Old sash locks corroded from salt air. Sliding-window thumb-latch snapped. Casement crank-out won't lock the keeper. Ground-floor windows without aux locks. We install and repair every type of window lock used in Florida homes - same-day for stocked hardware.
Window locks in Port St. Lucie - sash locks (single + double-hung), sliding-window thumb-locks, casement window keeper rebuilds, key-locking window latches for ground-floor security, hurricane-impact window hardware.
Cost: $80-220 per window depending on type and aux-lock additions. Ground-floor hardening packages (4-6 windows + aux locks): $320-720.
Hardware: Truth Hardware (casement), Andersen + Pella OEM, Prime-Line universal sash locks, Defender Security key-locking sash locks, Truth Sentry II for impact windows.
Florida homeowners spend thousands on impact glass and shutters and then forget that the window itself only stays closed because of a $4 plastic latch the builder installed in 2009. A locked window resists wind pressure better, deters smash-and-grab, and in two-story houses keeps small kids from pushing a sash open onto the lanai roof.
Sash, casement, sliding, and awning windows all take different lock hardware. Brass sash locks, casement crank locks, sliding window pin locks, and keyed sash bolts run $60 to $140 installed per window depending on type and finish. Whole-house upgrade is usually $400 to $900.
Call (772) 284-5142 and we will walk every window and quote you the same day.
Different window types need different locks. We stock all four categories and the matching screws.
Ground floor windows we recommend keyed locks. Upper floors usually flip-latch is plenty. Your choice.
We count windows, check existing latches, and quote per type. No surprise add-ons mid-job.
Most window locks install in under 20 minutes. A 12-window house finishes in half a day.
Standard brass sash lock is $60 to $80. Keyed sliding window lock is $95 to $140. Quoted up front.
A handyman will install whatever Home Depot lock you hand him. He will not tell you that the lock you bought is wrong for vinyl sash, or that mounting it where the screws will show is the wrong placement. We do this every week and we know which hardware fits PSL's most common window builds.
Satin nickel, white, brass, bronze - we match what you already have on the rest of the house.
Most PSL homes have vinyl windows. Wood-window screws will crack vinyl. We use the right screws for the material.
Drilled at the correct interlock depth so the window cannot be lifted out of the track. Most installers miss this.
Call us in May, not June 30. Whole-house lock walks are best done before the storm rush hits.
Almost every PSL home has a mix of three or four window types - here's what each needs:
Single + double-hung sash windows. Most common in older PSL builds (Bayshore, the original PSL grid). The factory cam-action sash lock that joins the upper and lower sashes at the meeting rail. Corrodes in salt air, plastic body cracks with UV exposure. Replacement: $80-140 per window, Prime-Line universal sash lock fits most. For added security, key-locking sash locks (Defender Security 5-50133) prevent the window from being opened from outside even if someone breaks the glass and reaches in. $120-180 per window installed.
Sliding (horizontal) windows. Common on bedrooms and bathrooms in newer construction. Thumb-latch at one end, with a track for the moving sash. Same vulnerability as a sliding glass door but smaller. Replacement thumb-latch: $80-130. Aux track-pin or sliding-window security bar: $40-80 installed. Mandatory on every ground-floor sliding bedroom window in our opinion - it's the most common forced-entry path on single-family homes.
Casement (crank-out) windows. The hinged window that swings outward when you turn a crank. The lock is a multi-point keeper system - one or two cam-locks that pull the sash tight against the weatherstrip. When the keeper bends or the lock arm seizes, the window won't lock. Truth Hardware Encore and Sentry II are the most common keepers in PSL casement windows. Rebuild $120-220 per window.
Hurricane-impact windows. PGT WinGuard, CGI Sentinel, Eagle Window, Custom Window. Heavier sashes, multi-point locking with three-cam systems. Hardware is OEM-specific - we order in PGT/CGI multi-point lock kits when needed (2-4 day lead time) but most basic latch repairs can be done on-site with universal cam-arm replacements. $140-260 per window.
Awning windows. Hinged at the top, opens outward and downward. Common on bathroom and kitchen ventilation. Similar locking hardware to casements but shorter. Repair $100-180.
Ground-floor windows are statistically the number-one forced-entry path on single-family Florida homes. PSL is no exception - especially in unfenced lots and homes on canal-front properties where rear windows aren't visible from the street.
The hardening priorities:
1. Key-locking sash locks on every ground-floor double-hung. The thief who breaks a small pane of glass to reach in and flip the standard sash lock is defeated by a keyed sash lock - they can't unlock it without the key, and they can't reach the key. Defender Security 5-50133 or Prime-Line F-2588 - $40-70 hardware, $30-50 install per window.
