Auburn sits right next to Lidcombe, a short drive from our workshop at 15 Vaughan St. It is one of the busiest suburbs in the area, with a long shopping strip along Auburn Road and around the station, a dense cluster of apartment blocks close to the railway line, streets of older brick homes further out, and light industrial units towards the edges of the suburb.
That mix means the lock problems we see in Auburn vary a lot from street to street. This guide walks through the main kinds of property in Auburn, the lock issues each tends to have, and practical steps to keep them working and secure. For our service page, see locksmith Auburn.
Apartment blocks near the station
A large share of Auburn's homes are units, many in walk-up blocks from the 1960s to the 1980s and newer buildings closer to the station.
Unit entry doors
Many older unit doors have a basic lever set or a deadlatch, sometimes with a separate deadbolt added later. The most common issues are:
- Misalignment. Doors and frames move over time, and the bolt starts to drag on the strike. If you have to pull the door to lock it, that is the cause.
- Worn keys. Keys copied from copies become less accurate and harder to turn.
- Unknown keys. Units change hands often, and many tenants inherit keys that previous occupants copied.
Rekeying between tenants or after buying is often the single most useful job for an Auburn unit. See lock rekeying.
Security screens
Many Auburn units have steel security screens in front of the entry door. Screen locks sit exposed to dust and weather, so they get stiff. They are also often keyed differently from the main door. We can usually service them and key them to match.
Building entries
Building entry doors, car park gates and common area locks are the owners corporation's responsibility. If those are broken or you have lost a building key, contact the strata manager. Our guide to strata lock rules in NSW explains the split between lot and common property.
Balcony sliding doors
Ground-floor and first-floor units with balconies that can be reached from the street or a podium are worth checking. A keyed sliding door lock and an anti-lift block make a big difference. See apartment security.
Older brick homes
Away from the station, Auburn has many single-storey brick homes, some with original doors and hardware.
Original locks
Some still have rim locks or simple latches on the front door. These were standard at the time but can be slipped or forced more easily than a modern deadbolt. Adding a deadbolt is usually a straightforward upgrade. See door lock installation.
Back and side doors
Back doors and side doors are often weaker than the front. They may have a single latch, a hollow-core door, or a strike held by short screws. If you are reviewing security, start at the back of the house.
Windows
Older homes often have windows without locks, or with catches that have stopped working. Keyed window locks on reachable windows are an inexpensive improvement. See window locks.
Shops on Auburn Road and around the station
Auburn's shopping strip is lined with small businesses: grocers, restaurants, bakeries, jewellers, phone shops and services. Their locks work hard.
Aluminium shopfronts
Most shopfronts use narrow aluminium doors with narrow-stile locks. These are compact and wear faster than residential hardware, especially on doors that are opened all day. Warning signs include a latch that sometimes fails to catch, a key that is getting stiff, or staff having to pull the door to lock it.
Door closers
A closer that slams the door damages the lock and frame. One that stops short leaves the latch unengaged. Most can be adjusted.
Roller doors
Many shops have a roller door behind the glass front. Keyswitches for motorised roller doors and padlocks on manual ones are common failure points.
Staff keys
Shops with changing staff should rekey when someone with keys leaves. For businesses with many staff, a restricted key system helps keep control. See commercial locksmith and our commercial locksmith guide.
Working around trading
Auburn Road is busy during the day, and parking can be tight. We are open until midnight, so commercial work can often be done after close, without interrupting trade and with easier access.
Light industrial units
Towards the edges of Auburn there are warehouses, workshops and light industrial units. Typical lock work there includes:
- roller door keyswitches and padlocks;
- side doors with mortice locks;
- rekeying after staff changes;
- gates and cages secured by padlocks.
Industrial sites often have many keys in circulation. A key register and periodic rekeying are worth considering.
Local conditions that affect locks in Auburn
Heavy use
High-density living and a busy shopping strip mean locks in Auburn get used a lot. Heavy use wears keys, cylinders and latches faster. A lock that would last decades on a quiet house may need attention sooner here.
Dust from traffic and construction
Busy roads and ongoing building work bring dust that settles in exposed locks, especially screen doors and roller door keyswitches. Occasional cleaning and the right lubricant help. Use a dry graphite or PTFE lock lubricant rather than oil.
Frequent tenancy changes
Many Auburn units are rented, and tenancies turn over. Rekeying between tenants is good practice for landlords and agents. Check the NSW rules first; see our NSW landlord and tenant lock rules guide.
Typical jobs we see in Auburn
- A unit near the station where the tenant has moved out and the agent wants the entry door and screen rekeyed before the next tenancy.
- A brick house where the front door only has an old latch and the owners want a deadbolt added.
- A shop on Auburn Road where the shopfront latch has started to stick at closing time.
- A warehouse where a roller door keyswitch has corroded and needs replacing.
- A lockout from a unit where the door pulled shut behind the resident. See lockout service.
Tips for Auburn residents and businesses
- Rekey when you move in. You do not know how many keys exist.
- Fix stiff locks early. A lock that is hard to turn is a lockout or a broken key waiting to happen.
- Match your screen and door keys. One key is easier and more secure than two.
- Secure balcony sliders in reachable units.
- Keep a key register for any business.
- Ask for proof of licensing. See our guide on checking a licensed locksmith in NSW.
Getting to Auburn
Auburn borders Lidcombe, so we are usually only a short drive away. We will still give you an honest estimate of timing on the phone rather than a promise we cannot keep.
Talk to us
If you are in Auburn and need a lock repaired, replaced, rekeyed or opened, call 02 4503 6922. We are open 7 days, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM, and we quote before we start. You can also request a quote or read our locksmith Auburn page.
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