Skip to main content

Should I Get My Door Repairs Done By An Expert Or Do It Myself?

There are almost as many door types as there are architectural styles, so the challenge of repairing faulty doors and locks can vary enormously.

Competent home handy persons can undoubtedly tackle any more minor adjustments and necessary maintenance tasks, but more significant issues that affect the integrity or security of a door really need the expertise of the experts.

An experienced door technician will bring with them the skills, the knowledge, and the right equipment to ensure a proper repair and, importantly, do so in a manner that prevents the problem from reoccurring.

That only comes from experience… dealing with and effecting repairs on all types of doors, all day, every day.

Sticky and misaligned locks are a common issue that afflicts ill-functioning doors and is usually caused by movement within the structure. In contrast, broken keys in locks or other foreign objects stuck inside the lock are common problems too.

Other door repairs are undertaken by the experts changing faulty parts, eliminating squeaks and stiffness, realigning a sagging, springing or misaligned door, or even replacing door glass or repairing a damaged door.

Replacing broken hinges, lock installations, as well as replacements are another vital aspect of door maintenance that the Lock & Roll’s experts are trained to take in their stride.

A Lock & Roll specialist have with them all the components needed to complete the door or lock service or repair on the spot, efficiently, in the least amount of time to ensure a high-quality job.

Confidence is another essential byproduct of bringing in the experts… confidence that the job is done correctly, professionally and will stand the test of time, so that it is as good as or better than new.

One of the biggest challenges in today’s high-tech world is the wide variety of locking systems now available on the Australian market.

Where once just about every external door had a key lock complete with a variety of deadbolts, today locks are high-tech. There’s combination locks, electronic keypad locks and locking systems with cameras that can be activated remotely by mobile phones.

These high-tech locking systems add a new layer of security to a property – and a level of installation and maintenance complexity that’s best left to the experts at Lock & Roll.

So trust your window and door repairs, maintenance and installations to the experts at Lock and Roll!

For a free of charge quote with no obligation, talk to the team today – contact us via this web page, or call us toll free on 1800 203 377!

Budget Friendly Door & Window Repairs

There’s nothing more frustrating as a homeowner than when previously working windows and doors start sticking, jamming, or failing to close.

Aside from the inconvenience, there is also a security element… leaving a house or apartment with a window or door open is tantamount to inviting some light-fingered locals to help themselves to your possessions.

When you’re experiencing problems with windows and doors, you will often be advised to replace the entire thing. However, this isn’t always necessary and can be expensive.

There are simple things you can do yourself to fix or reduce the problem, or call in the experts at Lock & Roll, without having to replace windows and doors.

Sticking Doors & Windows

Perhaps the most common door and window problem in houses is that they begin to stick.

Almost inevitably this is because there’s some movement in the house – very common right across Australia – and this distorts the door or window slightly, so that it no longer fits the opening correctly.

The good news is that there is adjustment built into doors via the hinges, which allow a certain amount of movement and positioning of the door panel in the opening. This will usually enable a door to be adjusted by trial and error to fit the opening correctly again.

With Sliding doors can jam and stop moving freely and is usually the result of a combination of factors starting with excessive force being used when opening and closing.

The starting point here is to clean out the rails that the door runs in (these tend to trap dirt and grit over time), and if the problem persists, it is likely that the rollers the door moves in or the rails themselves are damaged. A competent home handyman can replace both but if you are not sure, get the experts in.

Wooden sliding doors can be prone to rotting, which distorts the timber, and in this case, we’re getting into the realm of significant repairs or replacement of the entire door system, both best left to the experts.

Windows are a bit trickier because there are many different types, made in other materials, and some of which allow adjustment, and some don’t. The starting point is to take a look at the window and see if there is a way of adjusting it to fit correctly again.

In the case of timber framed windows, it might be that the wood has to be shaved a little to give it back free movement within the opening.

Faulty Locks

Locks that are sticking, not correctly seating home in the door frame or just not locking, are another common problem,

Again, the starting point is common sense.

Sticking locks usually just need a bit of lubrication on the lock mechanism mounted in the door itself to get things operating smoothly again. Somethings a little graphite powder on the key itself, inserted into the keyhole of the lock, will help free things up too.

