007Steve

Hello,
Does anyone know of a reliable locksmith serving Eastern Algarve, for lock change overs & security upgrades?
I've tried the usual adverts, but most won't go past Tavira for some reason (bit like asking a London cabby to go south of the river after 7pm)
Thanks,
007Steve

MrBife

Portuguese locks are normally incredibly easy to change - venture off to the hardware shop and pay your €3.50 for a new barrel with keys and within a few minutes you are done.


A locksmith is only needed if you lost the keys !

macliam

But make sure you get a cylinder that has protection against drilling, lock snapping and bumping. Otherwise you might as well leave the door open.....

007Steve

Thank you both,
Re the drilling/snapping/bumping is exactly my concern.
Thanks again.

MrBife

Whether you choose a cylinder with a normal key profile or the more expensive one with the little dimples that gives a higher security rating - both will shatter just as quickly when given a blow from a lump hammer (in fact the mounting screw is common to both and is the first thing to snap). The best Locksmith in the world won't save you and yes; its probably true to say you might as well leave the door open as there will be less damage.

If you fit a complete four way multipoint lock in a way that the bolts from it go into the floor the top lintel and the sides of the frame then you are getting close to securing the door. Better still fit a replacement steel security door. But if the windows have plastic or aluminium shutters and a poor click lock then they become a weak point.

Jack Harvey at IBC in ALmancil will help you with some ideas

Loafing Along

Summarises perfectly the difference between the Eastern Algarve and the Costa de Sol. Here every lamp post and post box has advertisements for people to unblock drains, on the Costa every lamp post and post box has an advertisement for a locksmith.