CLICK HERE TO BUY THE FULL VERSION 5 WINDOWS AND DOORS WINDOW LOCKS 5 Screw the 3 locking Window locks body into place on the opening Sash windows casement. Windows are a vital part of our homes, providing light, ventilation and views – however There are various options they can also be a weak spot in terms of heat loss and security, so here are a few tips for for locking getting your windows into tip top condition and keeping them that way. sash windows; 2 one type goes 1 through both Then fix parts of the Casement 4 the striking closed window, plate in place which also helps There are two main choices here – a stay lock which allows you on the frame. to stop draughts. to lock the window ajar to allow ventilation as well as fully closed, Other types are or a standard lock which only locks the windows when shut. shown below. A standard casement lock has two parts – a striking plate and a locking body. The plate should be located on the fixed This fixes to the frame and the locking body should be on the opening 1 horizontal part of casement section. Here’s how to fit one. the windows and the key undwinds a small Close your bolt which prevents 1 window and the window catch use a pencil from opening. to mark the position where you want the These stay lock. Use your 2 locks are bradawl to mark ideally fitted the points you both sides of the 7ZZ_d]WZZ_j_edWbbeYaicWo^[bf need to drill. window on the m_j^oekh^ec[_dikhWdY[Yeiji vertical edge. The ones shown need to be fixed flush Window locks should be fitted to any easily accessible ground with the wood. floor windows – and this should also help to reduce your home You lock them insurance premium. Depending on your window type (sash, by using the key casement, UPVC etc) there are to twist out the many different types available barrel which then Kerrie’s – though if you have UPVC Check the lock works smoothly with the special prevents the top tip Kerrie’s windows check with the 5 key it comes with, and if not, then adjust the window from top tip manufacturer that adding position of the striking plate. being lifted. ?\Äjj_d]iWi^m_dZem locks will not invalidate ijWobeYai"efj\ehjme$<_jed[ M_dZembeYaiWh[W your guarantee. The alternative fixing for a casement window is a stay h[jW_d[h`kijWXel[j^[XejjeciWi^ ]h[Wj_Z[W\ehi[Ykh_jo"Xkj lock – which fits under the stay and locks it in place. It is ·\eh jea[[fj^[m_dZemj_]^jbobeYa[Z"j^[d h[c[cX[hj^Wjoekc_]^jd[[Z· usually sufficient to replace one of the existing stay pins, fbWY[j^[i[YedZed[W\[m_dY^[i^_]^[h$ je][jekj_dW^khho but you can do both if you prefer. Remove the stay pin and [nWcfb[_\j^[h[_iWÄh[ place the new stay lock pin in place, put the stay down J^_ic[Wdij^WjoekYWd^Wl[j^[iWi^ iea[[foekhm_dZema[oi onto it, and mark with a bradawl where to drill. Carefully m_dZemef[dW\[m_dY^[im^_bij iec[m^[h[[Wi_boWdZ Then drill small pilot holes for the screws, drill pilot holes (smaller than the screws) then screw the ij_bbcW_djW_d_d]i[Ykh_jo"Wi_j gk_YaboWYY[ii_Xb[$ but make sure the holes are not as big as new stay lock pin into place, close the stay, and position 2 YWd¼jX[fki^[Zef[d the screws or they won’t tighten. the locking nut on top using the key provided with the lock. Wdo^_]^[h$ 92 WOMEN’S HOME DIY MANUAL WOMEN’S HOME DIY MANUAL 93 5 WINDOWS AND DOORS DOOR LOCKS 5 Door locks Changing a 5-lever lock Fitting a mortice bolt This is a simple Mark the 1 job. Remove the 1 position you Door locks provide perhaps the most important security aspect of your home so it is handle on the inside want the bolt on by unscrewing it, and the door edge then essential that they work properly so that you don’t get shut in during an emergency put it to one side to using a square and so that uninvited guests can’t get in easily and pinch all your Jimmy Choos when put back later. edge mark across the top and bottom you’re out (although in fairness they would at least be exhibiting good taste). line where it will fit. Remove the Changing a cylinder lock 2 spindle bar but hang on to this too as you’ll need it later. Unscrew the 3 lock section and remove – you can help it on its way by putting Unscrew the lock Unscrew the two retaining your screwdriver in