Locks that don’t seat home in the door jamb mean that the door itself or the doorframe, have moved. The first thing to do here is to adjust the door so it fits properly, and hopefully the lock seats home too.

But if it doesn’t, it might mean moving the lock receptacle on the door jamb slightly to accommodate the movement. A competent handy person can achieve this in most cases.

The important outtake here is that these problems are relatively common and rarely repair the installation of an expensive new window or door.

Most problems can be quickly and easily rectified, whether by a skilled homeowner or an experienced Lock & Roll technician who can ensure your windows and doors operate like new, at a fraction of the cost associated with a replacement.

So trust your window and door repairs, maintenance and installations to the experts at Lock and Roll!

For a free of charge quote with no obligation, talk to the team today – contact us via this web page, or call us toll free on 1800 203 377!

How do you fix a swollen door that won’t close? Why are my doors not closing?

fix door

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.

Lock & Roll COVID-19 Update

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

Boosting the benefits of business ownership with Lock & Roll

Over the past 15 years, technology has evolved at unheralded speeds, culminating in the creation of new industries, platforms and consumer services.

While Software-as-a-Service platforms have emerged as the great beneficiary of the tech revolution, power people has seen a resurgence in popularity, buoyed by the aptly named ‘Do-It-For-Me’ generation.

A focus on building up digital resources has left a vacancy in essential handyman skills, opening the door for DIY dealers to provide labour, repair and installation services to the public.

Locally, the demand for practical operators with multi-discipline skills is at an all-time high, perpetuated by Australia’s ageing population and strong rental market.

Businesses that operate within the home services sector have enjoyed steady growth, with technical knowledge proving a valuable commodity in the contemporary domestic working landscape.

Specialist window and door repair, maintenance and upgrade franchise, Lock & Roll provides services to both residential and commercial property owners and managers.

After successfully operating a franchise model in New Zealand, the brand invested time and money to ensure that the award-winning franchise would translate to the Australian market.

Earlier this year, Lock & Roll launched its Australian franchise operations and has since developed a strong following in Sydney, proving to be a successful path for experienced technicians to enter the world of business ownership.

Established with extensive, industry-specific product and market knowledge, Lock & Roll’s franchise model provides prospective franchisees with an affordable and realistic opportunity for growth.

Backed by on-going training and extensive support, franchisees are gifted with more than just technical knowledge on how to fix windows and doors.

The brand provides assistance in all facets of business operation, from hiring staff, to financial accounts and tax returns, marketing and advertising, wealth creation and personal career growth.

Lock & Roll is a tried and tested franchise brand with a strong history of providing excellent service to the community and an excellent opportunity for personal franchisee growth.

As the demand for essential home-services grows in Australia, specialisation will prove to be a defining factor the success of a business.

For more information on becoming a Lock & Roll franchise, get in touch with us here.

Lock & Roll – Kids Don’t Fly case study

A recent project undertaken by Lock & Roll demonstrated their ability to provide excellent results through a flexible, co-operative and solutions based interchange with a client and their key stakeholders.

The Owner Corporation of a strata complex had been late in implementing the NSW Government’s ‘Kids Don’t Fly’ program. 

The regulations required strata management to provide restriction of windows to prevent falls from multi storied apartment buildings. 

A representative of the Owner’s Corporation contacted Lock & Roll with a need for solutions to meet their obligations under the regulations, resolve existing issues with apartment windows and deliver the results with a competitive price, in a timely manner and with the least disruption to the tenants. 

This former low rise office building had been converted to inner Sydney city apartments some time ago. 

The Owner’s Corporation representative, who is also a tenant of the building, allowed access to her apartment where Lock & Roll’s senior technician was able to demonstrate the proposed approach to the issues facing the Owner’s Corporation.

The proposal firstly involved the replacement of existing chain winders fitted to awning windows that were badly affected by an environment that exists in a suburb not too far from Sydney harbour and the city CBD. 

Most window winders were either not working or working only poorly. This allowed water ingress, draughts and wind noise to the apartments as windows could not be properly closed and sealed.

