Vancouver, BC · Residential locksmith
Lock installation and replacement in Vancouver.
What the work involves
Know what you are looking at.
Replacement is a fit problem before it is a product choice. Four measurements decide what will physically work: door thickness, the bore diameter through the face, the backset from the door edge to the centre of that bore, and the latch or bolt depth in the edge. Hardware that does not match those either will not fit or will fit badly, leaving a bolt that does not throw fully into its strike.
- Door thickness, bore, backset and edge preparation
- Whether the existing holes can be reused or need adapting
- Whether new hardware must match existing finishes or keying
- Whether the frame and strike need work at the same time
- What the entry is built from, given Vancouver’s mix of newer and older stock
- Seasonal movement and exposure on a Vancouver exterior door
When to call
Signals worth acting on.
- The existing hardware is worn or incompatible
- A move or renovation changes security needs
- You want a consistent hardware setup
What the visit can include
- Door and bore compatibility check
- Appropriate lock and hardware options
- Verification that the door operates correctly
In Vancouver
What is different here.
The housing mix runs from West End and downtown strata towers to character houses on the east side that commonly carry a basement suite and sometimes a laneway house - three separate entries on one lot. That range is why fit is checked before hardware is chosen for a Vancouver property - a set that suits a newer townhouse door often will not suit an older detached entry a few kilometres away.
Wet winters and long shoulder seasons move wooden doors on older character houses, and an entry that only latches when you lift the door is usually an alignment problem rather than a lock problem. Seasonal movement is worth accounting for at fitting time, because a set installed during a dry spell can bind once the door takes up moisture again.
Before you call
Lock replacement questions.
The two that come up most for this service in Vancouver.
Can any lock go on any door?
No. Thickness, bore, backset and edge preparation all have to match, and residential standards vary. Hardware forced into the wrong preparation tends to bind or leave the bolt short of its strike.
Can new locks match my existing key?
Often, where the new cylinders are compatible with the existing keyway - they can be keyed to the same key. Where they are not, the alternative is rekeying the whole set so everything runs on one new key.
Request service
Tell us what
happened.
Share the Vancouver location, whether it is a home, business, or vehicle, and the hardware or access issue.