How to choose a locksmith for a bigger metalwork job

How changing a lock differs from metalwork

Fitting or replacing a lock is precision work with hand tools: a drill, chisels, a set of files, patience. It takes product knowledge and a steady hand, but it does not require welding equipment, structural calculation, or the ability to work with steel sections that weigh more than the person carrying them.

A custom gate, a repaired railing, or a steel frame is a different trade in practice, even though both fall under "locksmith" in casual speech. It involves cutting and welding metal, checking that a structure will actually carry its own weight and whatever leans on it, and often coordinating with paint or galvanising afterwards. Someone can be excellent at one and have never done the other.

What to ask before you order the work

Before agreeing anything, ask direct questions rather than judging by how confident the answer sounds. The point is to find out whether the person in front of you does the fabrication themselves or hands it to someone else, because that changes who is accountable if the weld fails.

It is also worth asking how they intend to measure and fit the piece, since a gate or railing that is welded slightly wrong is far harder to correct than a lock that needs re-adjusting.

• Do you weld this yourself, or is it subcontracted to someone else?
• Can I see photos of gates or railings you have actually built, not stock images?
• Will you measure on site before fabrication, or work from my measurements alone?
• What steel or fittings do you use, and can I ask for a heavier gauge?
• Roughly how long will the job take from measuring to installation?

What actually shows real metalwork ability

The clearest sign is equipment on site: a welding machine, an angle grinder, clamps, a steel table or trestles to work on, not just a toolbox for locks. If someone turns up to quote a gate with nothing but a drill, that tells you something about how the job will actually be done.

A portfolio of finished railings, gates or repairs, ideally with a few words on what each job involved, is worth more than any description of skill. Photos of welds close up, not just the painted finished product, show whether the joins were done cleanly or filled and sanded to hide a rough job.

Straight answers about subcontracting matter too. There is nothing wrong with a business bringing in a specialist welder for part of a job, but you want to know that up front, because it affects who stands behind the weld itself two years from now.

What is marketing rather than a sign of skill

A long list of services on a website tells you what a business is willing to quote for, not what it is good at. The same goes for phrases like "full service" or "any metalwork job" — they cost nothing to write and say nothing about the actual welder.

Be equally cautious about firm prices given without seeing the job. A gate is not a standard item; the width of the opening, the ground it sits on, and the fittings you want all change the cost, so a number given over the phone before any details are known is a guess dressed up as a quote.

How pricing and guarantee usually work

Metal fitting is generally charged from 45 € per hour and welding from 55 € per hour, reflecting the extra equipment and skill involved compared with ordinary handyman work. A defined steel structure, such as a gate or a section of railing, is more often priced as a fixed job, from around 250 €, once the size and design are clear.

For anything beyond a small repair, ask for a written quote based on a description or photos of the site, valid for a set period, so you know the final figure before work starts rather than after. On finished work, a guarantee of at least 24 months on workmanship is reasonable to expect and worth confirming before you sign off, though it will not cover wear or damage from misuse afterwards.