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Independent locksmith in Sheffield, you speak to Sam
- No call out fee
- No VAT to pay
5.0 on Google 200+ reviews
5.0 on Google 200+ reviews
Locksmith in Sheffield for Homes and Businesses
Prime Locksmiths is an independent locksmith in Sheffield, and the person who answers the phone is Sam Gregory, the locksmith who comes out and does the job. Sam opens locked doors, repairs uPVC door locks and mechanisms and changes locks for homes, landlords and small businesses across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield and Worksop. Sam gives you the price on the phone before he sets off, with no call out fee, no VAT and no weekend surcharge, and quotes are free.
- Emergency lockouts, with the phone answered 24 hours
- uPVC door and window repairs
- Composite door repairs
- Door realignment
- Lock changes and security upgrades
- Burglary repairs
- Rated 5.0 on Google from 200+ reviews.
- Usually with you within 30 minutes in Sheffield, unless Sam is already on a job.
- DBS checked, fully insured and trained before he started trading.
- Every repair carries a 12 month parts and labour warranty, and if Sam cannot fix it, you pay nothing.
Sheffield Locksmith Prices With No Call Out Fee
Every job is quoted before it starts. Sam asks what has happened, which door and lock you have and where you are, then gives you the figure on the phone, and that figure covers the travel, the labour and the work. There is no call out fee, even when Sam has to come back a second time, and no VAT, because Prime Locksmiths is not VAT registered, so a VAT registered firm adds 20 percent to the same bill and Prime Locksmiths does not.
Saturday and Sunday visits cost the same as weekday visits. A late night callout costs a little more, and Sam tells you the full price on the phone before he sets off, so the figure you agree is the figure you pay.
Four things decide the price of a locksmith job.
- The time of day, because a late night callout costs a little more than the same job in the day.
- The lock standard, because a TS007 3 star anti snap cylinder costs more than a basic euro cylinder.
- The door type, because a uPVC or composite door with a multipoint mechanism takes longer than a wooden door with a night latch.
- Whether the part can be repaired, because a failed gearbox repaired in place costs less than a full mechanism replacement.
The Six Steps of a Locksmith Visit From Sam
Three answers matter before calling a locksmith, which are the price, the arrival time and the proof of residence to have ready.
Sam gives you all three on the first call, and every visit follows the same six steps.
- You call 07842 685254 or send a WhatsApp message, and Sam answers himself, day or night.
- Sam asks what has happened, which door and lock you have and where you are, then gives you the price and an arrival time.
- When he arrives, Sam checks that you live at the property, using a bill, a tenancy agreement or photo ID with the address.
- Sam opens the door without damage wherever the lock allows it, by picking the lock or using entry tools, and keeps drilling as the last resort.
- If a lock or mechanism needs replacing, Sam fits it in the same visit, because he carries most parts on the van.
- You pay once the door opens, locks and works, and the work is covered by a 12 month parts and labour warranty.
Locksmith Services Sam Covers Across Sheffield
Prime Locksmiths covers six main services for homes and businesses, starting with the jobs that cannot wait.
24 Hour Emergency Lockouts and Damage Free Entry
An emergency lockout is a locksmith call out to open a door when the keys are lost, locked inside or snapped in the lock. Sam answers the phone 24 hours a day and comes out late at night for lockouts in and close to Sheffield. He opens most doors without damage by picking the lock, and he extracts a snapped key from the cylinder before deciding whether the lock needs changing. A lockout is priced on the call before Sam sets off.
uPVC Door and Window Lock Repairs
A uPVC door mechanism is the multipoint lock inside the edge of the door, with a central gearbox that drives the hooks, rollers or bolts into the frame. When the handle goes floppy, the key will not turn or the door will not lock, the gearbox or the mechanism has usually failed. Sam repairs the gearbox in place where he can instead of replacing the whole mechanism, which saves you the cost of a full replacement, and he fits a complete multipoint strip when the old one is beyond repair. uPVC windows fail the same way, through worn gearboxes, broken handles and a seized locking bar inside the sash, known as the espagnolette, and a window stuck shut is a locksmith job as much as a door that will not lock.
