Gate Lock Not Working? We'll Restore Your Gate's Security

A gate lock that has stopped working is worth treating as more than an inconvenience. A gate that will not secure leaves tools, bikes and garden access exposed, and a lock that only sometimes works is worse than one that obviously does not, because it gives false confidence.

Why Gate Locks Stop Working

Alignment problems cause most gate lock faults. A gate that has dropped a few millimetres on its hinges no longer presents the bolt or latch to the keep in the right place, so the lock binds or will not throw. The lock mechanism itself wears: grit, rust and lack of lubrication eventually stop bolts sliding, keys turning and latches springing back. Keys break or wear down. Freezing weather can lock up a water-laden mechanism. And on timber gates, the wood moves with the seasons — a lock fitted in a dry August can bind by a wet January simply because the gate has swollen around it.

How We Assess the Fault

We test the lock with the gate open, which immediately separates a failed lock from an alignment problem. If the lock works freely off the gate, the issue is the gate's position; if it binds even open, the mechanism itself has failed. We then check the hinges and posts, because a lock problem caused by a dropped gate returns even with a new lock fitted. We also look at what the lock is protecting and whether the hardware is appropriate — a light latch doing the job of a lock, or a lock screwed into soft timber, is a security weak point we will flag honestly. The full cost is quoted and approved before any work starts, with parts quoted separately.

Repair and Replacement Options

Worn mechanisms can sometimes be cleaned, lubricated and adjusted; more often, an internal failure means replacing the lock body, which is straightforward once the alignment is right. Where the gate has dropped, we re-seat or adjust the hinges first, then align the lock and keep — fixing the lock alone would treat the symptom. Where the keep or striking plate has worked loose, we re-fix it properly rather than patching. If you want a higher level of security, we can discuss replacing a basic latch with proper keyed hardware — fitted into sound timber, with the fixings protected where practical, because an expensive lock on vulnerable fixings is not much of a lock.

Security While You Wait

If the gate is your main boundary security and the lock has failed completely, a temporary fix — a bolt, a padbolt, or even a well-chosen hasp until the proper repair — is usually possible on the same visit. We will discuss that when you call, because we know an unsecured side gate is not something most people want to leave over a weekend.

Aftercare

Gate locks live outdoors and need occasional care: a dry lubricant a couple of times a year, a check that the fixings remain tight after winter, and a key that is not worn to a knife edge. If the lock starts sticking again, deal with it early — a mechanism that is sticking is one that is wearing.

When to Call Us

Call when the key will not turn, the bolt will not throw, the latch has stopped springing back, or the lock only engages if you lift the gate into position. When booking, tell us whether the gate is timber or metal, what kind of lock it has if you know, and whether it fails all the time or only in certain weather.

You pay a booking fee when you book, and labour is charged hourly at a rate that depends on how soon you need the visit. The full cost is quoted and approved before we start, and any replacement lock or hardware is quoted separately.