When it comes to your home there is arguably nothing more important than having functional and secure windows and doors. After all, your entrance door is the first impression your house will make on people, not to mention the security risks that come along with having tired or broken windows and doors.

So, if you’re considering doing a little bit of home renovating, here are some of our top tips for keeping your doors and windows looking great and working perfectly too.

Give your screens a good clean

If it’s been awhile since your security screens on windows and doors have seen a bucket and sponge, they may not even need repairing or replacing to look as good as new.

If you’re guilty of neglecting regular cleans, the best approach is to start by using a soft brush to carefully remove any dust or grime, before filling a bucket with warm water and a mild detergent and giving the screen a wipe down using a damp microfibre cloth.

Be gentle and make sure you rinse the cloth regularly in the bucket to avoid just smearing the dirt around. Once you’re happy with your work, use a second, dry microfibre cloth to gently dry the screen and voilà – your screen will look as good as new!

Replacing a window screen

If your window screen is more than just dirty and is looking a little worse for wear, it may need replacing. Sometimes, as screens get older they can become loose or even tear, which is when you’ll know it’s time for a new one! If you’re going to attempt this task yourself, you will need to have a few tools on hand, including a screwdriver, a screen roller tool, flyscreen repair tape and of course, a new screen door that has been cut to the correct size.

Simply remove the broken screen from the frame, unroll the new screen over the frame before pulling it tight and then tape it over the ends. Then, take your screen roller tool and roll it along the edge to make sure the screen is pushed right into the channel of the frame, ensuring it won’t pop off. There are lots of great videos available to assist too, so be sure to have a look online if you’re unsure about one of these steps.

Replacing door and window hardware

There are many different types of hardware that can needs replacing across doors and windows – from bolts and locks, to seals, springs, awnings and more. If one of your doors or windows are playing up, the first step is to identify which area is causing the issue and then addressing the best way to repair or replace it.

For example, a window awning may be experiencing stiffness when it comes to closing, which could be due to a faulty closing mechanism or chainwinder that needs replacing. A quick trip to your local Bunnings and a quick bit of research into the relevant topics will mean you can repair your issue in no time.

Choosing the right material to replace an entrance door

While fully replacing a door might be a little tricky unless you’re a carpenter, there are elements of the process that you can do yourself, to save you time and money before you enlist professional help: namely, research. If you are at the stage where your door needs fully replacing, the first thing you need to figure out is what type of new door will suit your needs.

Aluminum and timber doors both have their perks, but aluminium can be a bit more durable and have a longer lifespan. Timber doors are beautiful aesthetically, but generally cost a bit more than aluminium and may need more ongoing maintenance if they are exposed to the elements. Figuring out your budget and needs are a must-do!

Call a professional technician

If all of this sounds a little complex, then you’re best off calling in the professionals! Not only will a professional technician from a reputable window & door repair service like Lock & Roll be able to quickly and correctly identify your problem, but they’re more than likely to have appropriate replacement parts on hand.

So, while you may need to factor in paying for a professional service in your renovation budget, you can feel confident that your doors and windows will be the latest designs and provide you with total security. Ultimately, using a top-quality product and making sure that it has been installed correctly will give you a prolonged service-life, which means you will actually save money on repairs and replacements in the long run.

Looking to repair or replace your doors and windows? Contact one of Lock & Roll’s experienced technicians today for an initial consultation.

Lock & Roll customer, Joe, recently had six security doors installed at his new home. We spoke to him after the job had been completed to find out more about the process from his perspective, right from the initial quote through to installation and the end result.

1. First up, why did you decide your home needed a security upgrade?

I had recently moved to a new area and have a young family. So for me, peace of mind when it came to the safety of my family was my top priority.

2. What did the entire process entail, from the quote through to the installation?

When I first decided I needed security doors installed at home, I wasn’t really sure which types of doors would be most suitable for us.

So, initially I sent an enquiry through on Lock & Roll’s website, asking for some help and information and the next day I received a call from the customer service team who arranged to send a technician out to do a measure and quote.

They sent one of their technicians out the next week to see us and he took some time and walked us through our different options. He was really knowledgeable and once we’d settled on the best doors to suit our needs, he was able to provide us with a measure and quote on the spot.

Three days later I phoned Lock & Roll back to accept the quote and confirm the order. From there, it took less than two weeks for the doors to be custom manufactured and for the technician to return and install the doors.

Finally, Lock & Roll contacted me about four weeks after the installation, just to check we were happy with our doors (and I told them we are delighted with them!).

3. What types of security doors did you get installed?

In the end, I decided on four sliding security doors and two hinged security doors. All six doors were custom sizes and colours.