The proposed choice of a replacement window winder was an important factor in Lock & Roll winning the project.

The replacement chain winder needed to be able to directly replace the existing, which was mounted to the window sill via a bracket. 

The selected Doric chain winder met this requirement, was made of a tough, non-corrosive material, had a chain made of stainless steel and incorporated a compliant, built-in restriction system that met the requirements of the Government regulation.

In addition to the supply of chain winders, Lock & Roll agreed to check and replace, at no additional charge, window perimeter seals and chain winder brackets where deemed necessary.

Lock & Roll was awarded the project, which involved the supply and installation of 300 new Doric window chain winders to nearly 40 apartments, scheduled to run over 1 week and within allocated times with minimal disruption to tenants and to issue a certificate of compliance for the apartments which now met the Kids Don’t Fly regulations.

Locking in your future with Lock & Roll

Over two years ago, David Anderson from West Hoxton, decided to go down the path of becoming his own boss as a franchisee business owner.

“Being a part of a franchise group never crossed my mind until I stumbled across the Lock & Roll opportunity whilst job-hunting,” said Mr Anderson.

Lock & Roll’s business proposition is simple. They specialise in fixing the hardware and functionality of windows and doors. Hardware will inevitably deteriorate or fail over time with constant use, and doors can become stiff, making them almost impossible to slide.

“The scope of work and benefits were certainly appealing; a strong rewarding income, flexibility and an opportunity to build a business based on quality workmanship,” continued Mr Anderson.

Now managing the Leichhardt NSW territory, Mr Anderson has built a strong clientele consisting of strata management companies, fixing windows and doors for both rental and owner-occupied properties, along with time-poor residential homeowners.

“The main challenge I faced when starting the business was to learn about the hardware and technical side of things – but with Lock & Roll’s training programs and support, it made for a smooth transition.”

As a Lock & Roll franchisee, owners have the support of a pro-active operational team including a Training Manager, Franchisee Manager, Marketing Team, Business Director and General Manager. 

The focus for the operational team is to understand what their franchisees are looking to achieve and how they can improve the system by implementing support structures.

The flexibility is really what sold the idea of owning a franchised business to Mr Anderson. “I start my first job around 9am after I drop the kids to school. I’ll typically finish my day around 4pm and my partner helps me on a part-time basis with admin and invoicing in the evening. I still work hard but if I need to take time off, I can easily book it in.”

Mr Anderson’s advice for those considering buying a franchised business is to, “do your research, pick a good area and build your relationships in that area, be prepared to work hard and increase your skills – there’s a lot to learn.”

Lock & Roll’s window safety checklist for homeowners:

  • The Building Code of Australia allows a maximum opening of less than 12.5cm (representing the size of a young child’s head) for windows
  • By law, window safety devices must be installed on any open-able window that is 2 metres or more above the outside surface beneath
  • Ensure your sliding windows and doors glide smoothly to avoid jamming fingers 
  • Have a professional fit security screens to your windows to act as a deterrent to burglars along with key-operated locks for further peace of mind

 

Weather proof your home and reduce your utility bills

Australia’s varying climatic conditions means that everyone experiences weather a little differently.

But one thing every Australian has in common is a need to make their homes as weather-proof as possible.

Whether it is keeping the heat in during a long cold winter, or keeping the heat out in a long hot summer, it’s important to make sure your home’s windows and doors are operating as efficiently as possible.

That’s where regular or rectification maintenance comes in.

Doors or windows that don’t seal properly or close tightly, are costing you money.

Your heating or air-conditioning is literally seeping out the door (or window), meaning that the heating or cooling source has to work that much harder, and longer, to keep you comfortable. You’re paying for that.

To minimise this seepage, it makes sense to check all your windows and doors for correct operation and sealing, and rectified any issues or get the professionals in to do it. 

Warped frames or doors, winders that don’t seal the window against the outer frame, locks and hinges that don’t pull the door tight against the door jam; these are all things that contribute to inefficient heating and cooling. And all are easily rectified.

Taking this efficiency to an absolute level, you could also consider running a narrow felt tape around the inside of all window and door openings, to create the perfect seal.

