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Commercial Locksmith Halifax and HRM
I work with small businesses, offices, retail, warehouses and property managers across HRM and East Hants. No call centres and no subcontractors. The person you speak to on the phone is the person who shows up. My background is in mechanics, shipbuilding carpentry and fiberglass before locksmithing, so I tend to look at a door as a mechanical problem rather than something to replace.
Business Lockouts
Locked out of your shop, office or warehouse? I get there as fast as I can and I open it without damage in almost every case. Non destructive methods come first. Drilling is a last resort, not an opening move, and I will tell you before I do it rather than after.
Stuck or Jammed Locks
A lock that is hard to turn, or where the key will not go all the way in, is usually telling you something. Dirt in the cylinder, a worn pin, a door that has dropped, a strike plate out of line. I find out what is actually causing it before I tell you anything needs replacing, because quite often it is a five minute fix and there is no reason for you to buy a new lock.
Door Hardware and Lock Replacement
Commercial doors take a beating. Handles pull loose, cylinders seize, latches stop lining up. Most of it is a repair rather than a replacement and I will tell you which one you are actually looking at. When a lock does need replacing I fit commercial grade hardware that will last, and I check the frame and strike plate while I am there, because a good lock on a worn frame does not do much.
Hardware Supplied Already Keyed
Sometimes you do not need me on site, you just need the hardware. If your own maintenance person is fitting it, I can supply it keyed the way you want before it reaches you. Padlocks keyed alike so one key opens all of them. Deadbolts keyed to match the rest of the building. Cylinders pinned to a key you already carry, so a new door works on the existing keys. That is the part a hardware store cannot do. Tell me the quantity and how you want it keyed and I will give you a price and a lead time.
Panic Bars and Exit Devices
Panic bar not latching. Push bar stiff or not releasing. Alarm sounding when it should not. These are common on commercial doors and most of the time it is alignment, a worn latch or a part out of adjustment rather than the whole device being finished. I service and repair exit hardware across HRM and East Hants.
Broken Key Extraction
Key snapped off in the lock. Do not try to dig it out yourself, because you will usually push it in deeper and turn a ten minute job into a cylinder replacement. I extract broken keys cleanly in most cases without damaging the lock.
Staff change, tenant turnover, keys that never came back. Rekeying is faster and cheaper than replacing commercial hardware and it works just as well. I rekey on site and cut the new keys right there.
Master Key Systems
If you manage several doors, a master key system means one key opens what it needs to and nothing else. One key for you, individual keys for staff or tenants, and different levels of access where it makes sense. Call me and we will work out what fits your building.
High Security and Restricted Keys
Standard keys can be copied at any hardware store, which is a problem if you have had staff turnover or you hand keys to people who come and go. I work with restricted keyways where the keys can only be cut by me, so nobody can walk out and make copies. It costs more than standard hardware, and whether it is worth it depends on how much it matters who holds a key to your building.
A good part of my commercial work is with property managers and landlords. Tenant turnover, lockouts, held rate sheets and purchase order invoicing.
Working Around Your Hours
Most commercial work can be done without closing the business, but not all of it. If a job is going to be disruptive I will tell you upfront and we can book it early, late or on a weekend instead. After hours is priced differently and I will give you that number before I come, not on the invoice.
Why Call S.E.S?
It is just me. I answer my own phone, I show up when I say I will, and I charge what I quoted. Fully insured, WCB covered, HST registered. I try to fix before I replace and I will not recommend work you do not need.
Call Me Anytime
Commercial locksmith work across Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, Fall River and the rest of HRM, plus East Hants and West Hants including Windsor, Mount Uniacke, Enfield and Shubenacadie. Call or text anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My key is getting hard to turn. Does the lock need replacing?
Usually not. More often it is dirt in the cylinder, a worn pin, or a door that has shifted and thrown the alignment out. I will find out what is actually wrong first. If it can be fixed, that is what I will quote.
Q: Do you service panic bars and push bars?
Yes. Not latching, stiff, misaligned, or sounding the alarm when it should not. Usually a straightforward fix.
Q: Can you extract a broken key without damaging the lock?
In most cases yes. Call me before you try to get it out yourself, because that is what usually turns it into a bigger job.
Q: My door closer is not closing properly. Can you fix it?
Depends what you have. Older commercial closers can often be adjusted or rebuilt. A lot of what gets fitted now is cheap enough that there are no parts available, so replacing it is the only option. I will tell you which one you are looking at.
Q: Can I just buy the hardware from you without the install?
Yes. If your own people are fitting it, I can supply it keyed however you want it. Keyed alike, keyed to a key you already have, or part of a master system. Tell me the quantity and how you want it keyed and I will give you a price and a lead time.
Q: Can you supply padlocks that all open with one key?
Yes, that is a common one. Any number of padlocks keyed the same so you carry one key instead of a handful.
Q: Can you come out after hours so we do not have to close?
Yes. After hours is priced differently and I will tell you what that is before I come out.
Q: Do you carry parts for every commercial lock?
No, and nobody does. Common hardware I have with me. Older or less usual stuff has to be ordered, and I will tell you the lead time instead of leaving you waiting on me.
Q: Do you offer master key systems?
Yes. One key for you, individual keys for everyone else, and different access levels where it makes sense. Call me and we will work out what suits the building.
Q: Can you stop staff copying our keys?
Yes, with a restricted keyway. The keys cannot be cut at a hardware store or by another locksmith, only by me. It costs more than standard hardware but it is the only thing that actually stops copies being made.
Q: Do you work outside Halifax?
Yes. All of HRM, plus East Hants and West Hants including Windsor, Mount Uniacke, Enfield and Shubenacadie. If there is a travel charge I will tell you on the phone.