Gate Lock Replacement Sheffield Garden and Side Gate Locks

Front doors face the street, so they are seen. Back doors, patio doors and kitchen windows usually are not. A side gate or the gate onto a shared ginnel is often the only barrier between the road and the rear of the house, which is why it is commonly listed among the first things to check in home security advice.

A good gate lock does three things. It stops the gate being opened from outside without a key or code, it cannot be reached and released by putting an arm over the top, and it still lets you get out quickly from the garden side. We look at all three before recommending anything.

Once the gate is sorted, the doors it protects matter too. Rear uPVC doors with basic cylinders are a common weak point, explained on our anti snap locks Sheffield page.

A keypad gate lock replaces the key with a short code. It suits households where several people come and go through the back, such as teenagers, a carer, a dog walker or a cleaner, and it removes the problem of a gate key going missing.

• Mechanical keypads need no batteries or wiring, which matters on a gate that stands out in a Sheffield winter.
• Double sided versions need a code from both sides, useful on shared passages.
• Code changes are straightforward, so you can give a tradesperson a temporary code and change it afterwards.

Keypad gate locks are quoted from a photo because the right model depends on the gate thickness and frame. If you are weighing up code locks for your front door too, our guide on how to avoid being locked out sets out the pros and cons of keyless options.

Gates live outdoors, so their locks fail in predictable ways:

• Seized cylinder. Rain and frost get into an exposed keyhole and the key stops turning. A weatherproof cylinder cover or a keypad lock avoids a repeat.
• Latch no longer catches. The gate has dropped or the post has moved, so the latch rides past its keep. Realigning the keep often fixes it.
• Bolt rusted solid. Cheap zinc plated padbolts corrode within a few winters. We replace them with heavier, better finished bolts.
• Lock reachable over the top. A thumb turn or bolt within arm's reach of the outside is not much of a lock. We reposition it lower or fit a lock that needs a key or code on both sides.

Most of these are fixed in a single visit once we have seen a photo.

1. Photograph both sides. Show the street side and the garden side of the gate where the lock will go.
2. Show the post. We need to see the post or wall the gate closes against.
3. Measure the frame. For metal gates, the width of the box section; for timber, the thickness of the frame.
4. Tell us how you use it. Daily from both sides, or only from inside, changes the best lock.

Text the photos after calling 0114 463 0063 and we will quote before booking. Cylinder and padlock starting prices are on our locksmith prices page, and our full range is listed under locksmith services in Sheffield. If a house lock needs changing at the same visit, see lock replacement.