uPVC door lock support
Woking uPVC Door Lock Repair and Replacement
Call with your postcode for a current arrival estimate.
- 24-hour emergency cover
- No call-out charge
- Price agreed before work starts
uPVC Door Not Locking Properly?
If the door will not lock at all tonight, call now; if it is just getting stiff, book a visit. Either way, Woking Locksmith repairs and replaces uPVC and composite door locks across Woking, from failed multipoint mechanisms to worn cylinders and doors that have dropped out of line. There is no call-out charge. Call 01483 377197.
You probably do not need a new door. Most faults are one tired part inside it: the handle lifts but nothing locks, the handle has gone floppy, or the key turns and the door stays shut. Sometimes the door simply no longer sits square in its frame. Whatever it is doing, do not force a stiff key or handle, because extra pressure adds strain and can damage the mechanism further. General lock faults on other doors sit on our lock repair page.
What Is Your uPVC Door Actually Doing?
The way a uPVC door misbehaves usually points to the part that has failed, often before anyone has looked at it. Pick the description closest to yours below; it helps us give you a more accurate price on the phone, although the cause still has to be confirmed on site.
The handle lifts but the door will not lock
This is the fault we hear about most. Often the locking cam inside the gearbox has sheared, so lifting the handle no longer drives the hooks and bolts. The other possibility is alignment: the locking points are striking the frame instead of the keeps. Stop forcing the handle; door and lock need checking together, and we confirm which fault it is before replacing anything. More in why a uPVC door will not lock.
The handle has dropped or feels floppy
A loose handle can be nothing more than its fixings or spindle, but a properly floppy one usually means the gearbox has failed inside. The door may still be locked, because the hooks can stay engaged even though the mechanism no longer moves them. This often follows weeks of the handle getting stiffer. Handle and mechanism are checked as a pair before deciding on the repair.
The key turns but the door will not open
A key that turns does not prove the whole system is working. A snapped spring in the gearbox can stop the latch or bolt retracting, or a worn cylinder cam may not be driving the mechanism at all. Those are two different parts at two different costs, so diagnosis comes before ordering anything. If you feel strong resistance, stop: more force just loads the mechanism. See why a uPVC door will not open.
The door is locked shut and will not open at all
A seized gearbox, a cylinder fault or a hook jammed against its keep can all hold the door closed, and poor alignment adds pressure on the locking points. Call rather than force it: forcing a jammed multipoint often turns a gearbox repair into a full mechanism replacement plus an entry. The opening method depends on the fault and the door, and is chosen to limit avoidable damage. If you are shut out, go to emergency locksmith or.
You have to lift and shove to get it to lock
Here the problem is alignment, not the lock. The door has dropped on its hinges or the frame has shifted, so the hooks no longer meet the keeps cleanly. Every forced lift strains the gearbox, and this is the habit that eventually breaks it. Get the alignment checked before that happens: adjusting the door now costs far less than a new mechanism later.
The key will not turn from outside
Usually a worn or damaged euro cylinder, or the key itself, rather than the mechanism, especially if the door still locks from inside. Pressure from a dropped door or a struggling gearbox can also make a key hard to turn, so confirm the cause before anything is swapped. Do not force a stiff key. A cylinder is the cheapest part on the door to replace, and it is a natural moment to consider an anti-snap upgrade.
The Three Parts That Fail on a uPVC Door
What most people call "the lock" on a uPVC door is really three separate things. Which of them has failed makes a large difference to the cost of putting it right. Our guide to common uPVC lock mechanism problems goes further.
The euro cylinder
This is the barrel your key goes into, the key-operated part of the lock. It works with the gearbox but can usually be changed on its own, and it is the quickest part to replace on the door. Cylinders fail through wear, forcing or a snapped key. Any replacement has to be the right size and compatible with the lock and security hardware around it, and both size and security rating affect the price. One that sticks out past the handle plate is itself a weakness and a snapping target. For a straight swap see lock replacement; for the security side see anti-snap locks explained.
The multipoint gearbox
The gearbox is the mechanical box behind the handle. It takes the movement of your key and handle and passes it to the hooks, rollers or bolts on the multipoint strip that runs along the edge of the door. When it fails, the door may refuse to lock or unlock. It is the most common failure on a uPVC door, and industry guidance puts its typical working life at roughly eight to fifteen years, depending on use and alignment. Whether the gearbox can be swapped on its own, or the full strip is needed, is what moves the price most, along with compatibility and part availability.