Composite Door Repairs and Lock Replacement
A composite door has a solid core under a moulded skin, so it is heavier than a uPVC door and it carries its weight on three or four adjustable hinges. That weight is why composite doors drop, catch on the frame and need the handle lifted hard before the key will turn, and why the hinges and keeps need setting correctly rather than the lock being replaced. Sam repairs the multipoint mechanism, swaps the euro cylinder for the right length for the thicker door slab, and adjusts the hinges so the door closes under its own weight. A recent job in Chapeltown was a rim cylinder change on a front door.
Door Realignment When a Door Drops or Sticks
Door realignment is the adjustment of the hinges, the keeps and the compression of a door so that it closes and locks without force. A door that has dropped, sticks on the frame or only locks when it is pulled or lifted is out of line, and the usual cause is the hinges settling or the keeps on the frame moving over time. Sam measures where the door sits in the frame, adjusts the hinges, moves the keeps and resets the compression, which is often all that a door that will not lock needs. Realigning the door also protects a new mechanism, because a mechanism forced into a keep that is out of line fails again.
Lock Changes and Anti Snap Security Upgrades
A lock change replaces the cylinder, mortice lock or night latch so that old keys no longer work, which matters after a house move, a lost key or a tenant leaving. Sam fits locks from Yale, ERA, Ultion, Avocet and APECS, including TS007 3 star anti snap euro cylinders, which resist lock snapping, the attack burglars use on standard euro cylinders, and BS3621 mortice locks, which many home insurers ask for on wooden doors. On a recent upgrade in Wombwell, Sam fitted security double locking handles and 3 star anti snap cylinders, with blanking handles on the outside of the patio doors because they are not the main way into the house.
Burglary Repairs After a Break In
After a break in, Sam replaces the damaged cylinder, lock or handle so the door secures again the same day, and fits an anti snap cylinder if the old lock was snapped. He also repairs the door itself where the frame or the keeps have been forced, and replaces locks on up and over and side hinged garage doors. Sam does not board up broken glass, so a glazier is the right call for a smashed pane.
Alongside the six, Sam repairs patio, sliding and bifold door locks, fits key safes and garden gate locks, changes locks between tenants for landlords and letting agents, and repairs aluminium shopfront doors for shops and offices, work that draws on the years he spent as a curtain wall installer before he became a locksmith. The full list is further down this page.
Independent Locksmith Compared With Call Centres and Insurers
When a door will not open or will not lock, there are four kinds of help you can call, and they differ most in who turns up and how the price is set.
| Who you call | Who comes out | How the price is set | Call out fee and VAT | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent locksmith, such as Prime Locksmiths | The locksmith you spoke to on the phone | Agreed on the call, before the locksmith sets off | None at Prime Locksmiths | Lockouts, lock changes and uPVC door repairs the same day |
| National locksmith call centre | A local locksmith the centre passes the job to | Set by the centre, which usually keeps a share of the price | Often both added | A time when no local locksmith answers |
| Door or window installer | A fitter, often booked days ahead | A quote, often for a new mechanism or a new door | Depends on the firm | Replacing a whole door or window |
| Home emergency helpline from an insurer | A contractor the insurer approves | Paid by the policy, after any excess | Depends on the policy | Homes with home emergency cover that includes lockouts |
The difference
The main difference is the middle step. A call centre and an insurer helpline both pass the job to someone else, so the person who quotes is not the person who arrives, while an independent locksmith quotes and does the job himself. An installer usually quotes to replace the door or the mechanism, while a locksmith can often repair the gearbox or the lock that failed.
What they share
All four should check proof that you live at the property before opening a door, and all four should give you a price before work starts.
What it means for you
The effect for you is speed and a fixed price. Speaking to the person who does the job means the price, the arrival time and the parts are settled on the first call, which is the point customers mention most often in the 200+ Google reviews of Prime Locksmiths.
