Fitting new front door and frame and locks

hander

We've recently moved into a house built in 1850s. The front door has been replaced at some point and rather than fit an oversized door (it's about 39" across so is large), they've put some architrave in to fill the gap until the space was more standard.

The architrave has rotted and part of the door frame has gone. It looks like the whole frame needs replacement and if that's being done, it seems more fitting to bring the door back to its original size.

I've just had a quote on this (London Door Company) and including hardware (letterbox, knocker etc) and Banham's locks this comes out to be around £3.5K. :eek:

What thinks people to this? Company are highly professional but I really wasn't expecting a price this high - even in London.

moonrakerz

If you are getting new locks fitted, either get good mortice locks, OR, if you are going for cylinder locks (Yale/Chubb/Union etc) watch this first:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr23tpWX8lM

hander

Indeed. I have a set of bump keys purchased (out of pure interest) at the time this news first appeared. Interestingly just tried and failed to break into our current Chubb with them!

moonrakerz

hander wrote: »

Indeed. I have a set of bump keys purchased (out of pure interest) at the time this news first appeared. Interestingly just tried and failed to break into our current Chubb with them!

You'd make a lousy burglar ! :rotfl:

benood

We had the new style banham latch deadlocks fitted on front and back doors and wouldn't recommend them - you have to deadlock them from the inside before closing the door behind you and for some reason it's a real pain, probably because you have to pull the key in when you want to go out (if that makes any sense!)

zain

Any idea of how much i should pay for banham locks front and back?
Just a rough idea?
Thanks

Hoploz

Just had an estimate for a totally different type of door, don't know if it s of any use to you or not but here goes -
Custom timber frame for approx 5' aperture, double glazed side lights, hardwood door (standard sized) approx £1000
Just thought I'd add it as it is for a completely ordinary 1958 house so nothing special and even that seems a fortune to me - always costs lots more for something special like yours of course.

benood

About 350 from memory

ormus

i doubt you would pay more than 1000 quid (even with a 200 quid banham lock), here in the NW.
there are times when im glad i left london.:)