uPVC doors and windows
uPVC door and
window locks
Handles that will not lift, doors that will not lock and doors that have dropped. We repair and replace uPVC and composite door and window mechanisms.
- MLA member
- Fully insured
- Open 24/7
- Card, cash, Clearpay or Klarna
Quick answer
Why will my uPVC door not lock?
Most often the door has dropped, so the hooks and rollers no longer line up with the keeps, or the gearbox inside the lock has worn out. Both are usually repaired without a new door or a whole new lock.
Checked November 2026 by East London Locksmith Ltd, a Master Locksmiths Association member.
Fault finder
uPVC door faults and the usual fix
Find what is happening to you. If it is not here, call us and describe it: we will tell you what it needs and what it will cost.
Tap what is happening to see the usual cause and fix.
| What you notice | Usually the cause | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Handle will not lift | Door has dropped, or the keeps are out of line. | Door adjusted. No new lock needed. |
| Handle floppy or drops | A broken spring in the handle or the gearbox. | New handle or gearbox, not the whole lock. |
| Handle lifts but the key will not turn | The locking points are not fully engaged. | Door and keeps adjusted, cylinder checked. |
| Key turns but the door stays locked | A failed gearbox. | Door opened, gearbox replaced. |
| Only a problem in hot weather | uPVC expands in the heat. | Hinges and keeps adjusted for the season. |
Handle will not lift
Usually: Door has dropped, or the keeps are out of line.
Door adjusted. No new lock needed.
Handle floppy or drops
Usually: A broken spring in the handle or the gearbox.
New handle or gearbox, not the whole lock.
Handle lifts but the key will not turn
Usually: The locking points are not fully engaged.
Door and keeps adjusted, cylinder checked.
Key turns but the door stays locked
Usually: A failed gearbox.
Door opened, gearbox replaced.
Only a problem in hot weather
Usually: uPVC expands in the heat.
Hinges and keeps adjusted for the season.
uPVC doors and windows
What we do
Most uPVC problems are a worn gearbox or a door that needs adjusting, not a whole new lock. We check that first.
- Multipoint lock repairs
- Gearboxes and centre cases
- Door handles
- Doors that have dropped
- Window locks and handles
- Patio and French doors
What is included
- We check the gearbox and adjustment first
- Multipoint locks, gearboxes and handles
- Anti-snap cylinders fitted to match
- Price agreed before we start
- Door adjusted so it locks easily
Help us bring the right part
How to measure your euro cylinder
Two numbers and a photo mean we arrive with the right parts.
- Find the fixing screwOpen the door and look at its edge. The long screw in the middle of the faceplate holds the cylinder.
- Measure each sideMeasure from the centre of that screw to the outside end of the cylinder, then to the inside end. Sizes are written like 40/50.
- Read the faceplateThe brand is often stamped on it, such as Yale, Era or Fullex. It tells us which gearbox fits.
- Do not force the handleIf it will not lift, stop. Forcing it is how gearboxes break.
Good to know
Is it the gearbox?
The usual causes behind uPVC door problems.
- Handle drops or feels floppyWorn handle springs or gearbox.
- Handle will not liftDoor has dropped or the keeps are out of line.
- Key only turns if you push the doorKeeps out of line. Usually an adjustment.
- Door stuck lockedFailed gearbox. We open it and replace the gearbox.
Good to knowIs it the gearbox?
- Handle drops or feels floppyWorn handle springs or gearbox.
- Handle will not liftDoor has dropped or the keeps are out of line.
- Key only turns if you push the doorKeeps out of line. Usually an adjustment.
- Door stuck lockedFailed gearbox. We open it and replace the gearbox.
Four simple steps
How it works
7 days a week
- Tell us the symptomsA photo of the edge of the door helps us bring the right parts.
- We come to youSame day or at a time you choose.
- We fix the mechanismUsually a gearbox, handle or cylinder, not a whole new lock.
- It locks easily againWe adjust the door so it locks without forcing it.
Prices
Supplied and fitted prices
All prices are supplied and fitted: the lock, fitting and labour, with no hidden extras. We confirm your price on the call before we come out.
uPVC doors
Multipoint locks on uPVC and composite doors.- Opening a door with a failed mechanism
- from £120
- uPVC door alignment
- from £90
- Mechanism replacement
- Priced on the call
Euro cylinders
On most uPVC and composite doors, and many wooden ones.- Kitemarked 1-star cylinder, usually with 5 keys
- from £95
- Kitemarked 3-star anti-snap cylinder
- from £130
The locks we fit
Quality locks, not cheap imports
Not all locksmiths use the same locks. Some fit cheap unbranded locks that can wear quickly and fail. We do not.
- From proper suppliersEvery lock we fit is bought from reputable, well-established UK locksmith wholesalers.
- British Standard and KitemarkedCylinders carry the BSI Kitemark to TS007, and our mortice deadlocks meet BS 3621, the standard most home insurers ask for.
- Built to lastBranded locks work smoothly for years. Cheap ones can stick, wear and fail, which means another call-out.
- One price, all-inclusiveThe lock, fitting and labour in one price, agreed on the call before we come out.
Where we work
uPVC doors and windows across East London
The same service and the same prices in every borough we cover, 24 hours a day.
My uPVC door is stuck locked. Can you open it?
Yes. A failed gearbox can lock the door shut. We open it, usually without damage, and replace the gearbox.
Do you need to replace the whole multipoint lock?
Often not. Most problems are a worn gearbox, a handle or an adjustment.
Do you fix composite doors too?
Yes. Composite doors use the same kind of multipoint locks.
Are my uPVC door locks anti-snap?
Many older euro cylinders are not. We can fit a TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder.
Can you repair a composite door lock?
Yes. Composite doors use the same kind of multipoint locks, gearboxes and cylinders as uPVC doors.
Do you fix uPVC windows?
Yes. Window handles and locks that are stiff, loose or will not lock.
Should I use WD40 on my uPVC lock?
Use a PTFE or silicone spray on the moving parts. Some cylinder makers ask you not to use WD40 or graphite in the keyway.
Checked November 2026 by East London Locksmith Ltd, a member of the Master Locksmiths Association. Standards and advice on this page follow UK guidance.
Sources and further help