Sam Gregory, the Sheffield Locksmith You Speak To
Sam Gregory has run Prime Locksmiths since 2022. He has always been fascinated by locks, and before he became a locksmith he worked as a curtain wall installer, fitting the aluminium and glass facades on commercial buildings. He is DBS checked and fully insured, and he has completed over 2,000 jobs across South Yorkshire, Chesterfield and Worksop.
Prime Locksmiths is Sam on his own, so the person who takes your call is the person who comes to your door and the person who stands behind the 12 month warranty.
2022The year Sam started Prime Locksmiths
2,000+Jobs completed by Sam
DBSChecked and fully insured
5.0On Google from 200+ reviews
Locksmith Cover Across Sheffield and Nearby Towns
Sam reaches every area he covers within 30 minutes or less, unless he is already on a job, in which case he tells you the longer time when you call. He travels up to 45 minutes for a job.
In the north west of the city, Sam covers Hillsborough, Walkley, Crookes and Wadsley, where many of the stone and brick terraces still have wooden front doors with a mortice lock or a night latch. In the south west, he covers Totley, Dore, Nether Edge, Woodseats and Heeley, and to the north, Ecclesfield and Chapeltown, with Stocksbridge out to the north west. To the east, he covers Darnall and Mosborough and, over the border in Derbyshire, Killamarsh. The newer estates in Mosborough and Killamarsh are mostly fitted with uPVC and composite doors on multipoint locks.
On a recent job in S5, Sam opened a locked front door without damage and replaced the failed multipoint mechanism, so the owner was back inside and secure in one visit. Other recent Sheffield jobs include a lock change on a metal door in Highfield, a failed uPVC window mechanism in Chapeltown, where Sam took the sash out of the frame to fit the new mechanism, a rim cylinder change in Chapeltown and a Supra high security key safe fitted into the stonework beside a front door in Woodhouse.
Outside the city, Sam covers Rotherham with Rawmarsh, Maltby, Wickersley and Dinnington, Barnsley with Wombwell, Hoyland and Penistone, Chesterfield with Dronfield, and Worksop. Recent jobs there include a full multipoint mechanism replacement in Rotherham, a sliding patio door gearbox repair and a garden gate lock fitted in Maltby, a 3 star APECS cylinder upgrade in Wickersley and the failed gearbox replacement in Hoyland pictured above.
Prime Locksmiths Google Reviews From Sheffield Customers
Prime Locksmiths holds a 5.0 rating on Google from 200+ reviews. The points customers mention most are the clear price given before the job, new door handles fitted well, front door repairs and the lack of a call out fee.
Send Sam the job details
For jobs that are not urgent, send Sam the details here. If you are locked out now, call or WhatsApp him instead.
- The price is agreed before Sam sets off
- No call out fee and no VAT
- Within 30 minutes or less, unless Sam is on a job
Every Locksmith Service Prime Locksmiths Covers
uPVC Door Repair and Mechanism Replacement
Gearbox repairs, full multipoint mechanisms and doors that will not lock or open.
Home lockouts, lost keys and snapped keys, with the phone answered 24 hours.
Dropped composite doors, hinge and keep adjustment, mechanisms and cylinders.
New cylinders, mortice locks and night latches after a move, a lost key or a tenant leaving.
TS007 3 star cylinders and security handles that resist lock snapping.
Damaged locks and doors secured again after a break in.
uPVC Window Lock and Handle Repair
Window handles, locks and mechanisms, including windows stuck shut.
Locks, handles and gearboxes on patio and sliding doors.
Locks and handles on bifold doors that will not lock or open.
Locks on up and over and side hinged garage doors.
Shopfront door repairs and lock changes for small business premises.
Locksmith Areas Sam Covers Outside Sheffield
Rotherham town, Rawmarsh, Maltby, Dinnington, Wickersley and Bramley.
Barnsley town, Wombwell, Hoyland, Penistone, Cudworth and Darton.
Chesterfield, Dronfield, Staveley, Clay Cross and Killamarsh.
Worksop, Shireoaks, Carlton in Lindrick and Gateford.
