Repair service
uPVC Door Mechanism Replacement in Newcastle
You lift the handle, the key turns, and nothing happens. Or the handle drops limp and the door stays locked. When a uPVC door behaves like this, the gearbox at the centre of the multipoint mechanism has usually broken.
We carry out uPVC door mechanism replacement across Newcastle and the North East, replacing the failed gearbox or the full mechanism while keeping the door. It forms part of our hinges, locks and handles service.
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Guaranteed workmanship
Signs of a failed gearbox
- The handle lifts but the locking points do not engage
- The handle has gone floppy and will not spring back
- The key turns but the door does not lock or unlock
- The door is stuck locked and the handle does nothing
- A grinding or clicking noise inside the door edge
- The handle has to be lifted further than it used to
What the gearbox does
A multipoint lock is a long metal strip running down the edge of the door, with hooks, rollers or bolts at several points. In the middle is the gearbox, which the handle and key operate. When you lift the handle, the gearbox drives the strip and throws every locking point at once. If the gears inside break, the handle and key no longer reach the locking points.
Gearboxes usually fail because they have been working against a door that is out of line. Lifting a handle hard every day to force a dropped door closed puts the gears under far more load than they were made for.
Gearbox only or full mechanism?
Some mechanisms allow the centre gearbox to be replaced on its own. Others are a single unit, and the whole strip is replaced. We remove the mechanism, measure the backset, the centres between handle and cylinder, and the length, and then fit the matching part. If the hooks or rollers along the strip are also worn, replacing the full mechanism is usually the better option.
Before we finish, we check the door is in line. A new gearbox in a misaligned door will fail the same way, so if the door has dropped we reset it, or replace the hinges through door hinge repairs.
If the door is stuck locked
A gearbox that fails in the locked position leaves the door shut. Getting it open without damage takes care, and the mechanism is replaced once it is out. Our guide to a uPVC door that will not open covers what to try first. If the door is your only way in or out and cannot be secured, call about emergency repairs.
Related lock jobs
Not every locking fault is the gearbox. A key that will not turn at all is often the cylinder, and a stiff handle can be the handle spring. Our uPVC door lock replacement page covers the lock as a whole, and the uPVC door will not lock guide helps narrow down which part has failed.
Questions
Frequently asked
How do you replace a uPVC door mechanism?
The handles and cylinder are removed, then the screws along the door edge, and the mechanism slides out. The new one must match the backset, centres and length. Our DIY lock replacement guide explains the steps, and we can fit it if you prefer.
How much does it cost to replace a uPVC door mechanism?
Our existing cost guides list multipoint gearbox replacement at around £150 to £280 fitted, varying with the make and length of the mechanism. See the uPVC door lock replacement cost guide for what affects the price.
Can a broken gearbox be repaired rather than replaced?
The gears are sealed inside the case, so a broken gearbox is replaced rather than repaired. The rest of the mechanism can sometimes stay.
Why did my gearbox break?
The most common cause is forcing the handle on a door that has dropped or moved out of line. We check alignment so the new part does not fail the same way.
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Guides that go with this repair
Discuss upvc door gearbox replacement
Photo estimates sometimes possible.