The 5th most hit on post in this website is “How much does it cost to change locks?”

My business is almost 20 years old and the market, economy and industry, locally, nationally and internationally has seen significant price fluctuations in this short time,

To help you make heads or tails of the average costs for changing locks by using professional locksmiths, please see the following AI generated article to help guide you.

You are welcome to check out our previous articles in the menu to the right and below…

Thank you 

Danny

 The cost of changing locks can vary significantly depending on several factors. Here's a breakdown of the potential costs involved:

1. Locksmith Fees:

 Hourly Rate: Locksmiths typically charge an hourly rate for their services, which can range from $50 to $100 per hour.

 Service Fee: Some locksmiths may charge a flat service fee in addition to their hourly rate. This fee can cover the cost of travel and other expenses.

 Emergency Fees: If you need a locksmith to change your locks outside of normal business hours or in an emergency situation, you can expect to pay higher rates. Emergency fees can range from $75 to $125 per hour, and there may be an additional trip charge of $100 to $150.

2. Lock Costs:

 Type of Lock: The cost of the lock itself will depend on the type and brand. Basic doorknob locks can cost as little as $20, while high-security or smart locks can cost several hundred dollars.

 Number of Locks: The total cost will also depend on the number of locks you need to change.

3. Additional Factors:

 Door Type: The type of door you have can also affect the cost of changing locks. Some doors may require more specialized tools or techniques, which can increase the labor cost.

 Complexity of Installation: If the installation is more complex, such as if you need to change the strike plate or reinforce the door frame, the cost will be higher.

Overall, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $500 or more to change your locks, depending on the factors mentioned above.

Here are some tips to help you save money on changing your locks:

 Get quotes from multiple locksmiths: Compare prices from several locksmiths in your area to find the best deal.

 Consider changing the locks yourself: If you are comfortable with basic DIY projects, you may be able to save money by changing the locks yourself. However, it is important to make sure you have the necessary tools and knowledge to do the job properly.

 Choose basic locks: If you are on a budget, you can save money by choosing basic doorknob locks instead of high-security or smart locks.

 Change locks during normal business hours: You can avoid paying emergency fees by scheduling the work during normal business hours.

Essential Post-Move Lock Rekeying Best Practices for Missouri Residents

 Residential security trends in Creve Coeur, MO have shifted dramatically toward keyless entry and smart home integration. Upgrading exterior doors with a modern smart deadbolt eliminates the vulnerabilities associated with lost physical keys or unauthorized duplicate copies. Today’s advanced electronic lock interfaces combine biometric fingerprint scanners, temporary PIN codes, and smartphone geo-fencing capabilities. Local homeowners benefit from remote access monitoring, receiving instant push notifications when family members arrive home or if a door is left unlocked. When paired with professional installation by experienced Creve Coeur locksmiths, these smart locking devices blend seamless digital convenience with heavy-dutmechanical deadbolt protection, offering ultimate peace of mind for local neighborhoods.

For professional locksmith assistance, contact 314-266-1533 now.

Or email us sales@locks210.com

We look forward to serving you.

Coming soon - Automobile Key Products: Vehicle key fob originating and cloning; transponder key origination and duplication; vehicle lock rekeying and repairs; 

Locksmith Humor

Sure Fit Concealed Door Closer - New Product by D&D Technologies

A new product by D&D Technologies, the well  known Australian gate and door hardware manufacturer, perhaps best known globally for it’s superior gate locks and hinges surprises the market with its latest release product that now provides a unique door closing system for residential and commercial doors.

The video above shows just how this new product operates and the type of applications it is suitable for.

Architects and builders rejoice because this intelligent design provides a seamless concealed fit that offers increased security with its tamper proof design while providing an adjustable speed and latching action to suit multiple desires.

Traditional surface door closers are the industry standard worldwide, having been available for over a hundred years. 