The door alignment
Alignment is not part of the lock, but it governs how the locking points meet the keeps in the frame, and it lies behind a large share of lock failures. As a door settles on its hinges, the hooks stop meeting the keeps cleanly, the key and handle get harder to use, and the strain passes into the gearbox. A door can need adjusting long before the mechanism gives up, and the cost depends on the cause and the adjustment needed. Fixing alignment early is the cheapest intervention available.
You Usually Do Not Need a Whole New Mechanism
When a multipoint lock fails, the fault is normally inside the central gearbox, not along the full-height strip. If the strip and its hooks are still sound, a compatible gearbox can often be fitted on its own, which is a noticeably cheaper job than replacing the whole mechanism. Whether that works depends on the gearbox model and the state of the rest of the system.
A full strip replacement is genuinely needed in some cases: physical damage from a forced entry, corrosion, or an obsolete system whose gearbox is no longer made. Gearboxes come in a number of UK families and backset sizes, so identifying the exact one on the door is what decides whether it can be a same-visit fix. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: gearbox and mechanism stock carried] If the whole lock does need changing, see lock replacement.
And You Almost Certainly Do Not Need a New Door
When a uPVC door fails, a lot of people ring the double glazing company that fitted it or start pricing a new door. Often only one part of the locking system needs attention: a failed gearbox, a worn cylinder or a door that has dropped are all hardware faults, and a locksmith can put them right for a fraction of the cost of a replacement door. The right fix depends on the fault, compatible parts and the condition of what is left. Window companies fit doors; locksmiths fix locks. For other lock faults, see lock repair.
Upgrading the Cylinder While We Are There
The euro cylinder is the part where you put your key, and in suitable cases it can be changed without touching the gearbox or the rest of the multipoint mechanism. Replacement makes sense when the current cylinder is damaged, unreliable or the wrong size, and some people simply want a recognised security-rated option. If it is being replaced anyway, upgrading to an anti-snap rated cylinder adds little to the job and closes off the most common attack on uPVC doors. Options may include TS 007 three-star and SS 312 Diamond-rated cylinders. Some policies specify one, so it is worth checking yours.
- Look at the face of your cylinder for a star rating or a Diamond mark
- If there is neither, it is probably a standard cylinder
- An upgrade is a recommendation, not a requirement: a standard cylinder can still be replaced like for like, sized correctly for the door
More detail is in anti-snap locks and lock snapping explained, and adding new locks is covered under lock installation.
Composite Doors Too
Many composite doors use the same kind of euro cylinder and multipoint mechanism as uPVC, so the faults with the key, handle or locking points are the same, and alignment can stop them working in exactly the same way. The slab is denser and harder to work on, and hardware sizes vary more, so the construction and fitted hardware are assessed before a repair is recommended. We cover both. For a straight lock swap, see lock replacement.
Locksmith pricing
What Does a uPVC Door Lock Repair Cost?
No single fixed price covers every uPVC lock repair, and no figure for this work has been published yet. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: whether a uPVC repair starting price can be published] The job might be an adjustment, a repair or a replacement part. A cylinder swap is usually the cheapest outcome and a full mechanism the most expensive, with a gearbox-only repair in between. What moves the price:
- Which part has failed
- Whether the gearbox alone can be replaced or the full strip is needed
- Whether the cylinder is being upgraded to a rated one
- Whether the door also needs realigning
- What time of day the work is done
There is no call-out charge, and you are priced on the call from what you describe; if anything found on site changes that, you are told before the agreed work begins. Normal hours are Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, with evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays at a higher labour rate. You pay for the work carried out, any parts needed, and VAT. Rates outside Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, are higher, but the call-out itself is never charged.
For a price on your door, call 01483 377197.
What affects the cost?
Service required, time of attendance, lock and door type, labour and parts.
How the Job Works
- Describe what the door is doing, or send a photo of the door edge, the handle and the lock face. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: whether photos can be received, and on which channel]
- We work out the likely fault and give you a price.
- A technician [PROVIDER PACK: DBS check evidence] confirms the fault on site, identifies the exact mechanism and talks you through the options before fitting anything.
