outside. Then you receive the invoice listing every item and, if you like, tips on security.