How to actually improve your home security
Nearly every house has a strong front door and a weak everything-else.
Front doors get all the attention and are almost never the way in. The parts that get tested are the back door, the laundry door, the sliding patio door, the security screens and the side gate. Fixing those is cheaper than most people expect and makes far more difference than upgrading a front door that was already fine.
- Weakest points
- Back door, sliding door, screens, side gate
- Cheapest fix
- Longer screws into the stud, not the trim
- One key
- The whole house can run on one key
Where houses actually get tested
The back of the house
Front doors are visible from the street, well lit and usually the best lock in the house. The back door, the laundry door and the garage personnel door are none of those things, and they are frequently fitted with the cheapest hardware the builder could specify. Bringing them up to the standard of the front door is the single highest-value thing most people can do.
Longer screws
This costs almost nothing and is the fix we recommend most. A strike plate held by twenty millimetre screws is held by the door trim, not by the house. Swap them for screws long enough to reach the stud behind and the same door takes dramatically more force before it gives. Same lock, same door, much harder to kick.
Sliding patio doors
Common in Perth and frequently the weakest door in the house. A tired sliding door can often be lifted in its track and taken out of the frame entirely, with the lock still engaged. A proper sliding door lock, and something in the track, deals with it.
Security screens
A good screen door is a genuine deterrent because it has to be defeated before the real door is even reached. A poor one is theatre. What matters is the frame, the mesh and whether the lock throws bolts at more than one point — a triple lock bolts the door at the top, middle and bottom so it cannot be levered at a corner. We fit and repair Lockwood, Whitco, Austral and Doric.
The side gate and the shed
A side gate that is never locked turns the back of the house into a private space where somebody can work unseen. A shed full of tools is where the tools to open the house come from. Both are cheap to lock and almost always overlooked.
Keys, not just locks
Every good lock in the world is undone by a key you cannot account for. If you have moved in recently, lost a set, had a tenant leave or ended a relationship, rekey. It changes the pins inside your existing locks so old keys stop working, and it brings the whole house onto one key at the same time.
Services we don’t offer
Alarms, cameras, intercoms and networked access control are not services we offer. When somebody wants those as well we say so plainly and point them somewhere useful.
What customers say
Tap any review to read it on Google.
“Amco locksmiths are amazing to deal with! Very friendly and helpful on the phone. Responded promptly to my call for help with a key that was not working. Magnus was extremly friendly and helpful when he showed up. For any locksmith issues, go with these guys. You will not be disappointed. Thank you for making my day so much better in a sticky situation <3”
Read on Google →“Absolutely cracking service from Magnus. My wife dropped her keys last night and went to start it today and and it failed. We called 2 other places first and also had road side assistance out to inspect. Not one of them advised us to look where she had dropped it for the micro chip. They simply wanted dollars in their pockets without trying to solve the problem. After a prompt call back from Magnus and an exploded view image of keys components and 5 minutes of rummaging around the garden the chip was found, re-installed and works. 100% recommend these guys and will be getting a spare key from them in the near future. Thanks so much Magnus!!!”
Read on Google →“Very impressed with Amco Locksmiths! The cheapest amongst a few quotes that I got. Very fast and efficient. Professional and friendly technician who gave me advice on a few other things around the house. Customer service was swift and helpful. Cannot fault!”
Read on Google →“Awesome, quick and very good priced service!”
Read on Google →Straight answers
What is the cheapest thing that actually improves security?
Longer screws in the strike plates, reaching the stud rather than the door trim. It costs very little and makes a real difference to how much force the door takes.
Which door is usually the weakest?
The back door, the laundry door or a sliding patio door. Front doors are usually the best lock in the house and the least likely way in.
Are security screen doors worth it?
A good one is, because it has to be beaten before the real door is reached. What matters is the frame, the mesh and whether the lock bolts at one point or three.
Should I upgrade my locks or change the keys?
If the locks work properly, change the keys — a rekey resets the pins so old keys stop working. Replace hardware only when it is worn out or cannot do what you need.
Do you install alarms or cameras?
No. We do locks and keys only, and we will tell you who to call for the rest.
Can you put the whole house on one key?
Usually yes, including the security screens. Different key profiles between doors and screens can get in the way and we will tell you before we start.