While they continue to provide quality closing options, this product and the offering by Serrature Meroni with their FS980 series concealed fit floor closer, now provide discerning and aesthetically inclined home owners, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, virtually all commercial buildings, storefronts etc with a different alternative to the mainstream door closer market that combines functionality and aesthetics for a beautiful finish.

Be sure to inform your architect, builder or locksmith that you’d like to use this product as an affordable and sightly alternative to the standard run of the mill door closers you would usually find.

Invisible Door Closer Redfines Closing Your Door

 

Meroni FS980 Invisible door closer

The FS980 Door Closer System is a unique product that makes your door closer virtually invisible, while still maintaining the aesthetics of your doors.

The product is expertly created and straightforward to install, operate and adjust.

Door closers are a very sought after product, especially in commercial settings. Where the FS980 shines, is that it becomes the hinge as well as the door closer.

Below find an installation instruction video for this fabulous product,

We are the North American Distributors for most of the Meroni product lines, but we dont keep much product in inventory. Most Meroni products are purchased custom built to individual customer requirements

If you wish to learn more about any Meroni products, feel free to call or email us and we will respond as soon as possible.

(source...)

Story Of My Life...

 

Male Chastity - Personal Security Protection that's Different

 We originally posted the article below in January 2011 and it has gathered thousands of views online. The sellers have updated their product offerings in due course and we highly suggest checking out the source for their updated products.

Male Chastity - Unusual Security Product

I thought long and hard (forgive the pun) about whether or not to post this article, for obvious reasons.

But I decided that it fits into the unusual and unique security products category, if you open your mind a bit.

This product was originally tailored to women but could be considered by any chosen persuasion, keen on keeping their male partners from straying.

Of course you can choose your own preferred brand of padlock.

(source...)

Auto Door Bottoms and Sweeps prevent Cold Air Coming In and Save on Heating and Cooling Costs

The video here shows a common DIY method to deal with cold air coming in through your external doors.

How To Stop Cold or Warm Air From Coming In...

There are many DIY options in the wider market that offer some interesting and sometimes odd methods to control the flow of air through entry doors on our homes. Often, homeowners choose to contract a professional door repairer like ourselves to provide them with a solution that is professional and permanent, without they having to repeatedly perform a task.

We here at St Louis Locksmiths and Door Repair continue to provide our customers with unique solutions that meet their needs and exceed their expectations. We provide solutions that not only secure your properties but also contribute to reducing your heating and cooling costs.

Another innovative product that we recommend is the Pemko range of automatic door bottoms and sweeps. These awesome products are uniquely designed to provide relief from cold air or warm air that enters under your door during winter or summer seasons.

The first image above displays the full mortise version of a Pemko Auto Door Bottom. Unlike common door sweeps found today on many entry doors, these Pemko Auto Door Bottoms are uniquely designed to automatically seal the bottom of your doors, only when the door is closed. This unique feature extends the life expectancy of a door sweep because the seal only activates when the door is physically shut. When the door opens, the seal rises to prevent the typical wear and tear you see from other brands and types of door bottoms and sweeps. This mortised door bottom and sweep, requires your door to be removed to install.

The next image is of a Pemko Surface Mounted Auto Door Bottom and Sweep. Similarly to the mortised version, the door bottom and sweep is designed to automatically lower only when the door is closed and rise automatically when the door is opened. this surface mounted version can be installed without the need to remove and refit your door.

Benefits St Louis Locksmiths and Door Repairs provides:

• Unique Security Products and Services
• 40+ years of local and international experience
• Widespread Knowledge of Unique and Diverse products
• Experienced, Qualified and Bonded Technicians
• Cost Conscious professionals
• Labor and Parts Warranty

Want to Learn more about how to save on your heating and cooling costs?

If you are ready to save on your heating and cooling costs, Contact St Louis Locksmiths and Door Repairs Here and our technicians will provide you an obligation free on-site estimate.

Meroni Nova Locksets ON SALE...

