Opening safes and garage doors

Check the battery first: on many electronic safes, a weak battery stops the safe opening even with the right code. Some models have an emergency key or master code described in the manual.

If that doesn't work, it depends on the model: key lock, mechanical combination or electronic lock, wall-mounted or freestanding. Some can be opened without damage, others need drilling, after which the lock must be replaced.

We tell you what's realistic for your safe before we travel.

A stuck up-and-over door is often down to the lock, a rod or a spring. A motorised sectional door that won't open may be the remote, the motor or a cable.

Most motorised doors have a manual release (a handle or cord) for power cuts. If you can't find it, or the door stays heavy, don't force it: a tensioned spring can be dangerous.

Never try to remove a garage door spring yourself. Torsion springs are under high tension.

A safe or a garage door isn't handled like a flat door. The model changes everything: method, time and price.

With a wide shot and a close-up of the lock or keypad, we can tell you whether the job is possible, what it involves and what it costs. Then you decide, with no obligation.

1. Photos on WhatsApp — Overall view, lock or keypad, brand plate if visible.
2. Quote — Planned method and price including 17% VAT.
3. Proof of ownership — We'll ask for proof that the safe or garage is yours.
4. The job — Opening, then repair or a new lock if needed.

These jobs are quoted individually because they vary a lot between models. You get the price before we travel.