Paul Easton Chepstow Locksmiths blog
Paul Easton Locksmiths Chepstow. Articles, news and updates.
Garage doors have many differant parts and componants which over the years from regular use are subject to varying degrees of wear and tear. DIY repairs can seem to be fairly simple and the sellers of parts on line indeed would have you believe that they are.
The truth is the exact opposite they are extremely difficult and dangerous to work on.
Garage doors involve torsion springs and wire cables under a considerable amount of tension, which means it is dangerous to work on them without the proper training and tools.
Here at Paul Easton garage doors repairs with over 40 years experience you can rest assured your garage door repair is in safe hands and with the tools and knowledge gained over these years i can repair all types of garage doors to bring them back to a factory condition.
Is their any way to tell if your garage door needs a repair or service, yes.
If its difficult to lift up.
Cables are frayed you can check this visually on each side.
Makes loud noises as you lift it up.
A good quality garage door that’s been correctly installed can last many years if it’s properly maintained. Even doors that are 30 odd years old with the correct servicing can go on pretty much indefinitely
Like any mechanical parts they require servicing and maintenance.
Servicing your door is just as important as servicing the car you put in the garage, after all the last thing you want is for the garage door to drop onto the roof of your nice new car or yourself .
So for all new parts like broken cables.
Replacement locks.
Replacement rollers.
Servicing and re-tensioning to main torsion springs.
Contact Paul Easton Garage door repairs for all your garage door and up and over canopy door repairs..
For the Chepstow and Caldicot, Magor areas.
See our website for a full list of services we provide and areas covered or telephone 01291 625540 m) 07913158497
Latest review.
Paul was so kind to respond INSTANTLY and was at my front door within 5 minutes of hanging up on the phone. He not only managed to get me back into the house, which was no small feat due to the intricacies of the lock, but also replace the lock, give me new keys and replace the latch. He was kind, polite, super helpful and quick. An absolute gem and very reasonably priced as well. Thank you Paul, you’re a life saver!!! 🙏🏼
Whats the most common thing i hear from customers ?
We rang other locksmiths using local numbers only to find they are out of area call centres !
I'm a genuine local based Chepstow locksmith offering a full range of door and window repairs along with garage door repairs see my website for more details.
We offer a complete and comprehensive up and over canopy door repair service.
All types of springs and cables replaced .
Full service facilities.
All major UK brands repaired including Garador, Henderson, Hormann, King and Cardale plus others.
Torsion spring adjustments
Handles replaced and obsolete parts repaired.
Personal service with over 40 years experience in the trade. I service the Chepstow, Magor and Caldicot areas. Wye Valley and Forest of Dean areas. Tintern and all areas around Shirenewton and Devauden.
The photographs above show a recant repair to a Hormann garage door where the cables were replaced and the spring re-tensioned.
See our website for more details on all our repairs.
We are pleased to confirm that we are continuing to be open for all types of repairs while the Wales lockdown is still in place.
This includes all emergency lock and door repairs and Garage door repairs.
Locksmiths are considered key workers due to the obvious security risks to properties.
At Paul Easton locksmiths we are very aware of the concerns people may have regarding having tradesmen working at the home but rest assured that i take every precaution possible to minimize close contact and ensure your safety
Once you have explained the problem to me i can carry out the work totally without you being present, after the work is completed i then wipe all the parts and areas i have been in contact with to ensure they are clean and safe.
My covid 19 covid-19 measures include the following safety precautions:
- Wearing a mask & gloves
- Social distancing
- Sanitizing hands and tools
- Payment options to pay by BACS transfer after the work is completed
If you are in this group you can tell us upon calling to book my services and i will go through any concerns you may have prior to the visit.
If you or your household are self-isolating due to a positive covid-19 test please tell me before i visit, this does not automatically mean i cannot carry out emergency repairs to secure your property, but i do need to know what the situation is prior to calling at your home.
Locksmith Services during Covid-19
Paul Easton Locksmiths are operating as normal for all emergency repairs:
- Emergency 24hr Locksmiths 7 days a week
- Change of locks
- Adjusting doors and mechanisms
- Fitting new locks
- Fix or replace of window locks
- Home security
- UPVC door repairs
- Garage door repairs
Security and burglary.
Its important to remember that while most of the country is locked down and people are staying at home the burglars are not !
Its not a good idea to leave entrance doors to your home unsecured or with broken and damaged locks which is what i'm finding people are doing. They are putting off essential repairs because they are at home all day.
