FAQ — locksmith in Bordeaux & the Gironde

No. If the door was opened without touching the cylinder, your key still works and nothing needs replacing. Replacement is necessary when the cylinder had to be drilled, when a key was lost or stolen together with information that identifies where you live, or when the mechanism was already faulty.

That depends entirely on your policy. Some home insurance policies and some bank-card benefit schemes include locksmith assistance covering all or part of the call-out, sometimes through a designated platform. Check your policy terms before calling, and keep the itemised invoice in every case.

Yes, in most cases. The fragment left in the keyway can be extracted with dedicated tools. Do not try to retrieve it with pliers or glue: you risk pushing the piece further in or jamming the pins, which makes extraction considerably harder.

No, except in a genuine emergency involving someone's safety, which is then a matter for the fire brigade or the police. A third party cannot have a home opened that they do not occupy.

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. A euro cylinder comes out after undoing one screw on the faceplate and is replaced with a model of the same dimensions. It is the standard solution after losing your keys, moving house or changing tenants.

Replacing a cylinder on a standard door is a quick operation. Replacing a complete multipoint lock, particularly a shielded one, takes considerably longer and may require adjustments to the door frame. The exact time depends on your door: you will be told after an on-site inspection.

Re-read the specific conditions of your policy, under the "prevention" or "protective measures" section. They state the level required and whether the requirement applies to the lock, the cylinder or both. Keep the invoice and the product data sheet: you will be asked for them in the event of a claim.

It is strongly recommended. You have no idea how many copies were made by the previous occupants, or whose hands they are in. Replacing the cylinder is a simple precaution when you move in.

Do not try to extract the fragment yourself with pliers or glue: you risk pushing it in further or gluing the pins together, which makes extraction much harder. Do not force the remaining piece either. Call a locksmith and mention the lock model if you know it.

Gently warm the key — never the lock itself with a flame. Do not pour in hot water, which will refreeze and make the problem worse. A de-icer designed specifically for locks exists, and it belongs in your bag, not inside the home.

It is the signal to act before things get worse. A misaligned door puts constant strain on the bolt and the rod linkage. Adjusting the strike plate or the hinges often settles the matter, whereas waiting for a complete blockage means a much heavier repair.

It is better to wait for their examination, because the break-in marks are part of it. If the home cannot be left open, explain the situation to the police when you call: they will tell you how to proceed, and at the very least you can photograph the original state before any work is done.

Most comprehensive home insurance policies cover damage caused by a break-in, subject to the excess, the cover limits and any protective measures the policy may require. Filing a police report is almost always a condition. Have an invoice drawn up itemised line by line — it will be requested.

Yes, if the mechanism or the cylinder shows signs of attack. An attempt causes invisible internal damage that reduces the lock's real resistance — and it also signals that the property has been scouted.

Yes, in both cases. The landlord must be informed of an incident affecting their property and of the work being considered. The managing agent (syndic) must be informed if the break-in involves a communal area or reveals a weakness in access to the building, which often makes it possible to improve security for everyone.

You need the landlord's written consent, since it alters the property. In a co-owned building, if the door opens onto a common area and its outside appearance changes, the co-owners' approval may also be required. Check the building rules and ask the building managing agent (syndic) before committing to anything.

Retrofit reinforcement changes the look of the door, since a steel sheet clads it. A range of finishes exists, including timber facings designed to blend into an older building. A certified security door set, for its part, can be given a finish close to that of a conventional door.

Some policies offer more favourable terms or reduced excesses when certified protection measures are in place; others do not. This is something to review with your insurer, policy in hand, before the work. Keep the invoice and the certification report.

Altering the outside appearance of a door visible from public space may require a prior declaration of works, and the opinion of France's heritage architect authority (Architecte des Bâtiments de France) within protected perimeters. Contact the City of Bordeaux planning department to find out which rules apply to your exact address.

It depends on the model, which is why this point must be checked before you buy. Well-designed locks keep a mechanical backup cylinder, or accept emergency power from an external battery or a connector on the front. They also alert you several weeks in advance.

Not mechanically. It removes the risk of spare keys in circulation and lets you revoke access instantly, which is a genuine gain. But resistance to break-ins depends on the mechanism, the cylinder and the door, exactly as before.

Yes, if you choose a reversible model that fits onto the existing cylinder on the inside, without drilling or altering the door. Even so, inform your landlord, and keep the original parts so the door can be restored at the end of the tenancy.

Policies that require a certification level are concerned with mechanical resistance. If your policy requires an A2P-certified lock, check that the smart model you are considering keeps that certification in the configuration as installed. Ask your insurer before buying.

The answer is in your insurance policy: it states the amount covered for valuables kept at home and the minimum grade required for that amount. Then choose a safe that at least meets that requirement, taking into account what you intend to keep in it.

It is not a legal requirement, but insurers almost always demand it below a certain weight, and it determines how effective the safe really is. An unanchored safe is a safe that can be carried away.

Only if it is certified for that, under the EN 1047 standard. Burglary resistance and fire resistance are two separate certifications. For documents or digital media, check the stated protection duration and temperature, and the type of contents covered — paper and digital media have different thresholds.