- The repair is completed and the door is tested locking and unlocking from both sides, with the alignment checked.
A photo really does sharpen a phone quote, because uPVC mechanisms vary by manufacturer and backset. Contact us to get started.
uPVC Door Lock Repairs Across Woking
We repair uPVC and composite door locks for homeowners, landlords and businesses across Woking. Here it is everyday work: 42.7% of homes were built between 1945 and 1982, 22.4% between 1983 and 2008 and 11.8% since 2009, against 16.1% from 1900 to 1939 and 6.2% before 1900 (VOA CTSOP 4.1, 31 Mar 2026). Later-built homes like these are where uPVC and composite doors are most often found. Around Mount Hermon, with a high share of flats and much private renting (Census 2021, output areas near Mount Hermon), we also work for landlords and agents on flat front doors.
Whichever symptom you recognise from the list above, an on-site check still confirms the cause. If the door only locks when you lift, push or pull it, movement in the hinges or the door's position is the likely reason, and getting it checked early saves the lock from further strain. [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: genuine coverage areas]
We cover the GU21 and GU22 postcode districts (ONSPD Feb 2026) across a built-up area of around 75,700 residents (Census 2021, ONS), from Mount Hermon to Knaphill and Horsell. From Woking we also serve three neighbouring towns, each with its own page: Sheerwater, New Haw and West Byfleet. See all areas we cover.
Emergency and planned locksmith services
Call Woking Locksmith
A door that will not lock is a security problem tonight, so ring straight away; emergency calls are taken 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including nights, weekends and bank holidays. A stiff handle can be booked for a convenient time. Tell us whether the door is hard to close, locked shut or impossible to secure, or send a photo, and you get a price before anything starts: the lock and door are inspected and work begins only once you approve it. There is no call-out charge.
- Phone: 01483 377197
- WhatsApp: [CLIENT TO CONFIRM: WhatsApp availability]
- Online: contact us
01483 377197
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get me in if the door is locked shut and will not open?
Yes. A uPVC door that is locked shut is usually a seized gearbox or a jammed hook rather than a cylinder problem, and a locksmith can inspect the door and choose an opening method intended to limit avoidable damage. Call before forcing it, because forcing often makes the repair bigger.
My uPVC door handle has dropped and will not lift. What is wrong?
Most likely the multipoint gearbox. When it fails inside, the handle loses its engagement and drops. The door may still be locked, because the hooks and bolts can stay engaged, but the mechanism is no longer working them. Loose fixings or a worn spindle are checked too.
Why do I have to lift and shove the handle to lock my door?
The door has dropped or the frame has moved, so the hooks no longer meet the keeps cleanly. At first that is an alignment fault rather than a lock fault, but every forced lift strains the gearbox, so get it adjusted before the mechanism fails.
Do I need a whole new mechanism or just the gearbox?
Often just the gearbox. On most uPVC doors the failure is in the central gearbox rather than the full-height strip, and if the strip is still serviceable a compatible gearbox can be fitted on its own. The existing gearbox has to be identified first to confirm compatibility and availability. A full mechanism is needed after forced-entry damage, corrosion or where the system is obsolete.
Does a broken uPVC lock mean I need a new door?
Not necessarily. The fault may be cured by adjusting the door or replacing one lock component. Whether a door needs replacing depends on its overall condition; a lock fault on its own does not show that a new door is needed.
How long does a uPVC lock repair take?
It depends on the part. A cylinder swap is the quickest job on the door, while a gearbox or full mechanism takes longer depending on the door and system. [PROVIDER PACK: typical job durations for cylinder, gearbox and full-mechanism work]
How long should a uPVC door lock last?
Industry guidance puts a typical multipoint gearbox at roughly eight to fifteen years, depending heavily on how often the door is used and whether the alignment has been right. A door that has been out of line for a long time tends to wear its gearbox out sooner.
Should I use WD40 on a stiff uPVC lock?
Not as a lubricant. WD40 is a cleaner and water displacer rather than a lasting lubricant, and it can draw dirt into the mechanism over time. A dry graphite or silicone lubricant is a better choice. If the handle is still stiff afterwards, the cause is more likely alignment or the gearbox, so get it checked.
Still have a question or need urgent assistance? Call 01483 377197, tell us what has happened and receive a current arrival estimate.