 In answer to a recent customer inquiry about some color finish options, to replace the locksets installed on their doors at their home we decided to put together actual live images photographed ourselves in our home studio light box. Not being professional photographers we hope the images below sufficiently display the actual colors you will see if you fit the lock sets to your doors at home or the office....

Click on the image for larger pictures.

 This color finish is Nickel Aluminum finish

Code: N11 Passage Set
Color NA

Also available in N12 Privacy (bathroom) function

 this finish is PE or Pearl Grey (off white)

Code: N11 Passage
Color: PE

Also available in Privacy (bathroom) function

 Interior view

 This image displays the US2B Satin Stainless Steel color

Code: N11 Passage
Color US2B

Also available in Privacy (bathroom) function

 inside view

 This is the white handle with black buttons

Code: N12 Privacy
Color: BO White

Also available in Passage function

 This image displays the N12 Privacy in GG Gun Metal White

Code: N12 Privacy
Color GG Gun Metal White

Also available in Passage function

 inside view

 This image displays the N12 Privacy (bathroom) function in Gun Metal Grey

Code: N12 Privacy
Color: GW Gun Metal Grey

Also available in Passage function

 Inside view

 This image displays the N12 Privacy (bathroom) function is satin brass ALIA (brass buttons and face caps)

Code: N12

Color: US4 ALIA

Also available in Passage function

 inside view

 This image displays the N12 Privacy (bathroom) function in US4 Satin Brass (with black buttons and face caps)

Code N12
Color US4 Satin Brass

Also available in Passage function

 inside view

 This image displays the N12 Privacy (bathroom) function in US26 Alia, Polished Chrome

Code N12 privacy
Color US26 Alia (chrome buttons and face caps)

Also available in N11 passage function

 inside view

 This image displays the N12 Privacy (bathroom) function in US26D Satin Chrome

Note that the color is very similar to the first image above although it is slightly different.

Code: N12 privacy
Color US26 Satin Chrome (with black buttons and face caps)

Also available in N11 Passage function

Inside view


















The colors displayed above are just some of the available colors we have in stock.
We also have Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, Polished Brass and others.

Many of the colors listed above can also be special ordered in:
N13 - Keyed Entry Version
N14 - Hotel Room Function (outside handle without push button) key only releases latch, inside handle always unlocked for emergency escape,
N15 - Double cylinder (key unlocks from either inside or outside),
N17 - Entry (key unlocks outside button, inside always unlocked),
N20 - Fixed Dummy Knobs (like for a cupboard door that doesnt require locking),
N21 - Outside fixed knob (no button)
N24 - Hotel Indicator Function (outside knob without push button, unlocked only by key; inside thumbturn activates occupancy indicator if provided)

Normally, all Meroni hardware is custom built to order.
Be aware that there are varying length latches: 60mm (2-3/8"), 70mm (2-3/4"), 80mm (3") and 127mm (5"). latches are available in round ended or square ended faceplates, rebated (rabbited) version, most latches can be ordered with a security deadlatching function too.
Also, there are varying styles and colors of roses too. The standard rose (pictured in the images above) is black nylon. Other roses are available in black metal, satin stainless steel, polished chrome plate, satin brass, brown, antique brass (corinthian).

We do have sufficient stock of most colors in privacy and passage function.

Prices vary based on your custom requirements, contact us for individual pricing.

As a New Year Special, we are offering all Non-Keyed privacy and passage locksets we have in stock, in multitudes of colors, for $9 each. When you order 5 or more we will throw in shipping too

Email us your preferred color and quantity and we can send you an online invoice and shipping time.

progress...

 This week's services.......

 

• Installed a new Bilock system this week.
• Made keys to 6 German made Lockable fixed umbrella. Used a Yamaha motor cycle keyblank.
• Reset a returning customers digital lock we installed  11 years ago. Still working great today.
• Sudden 5 door rekey on restaurant.
• Unlock house.... 15 minutes no damage.
• Rekeyed 3 houses
• Installed Meroni N13 entrance set

There is life on this planet, after all.

Onward and forward!