Please remember most of the burglaries or entries into homes are carried out while you are asleep so please bear this in mind if you are putting off having doors repaired. You may be at home all day but the burglars know you have to sleep and over 90% of home break ins are through unlocked doors or windows.
Its looking ever more likely that this will not be a quick fix solution to the covid 19 problem so its better to get the doors repaired sooner rather than leave yourself vulnerable to a night time burglary.
For full details of all our services please refer to the website.
The pictures above are of a UPVC window that required new friction stay/hinges.
When these hinges fail the window typically will not close and secure properly.
This service includes window opening for failed window locks and espags.
Replacement systems for obsolete mechanisms.
Replacement handles.
This particular job was for a customer in Chepstow last week.
See our website for full details of this and all the other services we offer at Paul Easton Locksmiths.
These doors are the very latest in production to prevent theft from garages by forcing the doors open with a jemmy or crowbar the locking system cannot be opened or accessed by any other means than with a key and operating the locking system.
Unfortunately this means that if they go wrong they cannot be opened unless you have the tools i designed to enable access for repairs.
This is a door which i opened today in Chepstow for a customer that the operating/locking system had gone wrong and the door was locked shut.
Once opened the door locking system is easily repaired.
See my website for full details of all our garage door repair services.
The link below shows the Garador video demonstration for this particular type of door and locking system.
https://youtu.be/gv2Vp9hn9FY
This includes all emergency lock and door repairs and Garage door repairs.
Locksmiths are considered key workers due to the obvious security risks to properties.
At Paul Easton locksmiths we are very aware of the concerns people may have regarding having tradesmen working at the home but rest assured that i take every precaution possible to minimize close contact and ensure your safety
Once you have explained the problem to me i can carry out the work totally without you being present, after the work is completed i then wipe all the parts and areas i have been in contact with to ensure they are clean and safe.
My covid 19 covid-19 measures include the following safety precautions:
- Wearing a mask & gloves
- Social distancing
- Sanitizing hands and tools
- Payment options to pay by BACS transfer after the work is completed
If you are in this group you can tell us upon calling to book my services and i will go through any concerns you may have prior to the visit.
If you or your household are self-isolating due to a positive covid-19 test please tell me before i visit, this does not automatically mean i cannot carry out emergency repairs to secure your property, but i do need to know what the situation is prior to calling at your home.
Locksmith Services during Covid-19
Paul Easton Locksmiths are operating as normal for all emergency repairs:
- Emergency 24hr Locksmiths 7 days a week
- Change of locks
- Adjusting doors and mechanisms
- Fitting new locks
- Fix or replace of window locks
- Home security
- UPVC door repairs
- Garage door repairs
Security and burglary.
Its important to remember that while most of the country is locked down and people are staying at home the burglars are not !
Its not a good idea to leave entrance doors to your home unsecured or with broken and damaged locks which is what i'm finding people are doing. They are putting off essential repairs because they are at home all day.
Please remember most of the burglaries or entries into homes are carried out while you are asleep so please bear this in mind if you are putting off having doors repaired. You may be at home all day but the burglars know you have to sleep and over 90% of home break ins are through unlocked doors or windows.
Its looking ever more likely that this will not be a quick fix solution to the covid 19 problem so its better to get the doors repaired sooner rather than leave yourself vulnerable to a night time burglary.
For full details of all our services please refer to the website.
We are open as normal for all emergency locksmith repairs.
Garage door repairs and general repairs to locks, doors and windows.
Please note that we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that all requirements from the Welsh Government are strictly adhered to.
This involves use of face masks and sterilization of all working areas and surfaces after work is completed.
Should you have any special requirements or concerns regarding safety and the Covid 19 virus please inform us at the time of booking the appointment.
When working i would ask that you remain in a separate room or area until the work is completed for both your own safety and mine.
If possible could you wipe down any surfaces that i need to work on with cleaners/hand sanitizers prior to the appointment.
For more information on our services and updates on the Covid 19 Lock Down please refer to the regular updates we will be publishing on our website and this blog.
The image above is a storm damage repair to a wind blown off upvc door that i carried out today for a customer in Chepstow..
We are open as normal for all door and lock repairs and emergency repairs.
Garage door repairs.
Window repairs.
This was a repair today where i fabricated parts on site to repair an aluminium shop door in Caldicot.
