A local customer in Ashford had already been dealing with a multipoint-lock problem and also had serious issues with the hinges on the uPVC French doors.
The old hinges were so brittle that parts were virtually disintegrating in my hands. Even with more than 20 different hinge types in the van, none of them matched this door.
I started ringing specialist suppliers locally, but nobody nearby had the correct hinge. A trip to Croydon looked unavoidable until I spoke to a locksmith colleague who happened to be collecting stock there. By the time I checked again, he had been pulled into another job in Leatherhead, so I went there to give him a hand and collect the hinges from him instead. Still better than going all the way to Croydon. 😄
Back in Ashford, I fitted the replacement hinges, aligned the door and refitted the locking mechanism. The door was working again after what had turned into a much longer parts hunt than expected.
A couple of days later the customer asked me to replace the hinges on the other French door as preventative maintenance and because the brand-new hinges on one side made the old ones on the other look rather tired.
This time I ordered extras to keep in van stock. The second set was fitted the following day and the master door was aligned as well.
It was a frustrating reminder that no matter how much stock I carry, there will always be an awkward hinge somewhere that I do not have. The customer’s excellent coffee at least helped with morale.
