Lock Repair & Installation in Sydney

In short

What this is: Two related jobs: repairing locks and doors that have started to fail, and installing new locks and door hardware where none exists or where an upgrade is wanted.
Who it is for: Sydney homeowners, tenants, landlords and businesses dealing with a stiff, sticking, loose or misaligned lock, or fitting out a door for the first time.
What it solves: It deals with the problem while it is still a repair. Most lockouts caused by hardware failure give warning signs first.
Where: Sydney and surrounding suburbs, mobile. We attend the property.
What the process involves: Diagnosing whether the fault is the lock, the key or the door itself, then repairing, adjusting or replacing the specific component at fault.
Next step: Call 02 90308829 and describe what the door is doing.

A lock rarely fails without warning. It gets stiff, then it needs a lift on the handle, then one day the key turns and nothing happens. Attending to it at the stiff stage is a repair; attending at the last stage is often an emergency callout plus new hardware.

Signs a lock needs attention

the key is hard to insert, or has to be wiggled to turn
you have to lift, pull or lean on the door to get the lock to engage
the key turns but the latch or bolt does not move properly
the handle feels loose, droops, or spins further than it used to
the deadbolt does not extend fully into the strike plate
the lock has become noticeably noisier or grittier
the door no longer sits square in the frame
the lock has been exposed to salt air, rain or sprinklers and is showing corrosion

A stiff lock is often not the lock at all. Doors move — timber swells in humidity, hinges loosen, frames settle. When the door drops even a few millimetres, the bolt no longer lines up with the strike plate and the lock takes the strain. Replacing the lock without fixing the alignment simply means the new lock wears out too.

What lock repair typically involves

Diagnosing the real fault. The technician tests the lock with the door open and closed. A lock that works perfectly with the door open and fails when closed is an alignment problem, not a lock problem.
Checking the key. Worn, bent or poorly cut keys damage the lock they operate. Sometimes the fix is a properly cut key rather than work on the cylinder.
Servicing or repairing the mechanism. Cleaning, correct lubrication for the lock type, and replacing worn internal components where that is practical.
Adjusting the door, hinges and strike plate. Realigning so the bolt enters cleanly and the lock is not carrying the weight of the door.
Recommending replacement only where it is warranted. If the hardware is past economical repair, we say so and explain the options — see lock replacement.

Lock and hardware installation

Installation work covers doors that have no lock, doors being upgraded, and new or replaced doors that need hardware fitted properly. Common jobs include:

fitting deadbolts and deadlatches to external doors
entrance sets on front doors
mortice locks in older timber doors, including terraces and semis
security screen and sliding door locks
window locks and patio bolts
gate, garage and shed hardware
door closers on commercial and strata doors
digital and smart locks, where the door type and power arrangement suit

A note on smart locks

Digital and smart locks suit some doors and not others. Before installing one it is worth checking the door material and thickness, whether there is a suitable existing cut-out, how the lock behaves when the battery is flat, whether there is a mechanical key override, and — in an apartment or strata building — whether the by-laws permit changing the appearance or the locking system of an entry door. We will tell you if a particular door is a poor candidate rather than fit something that will frustrate you.

What affects the cost

whether the job is a repair, an adjustment or a full installation
the type of door — timber, aluminium, glass or security screen
whether existing cut-outs match the new hardware, or the door must be modified
the grade and brand of hardware being fitted
how many doors are involved
the time of day, and weekend or public holiday rates

A $29 callout fee applies to get a technician to you. Labour and any parts are explained before work starts.

Frequently asked questions

My lock is stiff. Can I spray it with WD-40?

It is best avoided. General-purpose penetrating sprays are not designed as lock lubricants — they can attract dust and grit inside the cylinder and leave the lock worse in a few months than it is now. Locksmiths generally use a dry lubricant such as a graphite or PTFE-based product for pin cylinders. If the lock is stiff enough to worry you, that is usually a sign something mechanical needs attention rather than lubricant.

Is it cheaper to repair or replace a lock?

It depends on what has failed. Alignment issues, worn strike plates, loose handles and dirty cylinders are often economical repairs. A cylinder that has been drilled or forced, hardware that is corroded through, or a lock that is simply the wrong grade for the door is usually better replaced. The technician will tell you which situation you are in and what each option costs.

The door only locks if I lift the handle. Is that a problem?

Yes, and it is worth acting on. It normally means the bolt is no longer meeting the strike plate cleanly, usually because the door or the hinges have moved. Every time you lift and force it, the lock takes load it was not designed for. It is a common cause of a lock failing outright a few months later.

Can you fit a lock to a security screen or sliding door?

Usually. Aluminium security doors, screen doors and sliding doors all use different hardware to a standard timber door, and the options depend on the frame profile and the existing cut-outs. Tell us the door type and, if you can, send a description of the frame when you call.

Do you do repairs after hours?

Yes. Where a lock has failed and the property cannot be secured, it is treated as urgent and we attend 24/7. Non-urgent repairs and installations can be scheduled at a time that suits you, which is usually the cheaper option.

Lock playing up? Fix it before it fails

Describe what the door is doing and we will tell you whether it sounds like a repair, an adjustment or a replacement.

Call 02 90308829
Mobile locksmiths across Sydney · 24/7