Service illustration · not a completed customer projectTHE WORK, EXPLAINED
Start with the condition.
Understand the scope.
Describe the existing hardware, door preparation and exposure to weather. Ask why replacement is proposed, whether repair or rekeying is an alternative and how the new lock fits the door and frame. The written scope can identify the hardware, finish, key arrangement and any joinery or strike work required.
What may be involved
- replacement lockset
- matching cylinder
- strike plate
- latch assembly
- finish-matched fixings
Ask the provider to distinguish existing parts to inspect, proposed replacements, and tools, materials or reports included in the service. Confirm the work and exclusions after assessment; this list does not mean that every item will be supplied or replaced.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Dover Shores East
Local exposure
Orange County's storm-repair guidance states that window and exterior door replacements always require a permit, that mechanical repairs including air-conditioning replacement or major ductwork repairs need one, and that replacing broken glass in an existing frame without changing its size or type does not. It also warns that unlicensed contractors may try to take advantage of residents after a storm and that work done without a permit may not be covered by homeowners' insurance. Worth reading before arranging lock, door-hardware and entry-security work on storm damage in Dover Shores East, and worth telling the insurer about in advance.
Source ↗Local context
Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation runs a public licence search covering the professions and businesses the department regulates. If a provider quotes a state licence number for security or electrical work, the number can be checked there — and it is fair to ask what the licence actually covers, since the search only reflects professions DBPR regulates. Local registration and insurance are separate questions worth asking about as well.
Source ↗Planning your work
The City of Orlando's permitting pages state that the State of Florida requires a permit for most projects, even small ones, and that a project valued above $5,000 needs a Notice of Commencement filed with the Orange County Comptroller before work starts. For lock, door-hardware and entry-security work, ask which permit type the scope falls under before anything is ordered. Dover Shores East sits inside Orange County, and some addresses near the city line are unincorporated and permitted by the county instead — confirm which building department covers the address. This is the authority's published guidance, not a determination about a particular property.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
Before the visit
Tell us the lock type, your location and whether you still have a working key.