The retaining lugs for the Adams Rite Hook Bolt lock were missing causing the old lock to come loose.
I can carry out on site repairs and fabricate old or obsolete parts to fit your doors and windows.
Open as normal 9.00am to 10.00pm 7 days a week
See the website for full details of all our services.
We are open throughout the Christmas period.
Opening times for this Christmas holiday are as follows.
Christmas eve tonight until 10pm
Christmas day 6pm to 10pm
Closed in the morning and early afternoon although you can telephone and book for later.
Boxing day 9.00am to 10pm
This was an emergency job this evening where a door locking system had failed. I repaired and replaced the main parts and secured the property for the home owners.
We are open as normal for all emergency repairs throughout the holiday period.
See our website www.pauleastonlocksmiths.com for my full range of services.
Have a very merry Christmas.
I truly apologize once more, Kate, for not being able to assist you as swiftly as you needed. I'm in the process of recovering from surgery, which has limited my mobility. Nevertheless, if you're still in need of a locksmith, I recommend contacting Nick at City Locksmiths.
Top 5 Locksmith Scams To Avoid
If you want to find our how to know if a locksmith is a scam look out for these telling tricks. These are the most common scams locksmiths use to take advantage of naive customers;
- Bait and switch
- Cheap lock installation at a high price
- Destroying a lock when it is not necessary
- Taking a UPVC mechanism away
- Claiming to be “police approved”
Here we explain how these scams work and how to avoid falling prey to dishonest fake locksmiths.
1) Bait and Switch
The most common locksmith trap is to quote a “low call out charge” sometimes £59 or even £39. This catches the customer’s attention and they opt for what seems to be the cheapest option. What the customer doesn’t realise is that this unrealistic cost is simply to attend the property and the price will go up and up by an undetermined amount as the job progresses. In reality, there should be no cost to attend and quote for a job, a customer should only pay for work completed.
If a customer really believes a job can be completed for £59 unfortunately they are being naive. Realistically this would not come close to even covering basic operating costs.
Would you fall for this cheap locksmith trick as so many do? At Paul Easton Locksmiths we always quote a fixed price, so that customers know what they can expect to pay on completion of the job, with no surprises.
2) Cheap Lock Installation
Customers often don’t know the cost of a lock and which lock brands are high quality or low quality. This is something that unscrupulous locksmiths take advantage of. If a locksmith is installing a Versa budget lock, you will be paying for a low quality lock. It is common for customers to be overcharged for low quality locks.
Often, high quality locks are even destroyed unnecessarily and replaced with low quality locks.
If you choose a dishonest locksmith because they seem cheap you can expect to get a rubbish lock and pay over the odds. At IKS we install only high quality locks in range of price points to provide the customer good value options to suit a range of budgets. Suitable locks can be high security or basic but they must never be poor quality.
3) Destructive Entry – When it is not necessary
This is common dishonest locksmith practice and it happens all the time because they know they can get away with it. There are no laws, that we are aware of, to protect the customer.
A common locksmith trick, when customers are locked out, is to destroy a lock when it is really not necessary and to then fit a cheap low quality lock and charge a ridiculously over inflated price for entry, the lock and a call out charge. IKS Locksmiths aim to avoid destructive entry and find the most economical solution for the customer in the circumstances.
4) Taking a UPVC Mechanism Away
Another rogue locksmith trick is related to UPVC mechanism repair. They use the bait and switch method to secure a job. They remove and take away the UPVC mechanism. Then quote a ridiculously high price for repair and use intimidation to secure the funds. The customer often decides to call another locksmith at this point due to feeling ripped off and scared for their safety. They know that the fact that the UPVC mechanism has been taken away would cause another locksmith a problem with finding the correct replacement mechanism for the job not having all the required information. So essentially they are holding the customers mechanism for ransom. At IKS we would never take a UPVC mechanism away as it is not necessary, instead we take the necessary measurements and order the part.
5) Police Approved Locksmith
If a locksmith advertises claiming to be “police approved” this should set alarm bells ringing. This is a dishonest claim commonly used by locksmiths in Google Ads, and on their websites, aimed at luring customers into a false sense of security.
The police do not endorse individual locksmith companies. It is false advertising. They do use and recommend using locksmiths approved by the Master Locksmiths Association. They don’t promote, endorse or approve individual locksmith companies. Despite being MLA approved IKS does not advertise as being police approved.
