Anti Snap Locks and Euro Cylinder Upgrades

Most uPVC and composite doors are locked by a euro cylinder, the part your key turns. Plenty of those cylinders work perfectly well yet offer less resistance to forced entry than a modern design. Fitting anti snap locks is a security upgrade carried out on a door that may have nothing wrong with it. Sean Cardwell Windows can replace euro cylinders with anti snap versions from our Weston-super-Mare base. If your lock is actually broken or jammed, our Lock-Repairs page is the right place to start instead.

What lock snapping means

A standard euro cylinder is a single bar of metal with a weak point in the middle, where the cam that drives the lock sits. If the cylinder sticks out beyond the door handle, it can be gripped and snapped at that point, exposing the mechanism. An anti snap cylinder is designed with a sacrificial section that breaks away first while the rest of the cylinder keeps the lock secure. Many also include extra resistance to picking and drilling.

You can check your own door: look at how far the cylinder protrudes beyond the handle or escutcheon on the outside. A cylinder that stands proud is more exposed than one sitting flush.

Euro cylinder lock replacement

Euro cylinder lock replacement is usually quick because the cylinder is held by a single retaining screw on the door edge. The important part is sizing. Cylinders are measured from the centre fixing to each end, and the right size leaves the cylinder sitting close to flush with the handles on both sides. Too long and it is exposed; too short and the key or thumbturn may not work properly. We measure the door and the existing cylinder before fitting a replacement.

Changing the cylinder also gives you new keys, which is worth doing when you move house or have lost a set. Thumbturn versions on the inside can make it easier to unlock in a hurry, which some households prefer.

Security windows and handles

Good security works as a set. A strong cylinder pairs well with door handles that have a cylinder guard, and windows benefit from lockable handles and properly adjusted keeps. If your door handle is loose or drooping, see uPVC door handle replacement, and for limiting or locking opening windows, read window locks and restrictors. For homes with composite doors, the same cylinder principles apply.

Other ways to strengthen a door

A cylinder upgrade works best alongside a door that closes and locks properly. If the door has dropped, the hooks may not be engaging fully, which weakens it however good the cylinder is. Correctly adjusted keeps, sound hinges and a handle set that covers the cylinder all play their part. We look at the whole door when fitting an upgrade so obvious weak spots are pointed out.

Moving house or lost keys

New owners often have no idea how many keys are in circulation. Replacing the cylinders is one of the simplest ways to make sure only your household can get in, and it is far quicker than changing the lock itself.

Booking an upgrade

Tell us how many external doors you have, whether they are uPVC or composite and whether you would like all of them keyed alike. A photo of the cylinder from outside helps. Send the details through the quote form and we will explain the options.