When the cylinder alone is usually enough
- The key is getting harder and harder to turn, even though the door closes fine
- The cylinder is worn from use — it's the part that takes the most friction
- There's been a tampering attempt on the cylinder, but the rest of the lock is undamaged
- You lost your keys and want them to stop working, without replacing the whole lock
In these cases, replacing just the cylinder is quicker and cheaper than replacing the whole lock.
When the full lock needs replacing
- The internal mechanism is failing — the latch doesn't seat properly or the door doesn't close fully
- It's a bit-key (warded) lock, an older system, and you want to move to something more modern
- You want to upgrade the security level, for example to an anti-bumping or anti-drill lock
- The housing or body of the lock is damaged, not just the cylinder
Not sure?
It's normal not to be able to tell just by looking. We check it during the visit itself and tell you what's actually needed, with a fixed quote before touching anything.