2. Track pins or window security bars on every ground-floor slider. Same logic as a Charley Bar for sliding glass doors but window-size. $20-40 hardware, $40-70 install per window. The fastest dollar-per-security upgrade on a typical PSL ground-floor.
3. Window break sensors. Not a lock, but pairs with locks. Glass-break sensors (Ring, Honeywell, GE) that trigger an alarm if the pane is broken. We install and program them with most home-security systems.
4. Window film. 3M Safety + Security Window Film makes glass much harder to break through - even when struck, the film holds the shards together so a thief can't quickly reach in. We don't apply window film directly but we coordinate with PSL window-film installers and pair it with our lock hardening for a full ground-floor package.
For full ground-floor hardening on a 4-bedroom PSL home (typically 6-10 ground-floor windows), the total package is $320-720 depending on which windows are sash vs. slider vs. casement and how many aux locks you add. Done in one visit.
| Service | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard sash lock replacement (single window) | $80 - $140 | Prime-Line universal cam-action sash lock. |
| Key-locking sash lock (single window) | $120 - $180 | Defender Security keyed sash lock. |
| Sliding-window thumb-latch replacement | $80 - $130 | Universal sliding-window latch. |
| Casement window keeper rebuild | $120 - $220 | Truth / Andersen / Pella OEM if needed. |
| Hurricane impact window multi-point lock kit | $140 - $260 | PGT WinGuard / CGI Sentinel OEM. |
| Track pin / window security bar (per window) | $50 - $90 | Aux lock for sliding windows. |
| Whole-ground-floor hardening (typical 4BR home) | $320 - $720 | 6-10 windows with aux locks where appropriate. |
| Decision | Doctor Lockout | Window company | Home Depot install |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair individual broken locks | Yes - same day | No - replace whole window | No |
| Universal hardware in stock on van | Yes | OEM only - ordered in | Limited |
| Hurricane impact window OEM parts | Order in 2-4 days | Standard but pricier | Rarely |
| Ground-floor aux-lock hardening | Yes - bundled pricing | Sometimes - upcharge | Rare |
| Cost per window (typical sash lock) | $80-180 | $280-500 (often replaces window) | $120-220 |
Real person on the phone in under 2 rings. Locksmith on-site in 15-30 minutes. Honest price before any tools come out.
Call (772) 284-5142Standard sash lock replacement: $80-140 per window. Key-locking sash lock for security: $120-180 per window. Sliding-window latch: $80-130. Casement window keeper rebuild: $120-220. Hurricane-impact OEM multi-point lock kit: $140-260. Most jobs done same-day with hardware on the van.
Yes for most windows - but with the same caveat that applies to deadbolts: Florida fire code (NFPA 101) requires single-action emergency egress from at least one path per occupied space. That generally means bedroom windows should remain operable from inside without a key. Practically: keyed sash locks are fine on living-room and dining-room windows, but for bedroom emergency-egress windows we recommend non-keyed aux locks (track pins, lift-out bars) that can be removed quickly in a fire.
Yes. PGT WinGuard, CGI Sentinel, and Eagle impact windows all use multi-point lock systems with cam arms and keepers that we service. Basic cam arm replacement we do on-site. Full multi-point lock kit replacement we order in OEM hardware (2-4 business day lead time on most PSL warehouse stock) then install in a follow-up visit. $140-260 per window all-in for most jobs.
Track pins for sliding windows ($50-90 per window installed) and key-locking sash locks for double-hung windows ($120-180 per window installed). On a typical 4-bedroom PSL home that's 6-10 ground-floor windows totaling $320-720. Pairs well with 3M window film and glass-break sensors for a full security package, but the lock hardening alone is the highest-ROI step.
Not if we install the right hardware on the right windows. Surface-mounted aux locks that don't pierce the frame don't affect the impact rating. Through-frame fasteners on a PGT WinGuard or CGI Sentinel are only OK in the manufacturer-approved fastener locations - we use only those. If a customer asks for a non-approved drill location, we recommend a different aux lock that doesn't penetrate the frame.
2-4 hours for a typical 4-bedroom PSL home with 6-10 ground-floor windows getting hardened. Includes diagnostic walk, removing old hardware, installing new sash locks and aux locks, function testing each window, and keying the keyed locks alike. We schedule in 4-hour blocks for whole-house jobs.
Window lock work is heaviest in the older PSL neighborhoods where 1970s and 1980s aluminum-frame sash windows have aged out - Bayshore, the original PSL grid, parts of River Park - plus the canal-front and ground-floor hardening jobs in Sandpiper Bay, Hutchinson Island, and along the North Fork.
Last updated: 2026-05-18