4. What was the most useful advice Lock & Roll gave you when you were deciding on which security doors to choose?

We had a wide opening and had previously been recommended stacker security doors, but Lock & Roll suggested that we moved to a bi-parting setup, which takes better advantage of that space.

Their customer service was also fantastic. I got a phone call confirming my appointment and at one stage I had to change the appointment time due to a work commitment and it was no problem at all. It seemed like nothing was too much trouble for the Lock & Roll customer service team!

5. What stood out about Lock & Roll’s doors to you?

Lock & Roll were great value, particularly given there was an oversized door as part of our requirements. They were also happy to move away from their standard colour schemes and customise our doors using powder coating, to the colour we chose to match our existing door frames.

6. Would you recommend Lock & Roll to friends and family?

Absolutely! The customer service team were friendly and a pleasure to deal with and the technicians were so knowledgeable and understood their product. They really took the time to understand our requirements and provide us with suitable options.

The overall customer experience was simple and Lock & Roll were able to accommodate for our every need, at every step of the process.

When it comes to choosing the right option for your home, not all security doors are created equal. There’s no point spending time and money having doors installed, only for them to perish, or worse, for them to let you down when you need their protection most.

In fact, there are four key indicators of quality that any savvy homeowner should focus on when choosing a security door. Here’s what you need to look out for.

1. Dynamic impact absorption

If an intruder plans to break into your house using impact, such as throwing their body against the door to force it open, you should ensure the security door you’ve chosen meets dynamic impact industry standards. The National Security Screen Association (NSSA) states that in order to meet industry standard specifications, you must pass the AS5039-2008 Impact Test.

Lock & Roll passes this test, largely thanks to our patented two-part strengthening system made from a combination of aluminium mesh screen and panels. They work together to create a barrier that absorbs and spreads the shock of severe force, meaning that there won’t be any chinks in your door’s armour.

2. Warranty period

A high-quality security door should be robust in design and made of durable materials that will last for years. And a good indicator of this will be the warranty that’s provided with the door.

Our doors have been designed through years of vigorous testing, development and refinement. Being Australian owned and based, the products are designed to consider the variety of Australian weather conditions, and are created to withstand them. With a 10-year warranty on offer, Lock & Roll are confident that our doors will stand the test of time, no matter what strain they’re put under.

3. Probe, knife and shear resistance

It’s one thing for your security door to be able to survive impact, but if it comes up against a sharp object trying to pierce the surface – that’s another thing entirely. A high-quality security door will be made of materials that are impenetrable to knives or other sharp implements.

Our premium mesh has been cleverly designed to resist all attempts to slice through it (surpassing National Security Screen Association testing), but still manages to allow fresh air to flow straight into your home.

4. Pulling and jemmy strength

The final quality indicator for a security door is its structural strength when it comes to being pulled or jemmied. In Lock & Roll’s case, our doors are constructed using powder coated mesh and fused decorative panels made from aluminium beading, which create a strong, bend-resistant barrier. Plus, these elements have the added bonus of making your door look great too!

Ultimately, like any purchase, it’s worth doing your research about a company before you commit. A reputable company, such as Lock & Roll, will be part of the NSSA. This certifies that they are part of the national third-party certified accreditation scheme, that recognises members who meet Australian or NSSA approved standards.

It’s also important to investigate who actually makes the doors that you are having installed. We exclusively use Colonial Castings screen doors, an industry-leading Australian manufacturer with over 70 years’ experience.

So, you’ve been putting off getting security doors because you don’t know where to begin? We hear you. Choosing the right security door can seem daunting – from knowing whether the one you are considering is as safe as possible, to trying to match the size and colour of your door frame.

Lock & Roll are not only known for the exceptional quality of the Colonial Castings doors we use, but also for the smooth process our customers experience when it comes to choosing the right door and having it installed.

We’ve put together this guide, so that you know what to expect when we install a security door in your home.

Choosing a security door

Our website is designed to make choosing and ordering a security door simple. In fact, it’s kind of like building a Subway sandwich, except instead of standing in front of a cabinet full of meats, salads and sauces, you’ll be browsing sizes, door types, frame colours and mesh types. You simply scroll through, choose the options that sound good to you and then submit your request for a quote. And, if you don’t know where to begin, you can contact us directly for a chat and we can help figure out the best solution for your home.

The installation process

Once you’ve submitted your request for a quote online, we’ll arrange a time to come out to your house and measure your frame to ensure what you have selected online will work. From here, we can confirm exactly what specifications your door will require and arrange for it to be custom built. Once the door is ready to go, we’ll come back and install the door onsite at a time that suits you.

