What I do on a planned anti-snap upgrade
This is the one planned (non-emergency) service I actively recommend. It costs less than a roof-rack full of Christmas shopping, it takes 15 minutes on your doorstep, and it closes the single biggest security hole on most UK UPVC and composite doors.
The problem: a standard cheap Euro cylinder (the small brass-coloured unit in the middle of your door, with the keyway visible on one or both sides) can be snapped in half with a pipe wrench in about 30 seconds. Once snapped, the internal cam is exposed and the door opens from outside using a flathead screwdriver. No power tools, no picking, no noise. It’s how a huge proportion of UPVC-door burglaries happen.
The fix: replace the cylinder with a BS Kitemark 3★ anti-snap unit. I’ll measure the existing cylinder (they come in many lengths), cut the replacement to sit flush with the handle furniture, and swap it out. You’ll have two or three keys cut from the new cylinder in your hand before I leave.
Total cost: £120 flat, including the cylinder, the fitting, two or three freshly cut keys, and a 12-month warranty on the cylinder itself. I’ll charge the call-out at the relevant time-of-day rate on top, but most people book this in during normal hours, so the call-out is £85.
Takes: 15 to 30 minutes once I’m on your doorstep. No drilling, no door damage, no disruption, it’s a straight swap.
If you’ve got a few doors in the house (front, back, side) that all use cheap cylinders, I’ll do them on the same visit and the call-out only applies once.