Hardware Extra
BUILDING A BUSINESS OF UPVC LOCK REPAIR
» WITH APPROXIMATELY 15 YEARS experience in the locksmithing industry , Craig Andres has been building up his expertise in the hardware and security industry since he was a teenager . With a genuine love of locks and in particular , a passion for picking ; the thrill of a challenge is something that has kept Craig ’ s interest over the years ; spurring him into learning new skills and acquiring more tools for every eventuality . With new and improved safety and security standards plus a plethora of manufacturers on the market , UPVC lock repair and replacement has fast become one of Craig ’ s busiest branches of his Bristol business AA Lock and Key ; even earning him the nickname of ‘ door man ’ in his local area … “ Around 90 percent of domestic entrance doors are UPVC or composite now ,” begins Craig . “ In layman ’ s terms , most people think a door will last about 8-10 years , yet it ’ s impossible to measure the lifespan of a door in terms in time like this , as door manufacturers know and understand . The amount of people coming in and going out of a door , how and when it is locked , closing it softly or slamming it - there are so many factors to take into account ; and most often these are taking a toll on the hardware rather than anything else .
“ As an emergency locksmith , I have been called out for so many different reasons and have seen almost every different type of lock . Across the main hardware manufacturers , there are more than 320 different lock mechanisms . When it comes to the equipment required , 3-star locks naturally require picks that are equally sophisticated and specialist .
“ But it isn ’ t just lost keys or changing locks after a house move or break in that keep me busy , people have now started to realise that if a door isn ’ t opening or closing properly , or sitting ‘ just right ’, it means that it may need realigning or hanging , rather than requiring the purchase of a new door . Likewise , in the past customers might have called a joiner to try and rectify this problem , but UPVC locksmiths are perfectly capable to solve an issue like this . In fact , I added a page to my website with all the common questions that
customers ask when something is ‘ wrong ’ with their door ( https :// aalocksmithsbristol . co . uk / locksmith-services / upvc-lock-repair /). Indeed , as we all know the door itself is seldom the issue - these things are built to last - and if kept serviced and maintained , just as we would for a car , you can not only extend the lifespan of your door but keep it working just as well as it was the day it was fitted .
“ At the start of lockdown last year , I invested in a new van and re-organised the way I kitted in out . Even though I scaled down some of the tools and stock in it however , I made the decision to invest in all new picks for the main UPVC lock brands such as Brisant , Ultion and Avocet , as the past few years before that had proved to me that these tools were absolutely essential for my everyday job . On top of lock repair and replacement however , there is a further advantage to being a specialist in this field , and that is the upselling opportunities .
“ When I fit a new lock for a customer , especially if it ’ s after a house move for example , it ’ s quite common that this leads to a new handle - perhaps in a different design or finish - then comes the letter plate and anything else in a hardware suite . Of course , houses have at least two entrance doors , and in many cases , even more now when it comes to extensions , out buildings , garden rooms etc . For this reason , I also make sure I have a selection of suites readily available but also keep my eye on what ’ s available - hardware-wise - so I can pass my recommendations on to customers .
“ Spotting the growing need for UPVC repair and replacement got me started in this area , the fact that no two jobs are ever the same got me hooked , and the vast volume of work and ability to make a decent living from it has made it the area that my business is now built on .”
aalocksmithsbristol . co . uk
64 » APR 2021 » CLEARVIEW-UK . COM