Locks, doors and glazing advice

Latest articles

• What to do after a break-in at home

  A practical checklist for the first few hours: police, evidence, insurance and getting the house secure again.

• Why wooden doors stick in winter, and how to fix them

  Why timber doors swell and bind when the weather turns damp, what you can check yourself and what a proper fix involves.

• Window will not close or lock? Common causes and fixes

  From worn friction hinges to failed handles and gearboxes, why windows stop closing properly and what the fix usually is.

• Should you change the locks when you move house?

  Why it is worth changing the locks after a move, whether you need new locks or just new cylinders, and what to check at the same time.

• Anti-snap locks explained: TS 007, SS312 and BS 3621

  What lock snapping is, what the TS 007 star ratings and Sold Secure Diamond mean, and where BS 3621 fits in.

• Locked out of your house? What to do next

  What to check before you call anyone, how a locksmith gets you back in without damage, and how to avoid paying over the odds.

• Why is my double glazing misted between the panes?

  What causes misting between the panes, how to tell it apart from normal condensation, and what the fix usually involves.

• UPVC door dropped or hard to lock? Causes and fixes

  Why UPVC doors drop and get stiff to lock, what you can check yourself and what a repair usually involves.