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johno1234
2807 posts

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  #2907686 27-Apr-2022 20:32
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A new internal door is under $100 so don't go breaking any glass to get into that room...

 

I would either get a locksmith (someone said $165) but the risk is he can't open it, if so then/or...

 

... destroy that door latch by punching a bar through it and trying to turn the mechanism with some leverage such as a pipe wrench on the bar. Once that failed it would be a case if cutting the door set out with a skill saw or jig saw, opening the door, remove the door from the hinges and hang a new one.

 

 

 

 




duckDecoy
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  #2907700 27-Apr-2022 21:41
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johno1234:

 

A new internal door is under $100 so don't go breaking any glass to get into that room...

 

I would either get a locksmith (someone said $165) but the risk is he can't open it, if so then/or...

 

... destroy that door latch by punching a bar through it and trying to turn the mechanism with some leverage such as a pipe wrench on the bar. Once that failed it would be a case if cutting the door set out with a skill saw or jig saw, opening the door, remove the door from the hinges and hang a new one.

 

 

I'd normally agree except OP explicitly said s/he is not handy.  Hanging a door is likely outside their skill set (they also say they don't have many tools), so keeping the door intact would be the best option as they should be able to fit a new handle with a single screwdriver and YouTube.

 

Then again, for $100 it would be a good intro project into DIY


invisibleman18

1362 posts

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  #2907707 27-Apr-2022 22:21
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Yeah I'm not at all handy and don't have any of the tools required to cut the door out as described. The locksmith is coming tomorrow so hopefully they can sort it. If not then I'll have to look at breaking the door down.



Journeyman
1187 posts

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  #2907709 27-Apr-2022 22:24
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Burn the door down.


duckDecoy
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  #2907710 27-Apr-2022 22:27
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Journeyman:

 

Burn the door down.

 

 

Or just sell the house and move to one without a broken handle.


MikeAqua
7785 posts

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  #2907789 28-Apr-2022 08:35
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johno1234:

 

A new internal door is under $100 so don't go breaking any glass to get into that room...

 

I would either get a locksmith (someone said $165) but the risk is he can't open it, if so then/or...

 

... destroy that door latch by punching a bar through it and trying to turn the mechanism with some leverage such as a pipe wrench on the bar. Once that failed it would be a case if cutting the door set out with a skill saw or jig saw, opening the door, remove the door from the hinges and hang a new one.

 

 

But don't forget you need someone to fit hinges and a door handle set to it.  Unlikely to be less than $165 to buy and hang a door.  It may need painting as well.





Mike


invisibleman18

1362 posts

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  #2907800 28-Apr-2022 09:21
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Yeah, if I was more into DIY and had all the tools I'd have given it a go, but $165 was much less than I'd thought so decided that was easiest. All done now. He said he could come at 9am this morning, turned up 20 minutes early and just finished. Took about 20 mins to get the door open with a mixture of drilling and banging etc, and now fitted a new handle which he said should be much more robust and easier to get if we replace others in future. The brand name wasn't even on the old one which he said is not a great sign if they won't put their name to it.

 

The latch had failed as well as a spring in the external handle. The internal one was still fine so kept that for if another one in the house gets loose as it just screws on.

 

Supported a local small business (was a local mobile locksmith rather than one of the big chains) so that's good too.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.


 
 
 

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robjg63
4098 posts

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  #2907844 28-Apr-2022 11:26
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invisibleman18:

 

Yeah, if I was more into DIY and had all the tools I'd have given it a go, but $165 was much less than I'd thought so decided that was easiest. All done now. He said he could come at 9am this morning, turned up 20 minutes early and just finished. Took about 20 mins to get the door open with a mixture of drilling and banging etc, and now fitted a new handle which he said should be much more robust and easier to get if we replace others in future. The brand name wasn't even on the old one which he said is not a great sign if they won't put their name to it.

 

The latch had failed as well as a spring in the external handle. The internal one was still fine so kept that for if another one in the house gets loose as it just screws on.

 

Supported a local small business (was a local mobile locksmith rather than one of the big chains) so that's good too.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

 

Sounds like a very good price and outcome - especially as it included the new handle.