For those of you old enough, remember those flexible cloth-covered ‘sausages’ that Grandma used to use as draft excluders at the bottom of her doors?

As silly as they looked or as they sound, they’re actually a great way of further keeping the heating or cooling in a room. Sometimes the old ideas still have great salience.

The short term cost of getting some repairs or servicing done will be more than compensated by the long term benefits of reduced utility bills by having an efficient home heating and cooling system.

Questions to ask before investing in a franchise business

Buying a franchise is a big decision and commitment for anyone, especially those who have not run businesses before.

It’s important to remember that the selling of a Franchise is in itself a business, which has to make money, even if its business is delivering a means of making money for its customers, the Franchisees. 

You have to respect that up front, but equally you are the customer, and you can and should expect to have complete confidence in the Franchise model before you sign up.

Every Franchise system will have its happy customers and its not so happy customers. You should make sure you talk to both, and preferably visit them face to face, before you sign up.

If a number of Franchisees raise a similar issue, it could well affect all Franchisees. Don’t ignore it, it needs further investigation. 

Here are a number of questions you should ask existing Franchise holders when you speak to them:

  • How relevant was the pre-start up training, did you feel ready when the business opened?
  • What sort of support did you get from the Franchisor around the opening of the business?
  • What sort of on-going support have you received from the Franchisor?
  • What is your on-going relationship like with the Franchisor?
  • If relevant, what sort of marketing support have you received from the Franchisor & has it been effective?
  • Do you consider the Franchise value for money?
  • Are you happy with the Franchise?

It’s all part of doing your due diligence, which is a fancy way of saying doing your research.

Check everything you can, and then have someone independent – a lawyer, an accountant, a financial advisor – do the same thing.

You need to be certain that what you are signing up for is what think you are signing up for.

Once you’ve done all that, and are satisfied and confident it’s the right thing for you, you’re ready to sign.

Building your work life around your family life

Being there for the key moments in your kids’ lives is an ideal every parent aims for.

At Lock & Roll we believe in family and our franchisees being able to spend quality time together. So, we have created a business that allows our franchise owners to build their working life around the key moments in their family life, giving them the flexibility to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Lock & Roll has franchise available right now, creating an opportunity to be your own boss, set your own hours, and reap the personal rewards of how hard you work.

Who are Lock & Roll?

Lock & Roll is a specialist window and door repair, maintenance and upgrade service for domestic and commercial property owners and managers.

Our target customer base includes the emerging Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) generation and time-poor homeowners, as well as residential property management services and commercial building managers, who need to comply with ever-changing industry regulations.

With Australia’s ageing population, there is also increasing demand from this sector who are no longer able to manage such repairs themselves. 

Lock & Roll’s business proposition is simple

Lock & Roll specialises in fixing the hardware and functionality of windows and doors. With constant use hardware will inevitably deteriorate or fail over time. 

Window handles and latches can become loose or break and sliding and bi-fold doors can become stiff, making them difficult or almost impossible to slide.

Lock & Roll identified an opportunity to provide these services in a mobile model and over a three year period tested its proposition with three operating licensees in Sydney. Its market research looked into what customers want, what works and what doesn’t work.

Not surprisingly, Lock & Roll found that the most common customer complaints were dealing with tradespeople who either turned up late or leaving a mess behind when they do turn up.

At Lock & Roll, we are determined to change that – it’s now offering the franchise opportunities nationally and is looking for good people with the right attitude, able to deliver a positive customer experience who want to own a franchise.

Key to being a successful Lock & Roll franchisee will be our extensive training in all aspects of the business opportunity, from the practicalities of the work to the interface with customers. 

All supported by an extensive Lock & Roll operational team that can be called upon at any stage to assist or impart further knowledge.

Lock & Roll works with franchisees to show them how they can earn a strong and rewarding income, while building a business that has intrinsic value and will fit around family and work – life commitments.

And the good news is that right now there is no shortage of work for new franchisees.

Alliances & Partnerships

Lock & Roll is proud to be affiliate with the following brands

sl1
sl2
sl3
sl4
sl5
sl6
sl7

Master Lic. 000104324