Federal Eviction Moratorium Overruled By United States Supreme Court - Landlords Rejoice?

 

(Image of United States Supreme Court)

Last week, The Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS), in it's infinite wisdom decided to overturn the current administrations Eviction Moratorium on constitutional grounds.

This decision is considered favorable to the legions of landlords and property owners, who have suffered economic uncertainty since the federal government (previous administration) first administered the eviction ban, as encouraged by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) in February 2020, to protect renters who suffered major employment losses as a consequence of the economic upheaval caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

This decision to overturn the executive order to extend the already in place moratorium, is no small matter.

For many locksmiths in this country, the imposition of the federal eviction moratorium was/is a double edged sword. Evictions (rekeys) are an integral part of every locksmith's acumen. Many locksmith companies, including ours enjoyed continuing business from landlords and property management companies who require to change locks when a former tenant leaves their property. All this business completely halted when the eviction moratorium came to be.

In our case, we suffered a monumental reduction in our business revenue as a direct consequence of the moratorium.

We understand and sympathize with the many millions of renters, who face life-changing circumstances as a result of the end of the moratorium, but also are somewhat heartened by this change in events. We anticipate a significant increase in requests to rekey houses, condominiums, apartments, flats, commercial dwellings etc and maybe, we too can change some of our economic circumstances too.

Evictions are not a simple matter for landlords, property managers to arrange. In most jurisdictions, to evict a tenant requires sometimes 30 days written notice and a legal court order, enforced by the local Sheriff. An officer must be in attendance to execute such an order.

The costs and time delays involved in executing a legal eviction can add up. Given the courtroom backlog, an unfortunate side-effect of the pandemic, the likelihood of timely execution of eviction notices is/will be delayed - further complicating things for property owners, landlords and property managers.

An article in Tucson Arizona, before the end of the moratorium shows but one family's predicament to come

In Missouri there was no statewide eviction moratorium but the federal moratorium was sufficient to protect the thousands of renters who were facing potential evictions, as a consequence of the pandemic related shutdowns.

Also, some property owners of multi-apartment complexes, found loopholes in eviction laws (prior to the pandemic) that would allow them to evict any tenant using a rehab-clause that effectively allows for evictions of tenants irrespective of their abilities to pay rent or not, while reconstructing a tenancy to improve the site. A federal judge sided with the tenant, using the Federal Eviction Moratorium in his ruling.

Moratorium’s end may mean thousands of Missouri evictions

There are some defenses that a tenant can use to avoid being evicted in Missouri. 

Tenant Defenses to Evictions in Missouri

If you are a landlord, property owner or property manager and are requiring the services of a professional locksmith company to attend your properties and perform the necessary task of changing locks, you are welcome to contact us at your convenience.

We can be contacted by text or phone on 314-266-1533 or by email at sales@locks210.com

We always provide a cost estimate in advance. We are highly rated by the BBB as you can see in our business profile and we can also be found in ANGI/Home Advisor, read some of our reviews

Gear-R. High Security Hidden Access Control For Just About Any Application

We are proud to continue our long association with the fabulous Meroni family of quality Access Control products including the wide range of door locks, furniture and cabinet locks and hardware, automobile security products and other unique hardware that have established Serrature Meroni as one of the leading manufacturers in Europe and throughout the world.

Here we include a video that explains the new technology that offers virtually hidden access control for almost any application, including door locks, cabinets and cabinet furniture, vehicles, among the many offerings in the Meroni ranges.

Many of the products Meroni make, you can see throughout this website.

Products like Nova, Combina, Forma and Pigio door handles and door locking products. Unique cabinet and furniture hardware and lock products, even the unique water spigot lock system to protect water valves for parks and gardens.

Meroni can tailor the wide range of products to individual needs and custom modify products to suit your unique parameters.

To learn a little more about the technology patented by Meroni Technology, visit the link in the source below.

(source...)

Verroo - Unique Security Products For The Worlds New Normal Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

A couple of years ago (almost), a talented 18 year old gave a lecture at Defcon, a well-known hacker conference held annually in Las Vegas NV.

