Can a locksmith damage your door?

Question

We accidentally locked ourselves out of the house last night and had to call a locksmith. Only the bottom lock was locked (not the deadbolt) and he couldn't open it with pins so he used these pumps to move the door and the door frame apart until it popped open. But after he left and I got in the house and locked it I noticed that the space between the door and the frame seemed larger than before. It was close at top and bottom, but far apart in the middle (almost far enough that the bottom lock doesn't go all the way in the hole). Am I imagining things or can this way of opening the door do this? Will it eventually move back in place on its own or is there something I can do to inch it closer together? Thanks!

Do you know how much it would cost to get it reshimmed? or how much the materials cost? is this something someone could do themselves?

Answer 1

Surely they can damage it..as mentioned..I have never heard of this technique..not much of A locksmith if he can't open a common entry lock...one of the easiest to pick.. But it can range from him moving the door and frame apart yes..he could have broken/cracked the studs within the wall holding the casing in, could have messed the striker plate up itself, made the screws on any part knob/hinges etc strip out,along with many other factors..when he moved the door from the frame there had to be a few thousand psi pressing on the hinges and the stud on the hinge side..I would definately stop payment on the check..or make him pay for the repair of it..i just did some research and these wedges and inflatable pumps that do this are made for automotive use only...

Answer 2

Some kind of lock smith? Wow never heard of this method used by a pro before. A real lock smith can open your lock sometimes it takes a bit longer to pick. He has now moved your lock set side of your door not the hinged side. Take the inside molding off of the frame be sure to take a utility knife and cut down the back side of the molding so that the paint wont chip from the removal. Then take your pry bar and pry the casing back into place and then re shim to desired space needed. Reinstall moulding touch up with paint and then send the lock smith a bill for your work done. I think a fair estamate would be the cost of the lock smiths billing. what do you think?

Answer 3

save ur receipt, submit bill for damages.
hope he was really a business and not a fly by nite.
what has probably happened is the shims behind the door casing have been compressed and door will need reshimming.
No, "recovery effect" involved, pretty much permanent until repaired. Repair will involve removing the trim to get into the space behind the door casing.