Quality assurance

Our doors, supplied by Colonial Castings, are National Security Screen Association approved and come with a 10-year warranty.

Lock & Roll’s commitment to our customers is one of the things we pride ourselves on most. That means we always arrive on time to appointments (or advise if we’re running early or late), leave our workspace clean and tidy and are proud of our workmanship. In fact, we’re so confident that we’ll deliver a quality product and service to you, that we’re happy to commit to arranging an alternative Franchise Owner to assist you if you’re unhappy with our work.

Keeping you safe and healthy

All Lock & Roll technicians have public liability insurance and security licenses, plus we have a master security license for your peace of mind.

In a world where COVID-19 restrictions are everchanging, you can rest assured that the process with Lock & Roll is well-organised and safe. The wellbeing of our staff, suppliers and of course, our customers, has always been our number one priority, which is why we’re strictly adhering to all health and safety advice, both in our offices and warehouses, and in your homes.

There is a lot to consider when planning a home renovation or building a house. And, when it comes to keeping a new or improved home safe and secure, it is often much simpler and more cost-efficient to consider installing security doors during the initial build, rather than down the track.

Lock & Roll has many services available to improve security on both your doors and windows that can be installed during renovations and building.

Here are some different factors to keep in mind:

Residential entrance doors

If eyes are the window to the soul, then a front door is the window to a home. What we mean by this is that you want to ensure that from the outset, your entrance doors are secure and match the style of your newly built house.

Our team of specialists have all the tools necessary to create a front or back door that perfectly fits your needs and we recommend getting this process started at the beginning of your renovation or building planning. Simply submit an enquiry or call us for a quote, and we will be able to help.

Door handles and locks

There are many reasons handles and locks can deteriorate or become faulty over time, and of course, we can easily arrange a technician to come and repair or replace your existing ones if this occurs. However, these issues may be avoided altogether if you choose high quality locks and handles when you are designing and building your dream home.

Not only this, but if you design your security door at the same time as the rest of your house or renovated area, you can ensure that the look is consistent with the aesthetic of the rest of your home too.

Awning windows

Cheap awnings may be susceptible to weather corrosion, which can cause windows to stick or become hard to close, compromising the overall security of your home. Or worse still, if your builder installs non-secure windows, there will be no peace of mind for you at all! That’s why it’s important to choose quality awning windows from the word go.

Lock & Roll technicians install all awning windows with the latest designs, ensuring all locks, latches and opening and closing mechanisms are corrosion resistant, prolonging their lifespan.

Fully customisable security

We want you to be able to create a home that is not only safe but looks amazing too. Our security doors are fully customisable, so that you have complete control over everything from handles, to mesh types, to the door frame colours. Lock & Roll offer 10 standard colours, but if you speak to one of our consultants, we can match over 200 different colours when you supply the corresponding Dulux colour match.

By being proactive and factoring in home security in the early stages of building, you won’t need to pay for a cheap fly screen that you ultimately want to replace with a quality security door or window down the track.

The safety and security of your family should always be a top priority, and by making these decisions early, you will be saving yourself time, money, and unwanted anxiety in the future.

Not sure where to begin? We’re here to help! Check out our security doors to learn more about the options available, or contact us to find out more on 1800 203 377 today.

One of the most annoying common problems in the house is a door that won’t close properly, but fortunately, Lock and Roll’s experts are at your service to fix any door or window issues you could possibly ever have!

Wooden doors can at times have trouble closing – there’s no one easy fix – all doors face different problems, depending on their construction, local conditions and many other factors.

Here we delve into the different issues that are out there, and how Lock and Roll can help you get out of a sticking situation!

Wooden Doors

Because wooden doors are designed to fit snugly within a given frame, with tight tolerances to ensure that there are no excessive draughts, small cases of swelling, warping or changing of shape can have a major bearing on the functionality of the door.

Doors can swell against the floor, a part of the frame, or even the ceiling.

The biggest issue that can cause problems for doors, especially externally facing doors, is the presence of moisture.

Temperature also can play a part – warmth can cause the wood to expand, meaning doors can become hard to close.

Shifts in temperature can be caused by the ambient change in line with the seasons, or because of a heater, or other heat source situated near the door.

A lack of ventilation may also be an issue – if particularly humid air cannot circulate in a room in the warmer months.

Wood, by its very nature, can expand and contract when it is exposed to the above elements, and with more exposure, the chances diminish that the door will return to its original shape.

Professional Door Experts

Fixing a warped internal or external door is not necessarily an easy task – fortunately, the experts at Lock and Roll know what to look for, and are able to assess and fix even the toughest jobs.