Chapeltown, High Green, Ecclesfield, Grenoside and Thorpe Hesley.
No VAT and No Call Out Fee Explained
A business only has to charge VAT once it registers for VAT, and registration is only required above a turnover threshold. Prime Locksmiths is one locksmith working on his own and is not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to any bill.
A call out fee is a charge some locksmiths add for travelling to you, before any work starts and whether or not the job is finished. At Prime Locksmiths the travel is inside the job price, so no call out fee is added, even when Sam comes back for a second visit.
What actually moves the figure, from the job and the parts to the time of day, is set out on the what decides a locksmith price page, along with the questions worth asking any locksmith before they set off.
Locksmith Questions Asked by Sheffield Customers
Short answers on prices, arrival times, cover and proof of residence. If your question is not here, call Sam on 07842 685254.
How much does a locksmith cost in Sheffield
Sam gives you the price on the phone before he sets off, so the figure you agree is the figure you pay. There is no call out fee and no VAT, quotes are free, and a late night call out costs a little more than the same job in the day.
How can I pay Sam
By card, bank transfer or cash. Sam carries a card machine, and payment is taken once the door opens, locks and works, not before.
Do you charge a call out fee
No. Prime Locksmiths charges no call out fee, even when Sam has to come back for a second visit.
Can I get a price before Sam arrives
Yes. Sam gives you the price on the phone before he sets off, so you know the cost before he reaches your door.
Do you charge extra at weekends
No. Saturday and Sunday visits cost the same as weekday visits, because Prime Locksmiths has no weekend surcharge.
How quickly can a locksmith get to me in Sheffield
Sam reaches every area he covers within 30 minutes or less, Sheffield included, unless he is already on a job, in which case the wait is a little longer and he tells you the honest time when you call.
Are you a 24 hour locksmith
Sam answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and comes out late at night for lockouts in and close to Sheffield. Other jobs that come in late at night are booked for the next day.
Do you cover all of Sheffield
Yes. Sam covers every part of Sheffield, from Hillsborough and Walkley in the north west to Totley and Dore in the south west and Mosborough in the east.
What proof do I need when I am locked out
Sam asks for proof that you live at the property before he opens the door, such as a bill or bank statement with the address, a tenancy agreement or photo ID with the address. If your documents are inside, he checks them as soon as the door is open.
Can you fix a uPVC door that will not lock
Yes. When a uPVC door will not lock, the cause is usually a dropped door, a misaligned keep or a failed gearbox, and Sam fixes all three, repairing the gearbox where he can rather than replacing the whole mechanism.
Can you repair a composite door
Yes. Composite doors are heavier than uPVC doors, so they drop on their hinges and start to catch on the frame. Sam adjusts the hinges and the keeps, repairs or replaces the multipoint mechanism and fits a cylinder of the right length for the thicker door slab.
Can you realign a door that has dropped
Yes. Door realignment is adjusting the hinges, the keeps and the compression so the door closes and locks without being pulled or lifted. It is often all that a door that will not lock needs, and it is cheaper than a new mechanism.
Do you fit key safes
Yes. Sam fits high security key safes, including Supra models set into the wall beside the door, which suit carers, cleaners and family members who need access without carrying a key.
Do you carry parts on the van
Yes. Sam carries most cylinders, mechanisms, gearboxes and handles on the van, so most jobs are finished in one visit.
Do you work for landlords and letting agents
Yes. Sam changes locks between tenants, cuts spare keys and repairs doors in rented homes for landlords and letting agents across Sheffield and Rotherham.
Are you DBS checked and insured
Yes. Sam is DBS checked and fully insured, and every repair comes with a 12 month parts and labour warranty.
How can I avoid being locked out again
Leave a spare key with a neighbour or relative you trust rather than under a mat or a plant pot, and have a stiff lock or a handle that needs forcing looked at early, because a failing gearbox often jams completely without warning.
Do you cover Doncaster
No. Prime Locksmiths does not cover Doncaster, and Sam works across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield and Worksop instead.