 

I am guessing you are not in Auckland - every trade person here seems to charge like wounded bulls!





Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler


MikeAqua
7785 posts

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  #2907847 28-Apr-2022 11:29
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invisibleman18:

 

Yeah, if I was more into DIY and had all the tools I'd have given it a go, but $165 was much less than I'd thought so decided that was easiest. All done now. He said he could come at 9am this morning, turned up 20 minutes early and just finished. Took about 20 mins to get the door open with a mixture of drilling and banging etc, and now fitted a new handle which he said should be much more robust and easier to get if we replace others in future. The brand name wasn't even on the old one which he said is not a great sign if they won't put their name to it.

 

The latch had failed as well as a spring in the external handle. The internal one was still fine so kept that for if another one in the house gets loose as it just screws on.

 

Supported a local small business (was a local mobile locksmith rather than one of the big chains) so that's good too.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

 

Good outcome.  Our house was built by a spec home outfit and had a lot of unbranded-junk fittings and appliances in it.  We've replaced quite a lot of things.  No issue with door hardware yet, but I'm sure it's only matter of time.





Mike


invisibleman18

1362 posts

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  #2907863 28-Apr-2022 11:56
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robjg63:

 

Sounds like a very good price and outcome - especially as it included the new handle.

 

I am guessing you are not in Auckland - every trade person here seems to charge like wounded bulls!

 

 

In Wellington (Lower Hutt to be precise). Fully recommend Welly Locksmiths. 

 

https://wellylocksmiths.co.nz/

 

 

 

 

 

 


Technofreak
6530 posts

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  #2909023 1-May-2022 21:37
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MikeAqua:

 

invisibleman18:

 

Yeah, if I was more into DIY and had all the tools I'd have given it a go, but $165 was much less than I'd thought so decided that was easiest. All done now. He said he could come at 9am this morning, turned up 20 minutes early and just finished. Took about 20 mins to get the door open with a mixture of drilling and banging etc, and now fitted a new handle which he said should be much more robust and easier to get if we replace others in future. The brand name wasn't even on the old one which he said is not a great sign if they won't put their name to it.

 

The latch had failed as well as a spring in the external handle. The internal one was still fine so kept that for if another one in the house gets loose as it just screws on.

 

Supported a local small business (was a local mobile locksmith rather than one of the big chains) so that's good too.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

 

Good outcome.  Our house was built by a spec home outfit and had a lot of unbranded-junk fittings and appliances in it.  We've replaced quite a lot of things.  No issue with door hardware yet, but I'm sure it's only matter of time.

 

 

Par for the course even for non spec homes I think.

 

I did a "repair" on a door lock set on a relatives house a couple of years ago by doing a rob Peter to pay Paul exercise. After hours and it needed to be fixed then. The house was less than 5 years old. I took the failed fitting and made it partially work and swapped it to a location where it was OK to be used and took the donor lockset and fitted it in the place of the failed one. No manufacturers name anywhere, supplied by the builders.

 

God know where you'd be able to buy a like for like replacement to keep the fittings looking the same through the house. When they fail, which they will as they're cheap and nasty, you then end up with a fairly new house with door fittings that don't match, well not until they have all failed and been replaced.





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Bung
6487 posts

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  #2909086 2-May-2022 06:16
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If there's nothing wrong with the handles you can just replace the latch. You need to know how far from the edge of the door the square rod is so you get a latch with the correct backset.

MikeAqua
7785 posts

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  #2909178 2-May-2022 09:35
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Technofreak:

 

God know where you'd be able to buy a like for like replacement to keep the fittings looking the same through the house. When they fail, which they will as they're cheap and nasty, you then end up with a fairly new house with door fittings that don't match, well not until they have all failed and been replaced.

 

 

I'll just replace them all with quality fittings when that happens.





Mike


  #2909229 2-May-2022 10:57
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It wasn't that long ago that I suggested Geekzone members could invest in group ownership of a Thermic Lance . This situation is absolutely perfect for such a solution. OP would have been through that door in seconds.




Megabyte - so geek it megahertz

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