- Call: 07827 071812
- Email: info@lockguy.co.uk
There are various ways a locksmith can gain entry to a property and various ways to get the door unlocked. If you are ever in a situation where you need to gain access to a property and, for whatever reason, you do not have the key, then you will likely need to call upon the services of a locksmith. One method of entry is through the use of a drill which is a destructive technique that destroys the lock. But does a locksmith ever need to drill a lock, and more importantly, should a locksmith drill the lock? This article will answer this question and is written by Lock Guy – a professional locksmith based in Essex.
The main reason to need a locksmith to gain entry is if you find yourself locked out of your home.
A good professional locksmith will assess the situation fully to determine the best technique to deploy to gain entry. Of course they will always have drilling as an option, but this is typically a ‘last resort’ method of entry. A good locksmith will always try non-destructive techniques first to avoid the need to replace the lock. In the vast majority of cases drilling is not needed, but if, for whatever reason, it is not possible to use a non-destructive technique, the locksmith may have to resort to drilling the lock.
Due to the lack of regulation of the locksmith profession, there are rogue locksmiths operating throughout the UK. These rogue locksmiths tend to have only very limited tools and will always insist that the lock needs to be drilled and that that is the only option. This is because they want to increase your bill and they will be able to overcharge you for a replacement lock and additional labour charges. As well as the lock itself, they also may damage the mechanism, the handles or the door causing even more additional costs.
In some types of situations, a professional locksmith may opt for drilling, not only as a last resort, but may decide to prioritise it. This includes situations like:
If the property to be accessed needs to have the locks changed anyway, then this may change the method deployed by a locksmith. For example, you may be locked out because your keys have been stolen.
If this happens, then for security reasons you should get your locks changed anyway. A destructive technique like drilling may therefore be the quickest solution.
Sometimes speed is more important than causing damage and/or additional costs. For example there might be a vulnerable person inside the property that could do themselves harm or be in a dangerous position.
Or there may be a fire hazard that needs to be stopped quickly. In these emergency
situations, then drilling or another destructive method might be the best option.
If a lock has failed and it has developed a defect, it may be seized shut even if the key is available. In such a scenario, drilling may be deployed by the locksmith to get the door unlocked.
A locksmith will always try to find the most efficient method to gain entry. The method selected will depend on multiple factors, e.g. whether the door is double locked, what types of locks the property has, the standards of those locks and how important speed is.
One non-destructive method that we all see on film and TV is picking locks. However, depending on the lock, this is not necessarily a quick option. Picking a good lock requires a bit of trial and error and can take time and sometimes it is just not possible to pick a lock.
A locksmith will try to identify the weakest point of entry on the property and focus on that. This may not be the lock or the door. It could be a window, a garage or by bypassing the lock in the door altogether.
It is not advisable for a DIY or handyman to try to drill a lock in an effort to save the costs of a locksmith. Drilling a lock may sound like an easy thing to do, but you still need to know what you are doing. Importantly you need to know where to drill (and this position can change depending on the lock type and the product variant). You will also need a decent drill and some high quality HSS (High Speed Steel) drill bits.
It is easy to cause unnecessary damage by drilling and make the problem worse.
When drilling please remember the wear the right PPE (safety glasses and gloves as a minimum).
Apart from drilling, there are other destructive methods that a locksmith can deploy to gain entry through a lock. This includes snapping, burring, pulling, cutting or even just brute force if necessary.
So in answer to the question “does a locksmith ever need to drill a lock?”, yes, sometimes a locksmith may well use a drill to gain entry, but this in practice is a rare event. So if a ‘locksmith’ turns up with a drill and plans to use that before looking at a multitude of other options, then you are probably dealing with a rogue locksmith that will try to extort as much money as possible from you. If you want to know more about this subject then contact Lock Guy.
Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.