the Use your tape 1 body. Hold on to this 2 screws but hold the cylinder spindle hole and pulling 2 measure to find as you’ll need to put it part in place, and leave the it towards you. the centre of each back on afterwards. mounting plate in position too. line and mark this, then join them with a vertical pencil line Kerrie’s between the two top tip horizontal lines. Then draw a cross from OekZed¼jd[[Zje][jj^[fhei_d_\ CWa[ikh[oek¼l[ one corner to the Xek]^jj^[Yehh[Yji_p[ oek`kijmWdjjeY^Wd][j^[beYai other so that you can h[fbWY[c[djbeYaWiZ[fj^i find dead centre. Z_\\[h$IjWdZWhZZ[fj^i Wh[($+_dWdZ)_d$ Remove the old cylinder Choosing a lock 3 from the outside and slide the new cylinder immediately into Approximately 40% of domestic burglars gain place and replace the screws. Fit and access from the front or back door, so make sure 4 secure the your doors are as secure as possible. If you’d The strip in the new lock into rather not tackle these jobs, it’s worth getting 4 new cylinder place (you may someone in to do them. Make sure the locks may need cutting need to chisel have the ‘kite mark’ and are passed to the British down to the size away a little more Standard BS3621. An exterior door should ideally of the original. You wood to ensure a have at least a 5 lever lock, but additional mortice can now replace snug fit. Replace bolts and hinge bolts are worth adding. If you are the lock body and the spindle and fitting a cylinder lock to an exterior door, make check that the door the handle and sure it’s a deadlocking one. closes and the lock check that the Drill using a flat drill bit to the depth works properly. lock works. 3 recommended on the packaging. > 94 WOMEN’S HOME DIY MANUAL WOMEN’S HOME DIY MANUAL 95 5 WINDOWS AND DOORS DOOR LOCKS 5 Insert the 4 bolt and hold it in place whilst you mark Other problems around it the area that will need to Draughts be chiselled out Doors and windows are some of the main areas of your to allow it to home that can let in draughts. Dealing with these can save sit flush. you money on the heating bills – but be careful to ensure you still have sufficient ventilation, especially if you have a solid fuel fire, a gas fire or a boiler with an open flue. Doors can be fitted with a brush draught excluder on the bottom of the door or an external draught excluder. You can also buy things called ‘escutcheons’ which are Chisel out the Drill pilot basically a set of two fixings, an open one to go over a 5 marked area 8 holes for the keyhole on the outside of a door, and one with a cover so that it will fit bolt and screw plate to go on the inside. flush. Take time it into place. over the chiselling Make pilot holes Finding a draught and practise on for the key plate To check if you have draughts (if it’s not obvious where some spare wood then screw that they’re coming from) hold a lighted candle near the if necessary. into place. window and move it around the edges to see where it begins to flicker. If the draught is coming from between Sticking windows the window and the wall, then a simple bead of silicone Sticking sash windows are common; it’s normally caused sealer will do the job. If the draught is coming from the by over-painting, in which case they need to be stripped Hold the bolt Check that space between the window and the frame, which is a and repainted. The sticking may also be caused by swelling 6 against the 9 the key lot more likely, then stick a strip of self-adhesive foam of the wood, in which case they will need planing. The hard inside of the door works. insulating strip around the inside edge of the frame when bit is getting the window open in the first place. Your best and mark the it’s open, then shut the window and it should be a snug bet is to tape up the glass first to stop it from breaking, then position of the fit. You can buy the foam strip, usually wrapped in a use a wooden block against the frame and gently tap it with keyhole with a spiral, in any DIY store. a mallet to break the seal, repeating the process all around pencil or bradawl. the frame. If it still doesn’t budge, try tapping a scraper A[[fj^[a[o down the window edge to release the two painted surfaces.