They not only identify where the issue lies but also advise on what the best remedy available is – which is dependent on the type, size and location of the issue.

In cases where the warping isn’t excessive, it may simply be a case of sanding back the trouble area, to ensure adequate clearance allowing for the door to close without catching on the frame or the floor.

Depending on the location of the issue, the door may need to be removed from its hinges for the remediation work.

The clean-up of sawdust can also be a problem associated with these works, especially if the door is located on a carpeted area.

If sanding the affected area is the best course of action, the repairs should also be treated with a protective coating, to limit the chances of future warping.

While a visual inspection may disclose the portion of the door which is rubbing, expert attention must be paid to only removing the portion of the door which has warped; doing away with too much wood may make the door too small for its frame, causing a further issue with draughts, or mean that the door will not close as intended.

Another rectification method can be the addition of extra hinges, as directed by an expert, with the additional contact points with the frame holding the wood tight.

While on hinges, old or unoiled hinges can make a door difficult to open and close, these can be replaced or be serviced depending on the individual situation.

Hinge screws may need to be tightened, or if the screw holes are worn, the hinges moved up or down the frame to ensure secure fastening.

A loose hinge may very easily cause the door to catch on the floor or ceiling.

Another issue could revolve around a misalignment of the latch and the strike plate, which can have a fix on either the top or the bottom hinge, or by enlarging the hole in the metal strike plate.

A further remedy at this end would be the relocation of the strike plate, possibly in combination with the enlargement of the strike plate mortice, which involves chiselling out a larger cavity, filling the leftover hole, reattaching the strike plate, and re-finishing the repairs with the same paint colour as the rest of the door frame.

In extreme cases, the door may be too badly warped to be repaired, with Lock and Roll able to advise you of a suitable replacement door.

Alternatively, there may be underlying issues at play, for instance, shifts or movements within the building as a whole which can cause door closing problems, with issues stemming from poor original construction or shifting foundations.

These larger issues can be diagnosed by your Lock and Roll expert.

Things I Can Do

Firstly, time is of the essence with any problems with your door – the quicker they are rectified, the less chance there is for the issue to grow into a larger concern, which may have a more expensive fix.

Often some preventative work can keep your doors in top working order for extended periods of time.

For starters, make sure your doors have adequate protection from the elements, either painted or stained, ensuring that the finishing is suitable to protect against moisture.

Also, ensure that the doors are kept away from heat and water sources.

An issue to consider would be external doors that are exposed to direct sunlight and also finished in a dark colour, making them more susceptible to thermal expansion issues.

It is widely suggested that heaters should be placed at least a metre away from doors, while you should also consider the use and positon of items such as humidifiers or vaporisers relating to the moisture content in the air.

While considering temperature control, during summer, the use of an air conditioner can be helpful, as they not only keep the temperature down, but also remove moisture content from the air, both important factors that assist in keeping the wooden door in shape.

A dehumidifier also works along similar lines to air conditioning for this purpose.

Importantly, good quality doors made from premium materials and constructed to the highest standards lower the chances of warping over time.

Dear Lock & Roll customers,

Lock & Roll is committed to providing a safe, healthy and enjoyable environment for all our staff and broader working communities.

We have been actively monitoring and managing risks associated with the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for our staff and customers.

We are committed to continuing to be vigilant about taking precautions and implementing strategies and practices to manage what is a difficult and ever-changing environment. This includes the continued promotion of practicing good health and hygiene measures at all times.

To date, Lock & Roll has had no reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19 relating to our technicians or office staff. We are taking the following precautions to ensure the safety of our team and customers:

• Technicians to adopt the Department of Health social distancing recommendations and a ‘no physical contact’ policy when attending jobs.
• Maintain a minimum distance of 2 metres from all customers.
• Process payments with no physical contact using EFT payment.
• Adhere to all hygiene practices in force at this time.
• Wash hands regularly and strictly follow recommended hygiene protocols. Use hand sanitiser before and after every job.

For our customer service team, we are taking the following steps when booking appointments:

• Asking if anyone at the customer’s property has been infected with the Coronavirus
• Asking if anyone at the customer’s property is currently suffering from any Coronavirus or Flu-like symptoms
• Asking if anyone at the customer’s property has been in contact with anyone known to have travelled to a Travel Red Zone in the last 14 days
• Asking if there are any people at the customer’s property who you are worried about (e.g. elderly relatives/friends or infants)

Lock & Roll is committed to maintaining a high service level and continuity of business for our customers, and we would like to thank you for working with us during these difficult conditions.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 02 9651 3444.

Regards,

Dom Galluccio
Lock & Roll General Manager