Repairs & Security
Physical Home Security Upgrades
We upgrade door cylinders, keep plates, frame reinforcement and window locks across Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire. No alarms, no CCTV, no monitoring contracts — hardware only, assessed and quoted in writing before any work starts.
- Local to Berkshire & South Bucks
- Experienced carpenter
- Fully insured
- Physical security only
Our Approach
Hardware, Not Hardware Theatre
We carry out physical security upgrades on existing doors and windows across Berkshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire — cylinders, lock cases, keep plates, frame reinforcement and window locks. This is carpentry and hardware work, not electronics. We assess what you have before recommending anything, and we are just as happy to tell you a door is already sound as to quote for upgrading it.
Most forced entries succeed at the frame, not the lock. A good cylinder in a softwood frame with a short keep plate will give way at the timber long before the lock is defeated. Strengthening the frame, lengthening the fixings and fitting a keep that spreads the load is cheaper than a new door and more effective than another lock. Some insurers specify locks meeting BS 3621 on final-exit doors; we will tell you honestly whether yours already does.
Every assessment starts with the door or window in front of us, not a standard package. We check the condition of the timber, the cylinder and lock case fitted, the keep, and the hinges, and we explain what each upgrade actually changes before we quote for it. Hardware is sourced from recognised UK lock and security hardware manufacturers.
People usually come to us around a house move, a policy renewal, or simply after noticing a door that rattles or a window that locks loosely. Simple cylinder and lock swaps are often completed within the same visit; frame reinforcement and multi-door jobs are scheduled and quoted in advance.
What This Looks Like
Security Hardware, Fitted Properly
What We Upgrade
Security Hardware We Fit
Door Cylinders and Locks
We replace worn or low-grade euro cylinders with anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-drill cylinders, and fit lock cases to match. Most front and back doors in Berkshire take a standard euro profile cylinder, so an upgrade is usually a straightforward like-for-like swap. Where the existing lock case itself is weak or outdated, we replace that too, matched to the door thickness and backset.
Keep Plates and Frame Reinforcement
The keep — the metal plate the bolt locks into — and the timber around it are often the weakest point on a door. We fit reinforced keep plates that spread load into sound timber, add longer screws that reach the structural frame rather than just the lining, and reinforce split or thin sections with steel strips where needed.
Window Locks
Timber casement and sash windows on the ground floor and anywhere accessible from a flat roof or extension are upgraded with key-operated window locks — typically two or more per opening sash. We check the existing frame condition first; a lock is only as good as the timber it is screwed into.
Multipoint Locking Mechanisms
Where a door already has a multipoint mechanism — hooks, rollers or shootbolts locking at several points up and down the frame — we can replace a worn or damaged gearbox, or upgrade the cylinder that operates it. We also fit multipoint mechanisms to doors that currently rely on a single-point lock, where the door and frame are suitable.
Letterbox and Hinge Security
A letterbox is a common point of attack for fishing tools and arson threats. We fit internal letterbox guards, cowls and restrictor plates. On outward-opening doors, we add hinge bolts so the door cannot be lifted off even if the hinges are exposed or tampered with.
Patio and French Door Security
Sliding patio doors and French doors are frequently the softest target in a house. We fit additional locking points, anti-lift blocks on sliding tracks, and upgraded multipoint hardware on French doors, working with the existing frame wherever it is sound enough to take the extra fixings.
Scope
What We Leave to Other Specialists
This page covers physical security only. We do not supply, fit or monitor burglar alarms. We do not supply, fit or monitor CCTV. We do not offer any connected monitoring contract or subscription service of any kind.
If you want electronic monitoring alongside the physical hardware we fit, a dedicated alarm or CCTV installer is the right person for that part of the job. We are happy to work alongside one — for example, reinforcing a frame before a sensor or camera bracket is fitted to it — but the electronics themselves are outside what we do.
We also do not fit smart locks tied to an app, a Wi-Fi hub or a monitoring subscription. Mechanical cylinders, lock cases and multipoint hardware are within scope; connected devices are not.
How It Works
From Assessment to Sign-Off
Assessment
A free site visit to check your existing doors, windows, locks, keeps and frame condition. No obligation to go ahead afterwards.
Recommendation
We explain what, if anything, needs upgrading and why — including telling you plainly if your current hardware is already adequate.
Written Quote
A fixed-price quote itemising each piece of hardware, so you can see exactly what you are paying for before agreeing to anything.
Fitting
Hardware fitted to the agreed specification, with frame reinforcement carried out properly rather than just screwed into existing fixing points.
Sign-Off
Every lock, keep and hinge checked before we leave. Keys handed over and operation demonstrated. Snags resolved at no charge.
Know the Terms
Standards and Regulations Worth Knowing
Lock and door security involves a handful of standards that get mentioned often but understood rarely. None of these certify us as an installer — they describe the product being fitted, not who fits it. We can tell you which standards a given product meets, and which, if any, your insurer specifies.
BS 3621 is a British Standard for thief-resistant lock cylinders and cases on final-exit doors. Some insurers specify it in their policy wording, so it is worth checking yours. We supply and fit cylinders and lock cases that carry the BS 3621 kitemark.
TS007 and SS312 Diamond are anti-snap cylinder ratings. TS007 uses a one-to-three star system; SS312 Diamond is a comparable standard. A lower-rated cylinder combined with reinforced door furniture, such as two-star handles, can reach an equivalent three-star overall rating without a full lock case replacement.