At this lecture he gave a rather interesting expose into the security and perception of security of Knox Boxes, which are used and required predominantly by fire departments across the USA to allow authorized first responders to gain access to private and public dwellings without the need to employ destructive entry methods.





The video is about 20 minutes long and may be of interest to locksmiths. security industry technicians, sales people, maintenance technicians, first responders, home owners, apartment complex managers, basically anyone who might see or have these type of key boxes on or near their properties.

It is especially interesting when you consider the security offerings by various vendors concerned more with selling you their products as opposed to offering you a system that actually offers to protect and secure your property for real. (For some unscrupulous vendors, it's not about your security protection - it's only about profits)

We have written about some of the subjects he talks about in the video....

Credit Cards Used to Duplicate Keys


Medeco - Hmmmmm...


3D Printers Used To Defeat High Security Key Systems


3D Printed Bump Keys


Further to this conversation is my recently acquired knowledge about an Australian company that is the merge between KJ Ross Security Locks, Marget Engineering and Direct Connections in 2015. That new company is called RMD Innovations (you can see their site in the source below).


KJ Ross, I have personally known for about 35 years now, having worked with their safe lock products, their Rosslinear Battery Operated Electric Strike and other lines in their specialty ranges.


RMD have now created significantly improved products for the high security market that update the older Rosslinear Strike (as seen above) and also have begun offering some additional products including a battery-operated strike for rim locks, panic exit devices. standard mortise and cylindrical entry lock-sets. among other products














I am especially interested in these updated product offerings, given the current predicament the world is experiencing with the Coronavirus Pandemic, that has dramatically altered our states of life.

Welcome To Our New Normal - Sanitize - Protect - Clean

The new reality, we face today as a consequence of the worldwide pandemic, forces us all to modify how we conduct business.

As an onsite service company and essential service worker, we find ourselves on the frontline in this new changed environment.

We still require to provide services to our vast range of clients but the new normal requires us to cover up and protect our clients and their dwellings, even more than before.

Wearing a face mask and gloves is part of our new reality, but also being sure to sanitize all surfaces in advance of touching them.... and then after we complete our services is an important and vital act to ensure the safety of our clients and their families and their possessions.

We find ourselves requiring to sanitize constantly, all surfaces including locks, keyholes, door surfaces, walls and other hardware and surfaces in close proximity to the applications we intend to work on. And then again after we complete our tasks.

Carrying spray-on sanitizer and hand sanitizer is a new part of our new normal, a requirement that we take very seriously. We believe that the safety and security of our clients, their staff and customers and especially their loved ones is of paramount importance moving forward.

In the image above you can see me with my face mask on, using surface sanitizer to clean after completing a re-install of door hardware.

We hope and pray that everyone accepts this new responsibility to protect themselves and each other until such a time where personal protections are no longer required.

Since this pandemic and new normal rules have been brought in, we will not perform any works on our customers property without first sanitizing. If the customer requests us to NOT perform these necessary tasks, we will walk away from the project. Your lives and our lives depend on total compliance with our new shared reality.

Thank You!

Anti-Bacterial Handle Sets And Door Hardware - Not A New Invention

An article I came across today tries to claim that an American scientific team has invented a new anti-bacterial technique that dissipates harmful pathogens on contact of knobs, levers and other metal door hardware.

As usual, American scientists are very late to the party.

The technology has been around for decades already including the products we have been distributing in North America for most of the last decade.

You can read the article for yourself if you like or simply discover yourself that Anti-Bacterial Hardware has been available by Serrature Meroni for a little over 20 years already.

There are other manufacturers too that also developed the technology eons ago, but this obviously wont stop these American scientists from claiming their supremacy.


We have continued to write articles about the many anti-bacterial products that are already in existence for many years now and continue to educate people everywhere about some of these phenomenal products.

