Home/Snapped key in the lock
Snapped key in the lock? I may be able to save the lock
A broken key doesn’t always mean a new lock. I can assess whether the fragment can be removed and the existing lock kept.
Google reviews5.0★★★★★Based on 55 reviewsWhat it usually costs
Snapped key, existing lock savedUsually £65
A typical reference, not a fixed tariff. Assessment, complexity, time and parts set the agreed quote; no automatic extra extraction fee.
No call-out fee. Same price day or night. Cost agreed before I start.
I’ll explain what your job needs and agree the cost before I start.
What happened before the key broke?
Was the key getting harder to turn? Had the door become difficult to lock? Getting the fragment out is part of the job; I also check how the lock works and look for the cause of the resistance.
A door that’s out of line, corrosion, worn parts or a worn key can be involved. Tell me what you noticed and whether you are locked out. You don’t need to identify the failed part.
A lock I saved in Forsbrook
One customer had a lock that had gradually become stiffer to use. Because it had changed over time, he hadn’t treated it as a fault. Eventually, the key snapped.
I found water ingress and corrosion inside the lock. I removed the broken key, took the lock apart, freed the mechanism and applied fresh grease to the moving parts. He kept his lock and his existing keys. That job came to £65.
If your key is getting harder to turn, arrange a check rather than waiting for it to break. That doesn’t mean every stiff lock needs replacing.
Which part has failed?
You don’t need to know before you ring. Tell me what the key and handle are doing; these are the usual prices for each part, and I check the door before recommending anything.
A recent job · Leek
Snapped key in Leek: lock saved
A real job from my records, start to finish. No names or addresses; the price is what the customer paid.
- 1
What was wrong
A key had snapped inside the front-door cylinder, so the lock couldn’t be used. The customer thought they’d need a new cylinder.
- 2
What I did
I extracted the broken section and checked the cylinder for damage. Then I tested the lock with a spare key and checked the door for any resistance that could strain a key.
- 3
What I found
With the fragment out, the cylinder worked normally.
- 4
The result
The customer kept their existing lock. No replacement parts were needed.
- 5
What this customer paid
Receipt · Leek
Extraction and checks, agreed after I’d assessed it. Snapped-key work is quoted individually; £65 is my usual price when the existing lock can be saved.
Total for this job£65
Snapped key, existing lock saved usually costs usually £65. Your door is checked first, and the price agreed before I start. See all prices →
If your key snaps, don’t push anything else into the cylinder. Tell me whether the door is open or closed.
Questions about snapped keys
Short answers here. Ring if yours isn’t covered.
What if it cannot be saved?
I’ll explain the work needed and agree the total. A straightforward standard cylinder change is usually £80–£110, including supplied keys and fitting, but that assumes a door that opens normally with a working mechanism and no adjustment needed.
A more complicated extraction or failed mechanism is assessed on its own facts. I don’t automatically add £65 to a replacement price, and I don’t promise that every extraction will cost the same. See the price guide.
Can I keep my keys?
If the existing lock is saved, its remaining working keys can still be used. If it needs replacing, I’ll explain the keys supplied with the replacement and discuss anything else you need.
What should I do while waiting?
Don’t force another key or glue into the lock. Ring and tell me whether the door is open, shut or locked, and whether you can get inside. If you’re locked out, call rather than using the planned-visit form.
Call Brett on 07456 807068. No call-out fee or out-of-hours uplift; my work has a 12-month parts-and-labour guarantee.
Other jobs I do
Every price is agreed with you before I start, with no call-out fee.
Urgent
Locked out, or can’t lock up?
Ring me now. I’m open 24 hours, there’s no call-out fee, and getting you in is £65 at any hour.
07456 807068Urgent? Ring now Or WhatsApp me a photoCan wait
A repair, a lock change or a key safe?
Pick a day and a time that suits you, and I’ll ring you to confirm. The price is agreed before I start.
Plan a visitCan wait? Pick a day