PAS 24 is a standard for complete doorsets and windows — the frame, door, glazing and hardware tested together as a manufactured unit. It applies when a new door or window is specified and built, not when a lock is changed on an existing door. If you are considering a new front door, ask your supplier whether the doorset is PAS 24 tested.
Door frame reinforcement and keep plates are not governed by a single named standard in the way cylinders are, but the principle is well established: a reinforced keep plate spreads load into sound timber and longer fixings reach the structural frame rather than just the door lining. This is frequently the most effective single upgrade on an older timber door.
Get Started
Request a Security Assessment
Tell us what you would like assessed — a front door, patio doors, ground-floor windows, or the whole house — and we will arrange a free, no-obligation visit.
Pricing
What Does a Security Upgrade Cost in Berkshire?
These are indicative all-in figures covering hardware and fitting, based on recent Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire projects. Exact pricing depends on door and window condition, hardware specification and how many openings are involved — the free assessment gives you a written figure.
| Security Upgrade | Typical Range (all-in) |
|---|---|
| Euro cylinder upgrade, single door | £85 – £160 |
| BS 3621 lock case, single door | £150 – £320 |
| Keep plate & frame reinforcement, per door | £120 – £280 |
| Window lock upgrade, per window | £60 – £140 |
| Multipoint mechanism replacement, per door | £220 – £450 |
| Letterbox guard & hinge bolts, per door | £80 – £180 |
| Patio / French door multipoint upgrade | £250 – £550 |
| Full ground-floor upgrade (doors + accessible windows) | £700 – £1,600+ |
Ordinary quotations are free. A formal, written insurance reinstatement estimate is a separate paid service — see our Insurance & Reinstatement Estimates page for details.
Common Questions
Home Security Upgrades — Frequently Asked Questions
Do you fit alarms or CCTV as part of a security upgrade?
No. We carry out physical security upgrades only — locks, cylinders, keep plates, frame reinforcement and window locking hardware. We do not supply, fit or monitor alarms, CCTV or any connected monitoring service. If you want that alongside the physical work, a dedicated alarm or CCTV installer can advise separately.
What is BS 3621 and does my front door need it?
BS 3621 is a British Standard for thief-resistant lock cylinders and cases. Some insurers specify BS 3621 locks on final-exit doors, so it is worth checking your policy wording. We can supply and fit cylinders and lock cases that meet the standard, and tell you honestly whether your current locks already do.
What do TS007 and SS312 Diamond ratings mean?
TS007 is a star-rating system for anti-snap cylinders, from one to three stars. SS312 Diamond is a comparable standard covering anti-snap, anti-pick and anti-drill resistance. A one-star cylinder paired with two-star hardware, such as reinforced handles, can achieve an equivalent three-star rating without replacing the whole lock case.
Does PAS 24 apply to the locks on my existing door?
PAS 24 applies to a complete doorset or window — frame, door and hardware — tested and certified as a single unit at the point of manufacture. It is not something that can be added retrospectively by changing a lock on an existing door. It mainly matters if you are considering a new doorset or replacement window.
How much do home security upgrades cost in Berkshire?
A single cylinder upgrade typically costs £85–£160. Keep plate and frame reinforcement runs £120–£280 per door. Window lock upgrades are £60–£140 per window. A full ground-floor upgrade — front door, back door and accessible windows — is typically £700–£1,600. The free assessment gives you an exact, written figure.
How long does a typical security upgrade take?
A cylinder or lock swap on a single door is usually finished within the same visit, often under an hour. Keep plate and frame reinforcement work takes half a day per door. A full ground-floor upgrade covering several doors and windows is typically completed within a single working day.
Can you upgrade the locks without replacing the whole door?
In most cases, yes. Cylinders, lock cases, keep plates and window locks are all hardware that fits into the existing door or window. We only recommend replacing the door or frame itself where the timber is too decayed, split or thin to hold reinforced hardware securely.
Is the assessment visit free?
Yes. The security assessment and the written quote that follows it are both free, with no obligation to go ahead. The only paid assessment we offer is a formal insurance reinstatement estimate, which is a separate service for people managing a claim rather than an ordinary upgrade.
Can you tell me honestly if my current locks are good enough?
Yes — that is the starting point of every assessment. We check your existing cylinders, lock cases and frame condition against the standards that are relevant to you, and tell you plainly what, if anything, needs upgrading. We would rather say nothing needs doing than sell an upgrade you do not need.
Do you fit smart locks or keypad entry systems?
We fit mechanical cylinders, lock cases and multipoint hardware. We do not install smart locks tied to an app, a Wi-Fi hub or a monitoring subscription — that sits outside physical security and outside our scope. A locksmith or smart-home specialist can advise on that separately.
Related Services
Often Paired With Security Upgrades
Window Repairs
A window with a swollen frame or worn handle often needs a repair before a lock upgrade will sit properly. We assess both at the same visit.
Burglary Damage Repairs
If a frame has already been forced, repairing the timber comes first. We restore the frame, then upgrade the hardware so the same point of failure is not repeated.
Internal Doors
Where a door itself — not just the frame — is too thin or damaged to take reinforced hardware, we supply and fit a suitable replacement.
Insurance & Reinstatement Estimates
Managing a claim after a break-in? A formal, itemised written estimate is a separate paid service, prepared to the detail an adjuster expects.
Request a Free Security Assessment
Tell us about your doors and windows and we will arrange a free, no-obligation assessment, with a fixed-price written quote to follow.
We carry out home security upgrades across Berkshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire: