Roller shutter door locks

A roller shutter can be very sturdy, but if the lock is weak or worn, the whole thing is at the mercy of a crowbar or a pick. In shops on the coast, the lock also suffers more than any other part: it sits at ground level, takes sand, water and salt air, and is used at least twice a day.

We are locksmiths from Torrevieja and we have spent 15 years working with locks on shops, bars, retail units and garages. We work 24 hours a day.

Types of roller shutter lock

Not every shutter has the same lock. These are the most common:

• Floor lock. The bolt drops down and goes into a hole in the floor. It is very common on retail premises. Its typical problem is that the hole in the floor fills with dirt or wears and the bolt no longer goes in properly.
• Side lock. The bolt comes out sideways and engages in the runners. It spreads the locking better, but it needs the runners to be straight.
• Central lock. It sits in the middle of the bottom slat and throws two bolts at once, one to each side. It gives firmer locking on wide shutters.
• External padlock or bolt. Some old shutters only have a padlock. It works, but it is easy to cut and we only recommend it as an extra.

When it is worth changing the lock

• When the key goes in with difficulty or you have to force it to turn.
• When you have lost keys or do not know how many copies are in circulation (premises changing tenant is the clearest case).
• After an attempted break-in, even if the lock still opens.
• When the bolt no longer goes into the floor or the runner and the shutter can be lifted a few centimetres.
• When the lock is so rusty that every morning is a battle.

If the problem is that the whole shutter will not go up or is sagging, it is not just the lock: have a look at the page on roller shutter door repair.

How we do it

The first thing is to know which lock you have. With a WhatsApp photo of the lock and the shutter we can already tell you whether changing the cylinder is enough, whether the whole lock needs replacing or whether a second locking point is advisable.

At the premises we take out the old lock, check the condition of the slat it is mounted on and of the floor or runner the bolt goes into, and fit the new one adjusted to your shutter. A new lock on a bent slat or a broken floor does not lock properly, so we check everything.

We give you the fixed quote before we start. If, when we take it apart, we see something that changes the job, we show it to you and you decide.

More security for your premises

If your business holds valuable stock or is in an area with little activity at night, the shutter can be reinforced in several ways:

• Switch to a security cylinder with protection against the most common opening techniques. We explain it in security lock cylinders.
• Add a second lock, for example a floor lock plus a central lock, so that two points have to be beaten at once.
• Protect the lock with an escutcheon or a cover that stops tools being inserted.
• Key the shutter lock and the inner door lock alike so you only use one key.

We suggest what suits your premises, without selling you more than you need.

Care on the coast

Salt air and sand are the great enemies of these locks. To make yours last:

• Clean out the hole in the floor where the bolt goes every now and then.
• Use a lubricant made for locks, as a dry spray. Ordinary oil traps sand and ends up seizing the cylinder.
• Do not force the key if you notice it is stiff: that is the first step towards snapping it inside.
• If the premises are closed for months, open and close them from time to time or ask for a check before the season.

For businesses and communities

We work with shops, bars, restaurants, offices, industrial units and communal garages in Torrevieja and the Vega Baja. If you have several premises, we can leave them all on the same key or on a key system organised in levels. You have more information under shops and business premises.

You can pay by card, Bizum or cash, and send us a WhatsApp in your own language.