FORT SECURELOCKSMITHS · SECURITY
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Advice & guides

Locksmith advice from people who've actually fitted the lock.

No filler, no scare-pieces, no listicles. Practical posts written by working locksmiths in Nottingham, mostly answering questions we get asked at the doorstep.

Fiona Norbury··6 min read

When You Don't Need a Locksmith | Save Your Money

Half my call-outs turn out to be a five-minute DIY fix. Fiona Norbury explains the jobs you can sort yourself and when to actually call a locksmith.

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Tracey Pickering··7 min read

Anti-Snap vs Anti-Bump vs Anti-Pick | Rank the Risk

Not all cylinder attacks are equal threats in Nottingham homes. Here's how snapping, bumping and picking rank, and which protection you actually need.

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Fiona Norbury··6 min read

Are Cheap Padlocks Any Good | The Honest Answer

A £20 padlock isn't always a waste, but put one on your tool shed and you'll regret it. Fiona Norbury breaks down when cheap is fine and when it isn't.

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Dean Radley··11 min read

New Home Security First Day | What to Do in Order

Got the keys today? Here's exactly what to change, check and secure in your first hour, before a single box is unpacked.

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Tracey Pickering··14 min read

Home Insurance Lock Requirements | Check Before You Claim

Your insurer's small print on locks can void a break-in claim. Here's how to read the clauses, check your doors and windows, and fix any gaps today.

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Dean Radley··5 min read

uPVC Door Repair vs Replace Cost | The Real Ten-Year Maths

Replace a uPVC door or just service the lock and gearbox? We break down the real ten-year costs so you can make the right call for your home or rental.

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Wayne Osborne··6 min read

What Happens on a Lockout Call Out | A Real Midnight Job

Locked out at midnight? Here's exactly what a locksmith does from the first call to the finished door, told through a real Nottingham job.

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Tracey Pickering··5 min read

Autumn Lock Maintenance Check | Ten Minutes, No Lockout

A Nottingham locksmith's step-by-step autumn check for doors, locks and hinges before cold weather turns small problems into expensive callouts.

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Fiona Norbury··6 min read

Are High Security Locks Worth It | Most Buy the Wrong One

Spending on anti-pick and anti-bump locks before fixing a snappable cylinder? You've got the priorities back to front. Here's what actually matters.

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Fiona Norbury··4 min read

Burglar Alarm vs Locks Priority | Spend in the Right Order

Alarms react. Locks prevent. Here's why most homes in Nottingham are spending their security budget backwards, and what to fix first.

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Tracey Pickering··7 min read

Smart Locks Locksmith Recommends | Which Are Worth Fitting

A Nottingham locksmith names the smart locks worth fitting and which to leave on the shelf, covering multipoint doors, insurance and failure modes.

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Tracey Pickering··8 min read

Cheap vs Expensive Lock Upgrades | What Stops a Burglar

A Nottingham locksmith makes the case that hinge bolts and a 3-star cylinder beat a £900 smart lock for stopping break-ins. Here's why.

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Tracey Pickering··12 min read

What Burglars Look For on a Front Door | Read Yours First

Walk your front door the way a burglar does. Checks for cylinders, hinges, lighting, side access and the hardware that flags an easy target in Nottingham.

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Fiona Norbury··6 min read

Composite vs uPVC Door: Which Is Better | The Honest Answer

Composite or uPVC? A Nottingham locksmith cuts through the showroom pitch: it's the cylinder and gearbox that decide security, not the slab.

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Fiona Norbury··4 min read

Key Safe Security for Carers | Why Cheap Models Are a Risk

That £15 key safe screwed to your brickwork won't stop a determined thief. A Nottingham locksmith explains what carers need and what to fit instead.

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