uPVC Door Lock Repair

[9] A uPVC multipoint lock is not a single component — it is a system. The gearbox in the centre of the door operates a series of hooks, locking points, roller cams and anti-lift pins that engage simultaneously when you lift the handle and turn the key. Because every part is interdependent, a fault in one place puts strain on the others. The most common failure we see on Bexleyheath doors is a worn or snapped gearbox: the internal plastic or metal cassette that translates handle movement into bolt operation strips its gear teeth over time, particularly on doors that have settled slightly or that sit in a frame that has expanded with heat. Symptoms include a handle that feels spongy or falls loose, hooks that only partially engage, or a door that locks from the outside but not the inside. We also regularly replace broken hook bolts and snapped anti-lift pins on sliding patio and French doors — a fault that often looks like a stiff handle but is actually a structural failure inside the keeps.

The repair process always starts with a full mechanical inspection: we operate the handle, check the alignment of the door within the frame, test each locking point against its keep, and identify whether the fault is in the gearbox, the hook assembly, the cylinder, or the frame itself. Where the door has dropped on its hinges — common on heavier uPVC doors in older Bexleyheath properties — a hinge adjustment alone can sometimes restore function without replacing any lock parts. When a part replacement is necessary, we carry a broad stock of UPVC door lock gearboxes and multipoint mechanisms from reputable hardware manufacturers, and we match them precisely to your existing door, measuring hand, backset, case depth, and overall mechanism height before fitting anything.

Not every uPVC door fault is a gearbox problem. Sometimes the euro cylinder — the barrel that the key enters — has worn, been damaged in an attempted break-in, or simply reached the end of its service life. Euro cylinder snapping is a well-documented vulnerability on older uPVC doors: a burglar can snap the outer portion of a cheap cylinder with a pair of pliers and then pull the remaining stub out with a screwdriver, bypassing the multipoint lock entirely in a matter of seconds. If your cylinder is not anti-snap rated, we strongly recommend upgrading to a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder when we are on site for any other repair. We carry these in the most common sizes and can fit one as part of the same job, with the exact additional cost confirmed before we start. For doors that use a nightlatch alongside a multipoint lock — a configuration seen on some older Bexleyheath properties where the frame has been adapted over the years — we can service or replace the rim cylinder independently. We can also replace worn or damaged door handle sets where the internal spindle connection has failed, which is a surprisingly common cause of a handle that turns but does not operate the mechanism.

If your door uses a keypad entry system and you need to know how to change code on a keypad door lock, or how to change door lock code after a tenancy change, we can walk you through the process for most standard electronic handles on uPVC doors — and if the keypad unit itself has failed, we can advise on a suitable replacement. For landlords and letting agents managing properties in the Bexleyheath area, re-securing a door after a change of tenant is a routine job for our team: we handle the cylinder swap, test every locking point, and hand over the new keys on site. If a mortice door lock or sash lock is fitted to a timber rear door alongside a uPVC front door, we can service both on the same call-out, so you are not paying a second call-out charge for a second visit.