While I was already helping a returning customer in Twickenham with his bi-fold doors, he asked me to take a quick look at the front-door deadlock because it had become very stiff.
A few test operations later, the lock jammed halfway. Oops.
Once I removed it from the door, the problem was obvious. The old lock was in such poor condition that the door itself had effectively been holding it together, and the final bit of movement had been enough for it to throw the bolt for the last time.
It was also a surprisingly basic lock for a substantial wooden front door.
What was supposed to be a quick look therefore turned into roughly an hour’s work and a replacement British Standard deadlock.
After fitting and adjusting the new lock, I tested the key and bolt operation several times and the front door was working properly again.
The customer’s instinct to have it checked was a good one. If the old deadlock had finally seized with the door closed, opening it could easily have turned into a much more invasive job.
