Anna Becker
Anna inspects doors after break-ins and writes reports for insurers. She sees every day what holds up and what only looks expensive.
From the trade to the guide
Anna inspects doors after break-ins and writes reports for insurers. She sees every day what holds up and what only looks expensive.
Articles by Anna
All articles
Securing a rented flat without major works: what really helps
Even as a tenant you can make your flat much safer without major works. Which upgrades really help, without landlord trouble.
Hamburg brick and period buildings: upgrading front doors in the Schanze and Eimsbuettel
An old brick front door in the Schanze can be made secure without losing its character. How it works, what it costs, and where the limits are.
Retrofitting 1950s and 1960s front doors in Hanau instead of replacing them
The typical doors from Hanau's post-war reconstruction can usually be retrofitted rather than replaced. What really counts on a 1950s door, and where replacement is the more honest answer.
Hillside and half-height Stuttgart: burglary protection for houses with several entrances
On a Stuttgart slope the street front door is rarely the problem, but the valley side and the cellar are. How to secure a house with many entrances as a system.
Retrofitting front doors in Dortmund: securing miners' colonies and postwar houses
The old front doors in Dortmund's miners' settlements and 1950s houses rarely need throwing out. Usually a clever retrofit does it. What holds, what it costs, where to begin.
Damage-free door opening: is it always possible
Non-destructive opening works often, but not always. When a door opens without damage, when drilling is needed and how to spot needless drilling.
Heritage-compliant burglary protection on the Mathildenhöhe: securing Art Nouveau doors
An Art Nouveau door on the Mathildenhöhe can be secured effectively without sacrificing its substance. Reversible, discreet, heritage-compliant. Here is how I tackle lock, hinges and frame.
How fast is the locksmith there? Call-out times across Frankfurt districts
How long you wait for a locksmith depends heavily on the district. Realistic call-out times for central and outlying Frankfurt areas.
Burglary protection for Art Nouveau front doors in Wiesbaden
A listed Art Nouveau door in Wiesbaden can be secured effectively without touching the substance. Where cylinder, strike plate and hinges really count.
Protecting the Bremer Haus: burglary protection for the terraced build
The Bremer Haus has three typical weak points: the basement window, the old front door and the garden access. How to secure them in the right order.
What an honest locksmith will never charge you for
Some line items have no place on an honest invoice. Which ones they are, what a fair door opening costs in Frankfurt, and where the tricks begin.
Securing Bonn's Suedstadt: how to protect a Gruenderzeit flat
Bonn's Suedstadt is a picture-book Gruenderzeit quarter. That is exactly what makes securing it demanding. What really counts on century-old doors.
What to do with old keys after a lock change
After a lock change the old keys sit around. Which to keep, which belong in scrap and why the household bin is a bad idea.
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