A bolt that sticks, a cellar door that no longer closes, a balcony balustrade that wobbles: locksmith work and metalwork affect everyday safety as much as the look of a building. These metal trades cover very different jobs, from one-off emergency call-outs to made-to-measure fabrication.
On SOS Travaux, you describe your work online and your request is passed to craftspeople and firms in the region, who get back to you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote. This page presents the trade, what changes from one Western Swiss canton to another and how to prepare your request.
Locksmith or metalworker: what the trade covers
The word “locksmith” first suggests the door you open or secure. The metalworker makes and installs steel, stainless steel or aluminium work. In practice the two overlap, and the same firm often offers both services.
On the locksmith side, the most common jobs are:
- opening a door that has slammed shut or whose key has been lost;
- replacing a cylinder or a lock, after a house move, a lost key or an attempted break-in;
- fitting or reinforcing an entrance door, a landing door or a cellar door;
- installing a master-key system, a keypad or access control for a building;
- restoring door closers, strike plates, hinges and handles.
On the metalwork side, you will more often find:
- balustrades for balconies, terraces, staircases or windows;
- outdoor or indoor staircases, ramps and handrails;
- gates, fences, grilles and bar work;
- canopies, awnings, workshop-style glazed screens and metal glazing frames;
- made-to-measure pieces: brackets, cladding, metal furniture, bin enclosures.
When to call a locksmith professional
Some jobs can be planned, others cannot wait. A lock that gets stiff, a cylinder that spins freely or a door that rubs are early warning signs: acting in time often avoids a complete jam. After a burglary or an attempt, the damaged fastening must be put right before any other work.
For metalwork, a professional is essential as soon as the element bears a load or protects against a fall. A balustrade or a staircase is not a DIY job: the fixing into the slab or the masonry, the welding and the long-term durability call for precise know-how. Visible corrosion, loose fixings or a handrail that moves justify an inspection without delay.
In an emergency, a blocked door for example, say so in your request, without waiting until you have every detail. On the other hand, avoid signing a quote under pressure without having read it.
Training for the trade in Switzerland
In Switzerland, initial vocational training in this field goes through an apprenticeship and leads to a federal certificate of competence (CFC). Metal construction and locksmith trades have their own track, with specialisations depending on the firm. A CFC attests to a recognised training path, but it does not replace checking what matters for your project: experience with the type of work requested, references you can ask the firm for, and a clear quote.
Ask the firm to explain how it works: on-site measuring, workshop or on-site fabrication, installation, finishing. A reliable contact answers these questions simply.
Permits, energy and heritage: what varies from one Western Swiss canton to another
Routine locksmith work (changing a cylinder, fitting a lock) generally requires no official procedure. Things get more complicated when the work changes the appearance of the building or affects its structure. The rules below are guidelines; the commune or the relevant cantonal office remains the body to consult before ordering.
Geneva. Building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire. The old town and several districts are protected: replacing an entrance door, a grille or a balustrade on an affected facade may therefore be regulated. Many rental buildings are managed by agencies, which must be involved in the process. If the work affects the thermal envelope, the cantonal energy law and the cantonal energy office are worth knowing about, as the Buildings Programme subsidies in Geneva depend on them.
Vaud. The building permit is issued by the municipality of the commune. The file goes through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services need to give an opinion. The Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate govern the energy aspects, with a cantonal subsidy programme. In old towns or in the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, a facade change deserves a prior check.
Valais. The building permit is issued by the commune within the building zone and by a cantonal commission outside it. Chalets and second homes are numerous; the federal law on second homes applies in the communes concerned. For energy, the cantonal energy and hydropower service runs a cantonal subsidy programme.
Fribourg. Building permit applications are filed through the cantonal FRIAC platform, and the permit is issued by the prefecture or the commune depending on the type of work. The canton is bilingual, with protected old towns. The cantonal energy service runs the subsidy programme.
Neuchâtel. Applications go through the cantonal SATAC counter, with the decision taken by the commune. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, calls for caution with any visible facade change. The cantonal energy and environment service handles the energy side and subsidies.
Jura. The building permit is issued by the commune or by the canton depending on the scale of the project. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne have a character to preserve. The cantonal energy section offers a subsidy programme.
Biel/Bienne and the Bernese Jura. The canton of Bern is responsible: the permit is issued by the commune or the prefecture depending on the project, and the cantonal office for the environment and energy manages subsidies. As Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, dealings with the administration can be in French or German.
Preparing your locksmith or metalwork request
A well-described request saves everyone time and makes quotes comparable. Gather the following before filling in the form:
- the type of work: door, lock, balustrade, staircase, gate, made-to-measure piece;
- the address and type of building: house, flat, co-owned building, business premises;
- your status: owner, tenant (with the landlord’s consent), co-owner, company;
- the current condition, with photos and, if possible, the main dimensions;
- the material and look you want: raw steel, galvanised, powder-coated, stainless steel;
- access constraints: floor, narrow staircase, courtyard, no lift;
- when you would like the work to take place.
If the building is protected, co-owned or managed by an agency, mention it: the consent of the co-ownership or of the landlord may determine the choice of a model or a colour.
Reading a metalwork quote: what it details and what makes the cost vary
A reliable quote is more than a total. It describes the work to be carried out, the nature of the materials, the surface treatment, supply and installation, the removal of the old work and its disposal if planned, as well as additional work such as anchoring, repairing a substrate or painting. It also states the payment terms and what is not included.
Several factors make the cost of locksmith or metalwork vary:
- the chosen material and its anti-corrosion treatment;
- the dimensions and the complexity of the shapes;
- whether the piece is made to measure or standard;
- the quality of the cylinders, locks and security components;
- site access and installation height;
- removal of what is there and the condition of the substrate;
- requirements linked to a protected building or to a permit.
Compare several quotes based on the same description, and question large differences: they often come from a difference in material, finish or scope, not just labour costs.
Legal warranties on locksmith and metalwork
The Code of Obligations governs defects in the work. For work on immovable property, such as a balustrade, a staircase or a door fixed to the building, the warranty period for hidden defects is five years under Art. 371 CO. For movable items, it is two years. A defect you find must be reported to the firm without delay, preferably in writing.
If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, it applies to the contract. Read the quote and the attached general conditions before signing, and keep the invoice, any plans and the acceptance report.
Request a free quote
Do you have a project, a repair to make or doubts about the condition of a structure? Request a quote: describe your work, add photos if you can, and your request is passed to craftspeople and firms in the region. They get back to you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote, which you are free to accept or not.
Locksmith and metalwork near you in Western Switzerland
Rules, procedures and built heritage differ from one canton to another. See the page for your canton to place your project:
Updated 29 October 2026