As the North American distributor for all things Meroni, we continue to offer these nouveau products to the North American markets and are seeing some slow uptake of some of these products. The non anti-bacterial hardware, we have installed numerous times for public spaces and also private homes too. The novel designs in the Meroni range are favored when used in high-frequency locations and by physically challenged people too. Arthritis sufferers, who have difficulty gripping and turning door knobs or levers, are quite impressed by the ease in operation of Meroni hardware.

Here are a number of articles we have written over the years about the available Meroni hardware options and also some other articles relevant to the subject. See Anti-Bacterial

Coronavirus - What Do You Do?

This is not an advertisement or advertorial. This is vital and important public information that could save your life!





The current seasonal shift is well underway, no matter what part of the planet you live on.

Of course with the northern hemisphere changing over to Spring/Summer, so come the inevitable virus', colds, flu, pneumonia and other potentially life threatening illnesses.

An often over looked issue, that faces all of us regularly is the transference of potentially harmful pathogens that can occur when differing users might touch or operate a door handle, safety bar, handrail etc. Do you REALLY know who touched the item before you? Do you care?

A little over 8 years ago we wrote an article about the recently released (at the time) blockbuster movie, starring Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow. We included the preview in our article too. (See the article we wrote in October 2011, below).

When you go to a hospital or medical clinic, you hope that the managers of such public places care enough about the health and welfare of their consumers to have policies and rules in place to mitigate any harm potentially caused therein, right?

I'm sure you have seen and continue to see many private and public places include a pump bottle of hand sanitizer near a restroom and often signs posted inside a restroom requiring employees to wash hands prior to handling food or after using the facilities. This modern day policy stemmed from the outbreak of the highly contagious H1N1 virus that threatened many thousands of people all across the planet. Luckily the quick action of governments worldwide and especially the CDC in America, stemmed the threat, but not before thousands of people, animals, birds etc, were slaughtered or died.


While the COVID-19 Virus is well hyped in the media right now, it is vital and imperative that everyone be diligent to protect everyone.

It is your responsiblity and mine. My life and your life is at stake.

Here is the article and preview of Contagion....

Contagion

Just last week my wife and I went to see this movie. I found it to be one of the most entertaining suspense filled films I have seen in ages.

It stars Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Lawrence Fishburne and a gaggle of other big name stars.

The storyline involves a woman who returns home to the USA from abroad who has been in contact with someone who passed on a virus to her. Anything or anyone she came into contact with seemed to also contract the contagious virus.

To make a long story short, many millions of people become infected and die before a cure is found.

The realism in this fictional movie was astounding. The film director makes the audience feel that the whole scenario is entirely plausible and probable.

The recent bird flu and H1N1 virus' that the world contracted in the last couple of years, makes this film even more realistic and topical.

Why do I post this review here?

I am the exclusive USA importer/distributor of the sensational Serrature Meroni brand of locks and door and cabinet hardware from Italy. Serrature Meroni, a few years ago introduced a unique line of inventory that includes especially designed anti-bacterial polymer door knobs. These handles minimize the potential impact of transferring disease between people.

Virtually all people touch a door knob to operate a door at home or work or the doctors surgery or a hospital or any other public building, in order to enter or exit a room or the building. All people rarely consider the likelihood of catching and spreading germs from unknowingly touching a surface that a possible infected carrier has also touched.

Remember when those recent well known virus' (Bird Flu and H1N1) were breaking news all over the media? Pharmacists, grocery stores and merchants everywhere suddenly began selling notoriously huge amounts of hand sanitizers and similar products. Many institutions enacted strict policies forcing people to use hand sanitizers as often as possible and some even required employees to wear face masks to minimize the potential spread of airborne diseases.

The realism of the movie Contagion, made me think about how easy it would be to spread disease.

But thanks to forward thinking companies like Serrature Meroni, we can now rest easier with the assurance that forward thinking home owners, hospital management, doctors surgeries, chemical research laboratories and other concerned proactive people, are taking steps to protect their customers, staff, friends and families from the potential deadly side effects of unknown or even known virus'.