Small repairs around the house
A window that does not close properly, a door that rubs, a lock that sticks, a broken pane, a dripping tap. These are small jobs that many firms do not want to do – I do them. Send me a photo on WhatsApp and tell me what is wrong; messages in English are welcome.
What's included
- Adjusting aluminium windows and doors
- Replacing rollers, rubber seals and weatherstrips
- Replacing locks and cylinders
- Replacing broken glass
- Handles, catches and hinges
- Taps, toilet cisterns and traps
Types and options
- Windows and doors
- Adjusting, sealing, replacing rollers and catches.
- Locks
- Replacing cylinders, locks and handles.
- Light plumbing
- Taps, cisterns, traps and appliance connections.
How to measure a cylinder and a pane of glass before asking for a price
With two or three measurements taken properly, I can almost always bring the right part first time.
Lock cylinder
- Open the door and look at the edge, where the lock faceplate is. The cylinder is held by a screw level with it.
- Measure from the centre of that screw to the outer face of the cylinder and from the centre of the screw to the inner face. That is two measurements, and they are often different.
- Tell me whether there is a key or a thumb-turn on the inside.
- The cylinder should sit flush with the escutcheon or rose. If the current one sticks out on the outside, now is the time to correct it.
Glass
- Measure the width and height of the visible glass, from seal to seal. I take the exact measurement, including the part inside the frame, myself.
- Tell me whether it is single or double glazed. In double glazing you can see a metal or dark spacer between the two panes, all the way round.
- If it is double glazed, look for the marking printed on that spacer: it usually gives the make-up of the unit.
- Tell me whether it is clear, frosted or patterned, and whether it is near the floor or in a door, where I recommend safety glass.
If there is broken glass, do not remove it by hand. Stick wide tape over the cracks and keep people away.
Repair or replace: when adjusting is no longer enough
My starting point is to repair. Aluminium frames that are twenty or thirty years old often have profiles in perfect condition and only the wearing parts at the end of their life.
| Problem | Usually solved with | No longer worth it when |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy sliding window | New rollers and cleaning the track | The track is worn or cracked and the sash derails |
| Air and rain getting in | Seals, brushes and adjusting the catch | The frame is twisted or loose from the wall |
| Tilt-and-turn that drops or will not lock | Adjusting or replacing the hardware | Compatible hardware for that series no longer exists |
| Double glazing misted up inside | A new glass unit in the same frame | Rarely; the frame can be kept |
| Door rubbing on the floor | Adjusting the hinges | The leaf is warped |
| Lock that sticks | Cleaning, lubricating or a new cylinder | The lock case is broken: the lock is replaced, not the door |
The limit is usually a lack of parts. For very old series or from manufacturers that no longer exist, matching rollers and catches cannot always be found; sometimes an equivalent part can be adapted, sometimes it is not possible. When the total of the repairs gets close to the cost of a new window, or when the window will never seal properly however much it is adjusted, I say so frankly.
Small signs not to put off
Some faults can wait for the next visit; others, if left, damage more expensive parts.
- The key starts to stick or has to be jiggled to turn. It is the warning of a worn cylinder. One day it stops turning, usually with the door shut and you on the outside.
- You have to lift the door by the handle to lock it. The leaf has dropped. Forcing it every day eventually breaks the multi-point lock.
- The sliding window drags. Seized rollers scratch and wear the track, and the track cannot be replaced without replacing the frame.
- Standing water in the window track. The drainage holes are blocked. When it rains with wind, that water comes into the house.
- The toilet takes a long time to stop filling, or you hear it refilling on its own. It is losing water into the bowl, day and night.
- A tap that only shuts off with force. Tightening it harder damages the washer and then the tap seat.
- Cracked glass, even if it is still in place. It can give way with a gust of wind or when the window is closed.
- Black or peeling silicone around the bath or shower tray. Water gets into the wall and the flat below without being seen.
A good habit is to go round the house twice a year, note down what you find and get everything dealt with in a single visit.
What you gain
- No job is too small
- If it matters to you, it matters to me.
- Diagnosis by photo
- I can often give you a price from a photo alone.
- Prevents bigger problems
- A small adjustment today saves replacing the window tomorrow.
How it works
Send a message
On WhatsApp, with a photo or two and rough measurements, if you have them.
Get a price
I reply with a clear quote. If something needs measuring precisely, I arrange a visit.
Job done
We book a date that suits you. At the end everything is left clean, tested and working.
Questions about small repairs
Will you come out just to adjust one window?
I will. If I am in the area, I do small jobs without any problem. I usually group several repairs into one visit to keep the cost down for you.
My sliding window has become heavy. Can it be fixed?
Almost always. It is usually worn rollers or a dirty track full of debris. By replacing the rollers and cleaning the track, the window slides like new again.
Do you replace broken glass?
I do. I measure the glass, order the right one (single, double or laminated) and replace it, checking the seals and weatherproofing while I am there.
I have moved into a house that someone else lived in. Should I change the lock?
I advise it, and the GNR (the Portuguese National Republican Guard) itself recommends changing the locks when moving into a house that has had other occupants, because you do not know how many keys are out there. On most doors there is no need to replace the whole lock: replacing the cylinder, the part the key goes into, is enough. It is a quick job.
My double glazing has moisture between the two panes. Can it be fixed?
Moisture inside the unit means the glass seal has failed, and that cannot be cleaned or repaired. The good news is that you do not need to replace the window: only the double-glazed unit is replaced with a new one of the same size, and you can take the opportunity to choose glass that insulates better than the original.
Are parts still available for old aluminium windows?
For many, yes: rollers, catches, seals and brushes for the most common series are still made or have equivalents. For others, something has to be adapted. A close-up photo of the part and the profile it fits into lets me tell you, before coming out, whether there is a solution.
Other services
Ask for a quote
Three quick questions and the message is ready to send on WhatsApp. Then just add the photos.
- Free quote, no obligation
- You talk to the person who does the work
- You're welcome to write to me in English on WhatsApp.