Realignment: the fix most people miss
Half of 'broken' uPVC locks are simply doors that have dropped a few millimetres over the years. We adjust the hinges and keeps so the bolts line up again, and the handle goes from a two-handed heave back to a one-finger lift. We do this on every uPVC job, not just when you ask.
Upgrade the cylinder while we're there
The euro cylinder in most uPVC doors is the weakest point in the house — a standard one can be snapped in seconds. We'll fit a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder at the same time if yours isn't one already, which is what insurers now expect and what actually keeps burglars out.
The handle you have to lift with both hands
Almost every uPVC and composite door in the country runs on a multipoint lock: lift the handle, bolts shoot into the frame, turn the key. When it starts sticking, the handle gets stiff or the door won't lock at all, it's usually the gearbox in the mechanism wearing out, or the door dropping on its hinges so the bolts miss the keeps. Both are everyday fixes for Sentinel Locksmith — not a reason to replace the door.
Mechanism repair and replacement
We carry the common multipoint gearboxes and full strips on the van and can match the vast majority of brands, including discontinued ones. If the gearbox has failed with the door locked shut, we open it non-destructively first, then swap the mechanism. Handles, keeps and hinges are replaced where they're worn.
- DBS-checked, fully insured engineers
- British Standard locks on every van
- Non-destructive entry wherever possible
- 12-month guarantee on parts and labour
