If your UPVC door lock has failed — gearbox worn out, cylinder seized, key snapped, or simply too many keys lost track of over the years — a full replacement is the right call. We fit a new TS007 3-star anti-snap euro cylinder together with a new multipoint gearbox in 30–60 minutes on site, fixed price agreed before we set off, with a 12-month workmanship guarantee.
Replacement is the right call (rather than repair) in four situations: when the gearbox has actually stripped or broken (not just stiff), when the cylinder is damaged or pickable, when you've lost track of how many keys are in circulation, or when you're moving in and want to start fresh. The cost difference between repair and replacement is often only £20–£40 because the labour is identical.
We carry every common UPVC gearbox brand on the van — Yale Doormaster, ERA Vectis, GU Secury, Fuhr Multisafe, Maco, Avocet WS, Winkhaus — plus TS007 3-star Avocet ABS, Brisant Ultion and Mul-T-Lock cylinders as standard. Over 95% of replacements are completed first-visit, no parts ordering.
Replace, or repair? When each makes sense
We genuinely try to repair before replacing — a £79 hinge realignment is always preferable to a £149 full swap. But there are clear cases where replacement is the right call.
Replace if the gearbox has actually broken internally (you can hear or feel the gear teeth slipping, or the cam is freewheeling). Replace if the cylinder is physically damaged, has been pick-resistant compromised, or you've simply lost too many keys. Replace if the existing cylinder isn't TS007 3-star and you want insurance-approved anti-snap protection. Replace if you're moving into a new house and the previous owner could conceivably still have a key.
Repair (rather than replace) if the door has simply dropped and is jamming the hooks against the keep — that's hinges and packers, not a new mechanism. Repair if the key is broken in the cylinder but the cylinder itself is undamaged — extraction plus a new key is far cheaper.
What we replace, and what it costs
Euro cylinder only: £79–£129 fitted, including TS007 3-star anti-snap upgrade. Best for moving-in lock changes and lost-keys situations where the gearbox is fine.
Multipoint gearbox only: £109–£149 fitted. Best where the cylinder is recent and good quality but the internal mechanism has worn out.
Full replacement (gearbox + TS007 cylinder): £139–£179 fitted. The best-value option when you're already paying the call-out — both parts are renewed, and the door is good for 15–20 years of further service.
Multi-door keyed-alike sets (front + back + side): from £199 fitted. One key for all external doors, all TS007 3-star — popular for landlords, families and properties with multiple external doors.
All prices include call-out, labour, parts, VAT and 12-month workmanship guarantee. No nights/weekends premium once the quote is agreed.
Why TS007 3-star anti-snap matters
The single biggest weakness in a UPVC door is the original euro cylinder. Standard cylinders from the 1990s and early 2000s can be snapped with a pair of mole grips in under 30 seconds — a technique used in the majority of burglaries through UPVC front doors across the UK.
TS007 3-star (Sold Secure Diamond) cylinders solve this in two ways: a sacrificial section that snaps off cleanly without exposing the working mechanism, and a hardened anti-drill / anti-pick core. Every major UK home insurer either recommends or requires TS007 3-star — without it, claim payouts can be reduced or rejected.
We fit Avocet ABS (3-star), Brisant Ultion (3-star) and Mul-T-Lock (3-star) cylinders as standard. The cost difference over a non-3-star cylinder is £30–£60. Given how much it reduces the burglary risk, it's the single best value upgrade in lock work.
Keyed-alike: one key for every door in the house
If you have a front door, back door and side door (and maybe a garage personnel door), running four different keys is a daily nuisance. Keyed-alike cylinders solve this — one key opens every external cylinder in the house.
We can supply matching TS007 3-star cylinders in any common length (35/35, 40/40, 45/45 etc.) with as many keys as you need. Same-day fit if the lengths are in stock, 2–3 days where they need to be cut to code.
Popular with: families (one school key, one parent key), landlords (one master key for routine maintenance access), and anyone simply tired of fumbling for the right key in the dark.
