Steel almirah repair in Agra: repair it or replace it?

Steel almirah repair: which problems can be fixed?

Most problems with an old steel almirah or steel cupboard fall into one of the rows below. The second column says whether it is one of the four repairs we do, or whether we need to see a photo first. The last two columns are general, not a promise for your almirah.

How to get your almirah repaired in Agra

It starts with a few clear photos on WhatsApp. Here is how:

1. 1Take clear photos in daylight. One of the whole almirah from the front, one with the doors open, and close-ups of the damage: the lock, the hinge, the dent or the rusted patch.
2. 2Describe the problem in a line or two. For example: “left door has dropped and won’t lock” or “rust along the bottom at the back”. Say that it is for a repair.
3. 3Tell us your area, and whether it is in Agra city or outside.
4. 4Send it all to Anil Garg on WhatsApp at 98970 18245.
5. 5We look at the photos and tell you whether it can be repaired. If a new almirah makes more sense, we will tell you that too.

The cost and time of a repair depend on what is broken, so they are not listed on this page. Ask about them when you send the photos. If you would rather talk, call Anil Garg on 98970 18245. We are open all 7 days, 10 AM to 6:30 PM.

Locks, hinges, bent doors and rust: why they go wrong

These are the four repairs we do. Knowing why each one happens helps you describe it, and stop it from getting worse.

Broken or jammed lock

A lock usually jams for one of three reasons: dust and rust inside it, a worn key, or a door that has dropped or bent. When a door drops, the lock’s bolt starts to catch on the body. In that case, lift the door slightly by the handle and hold it shut while you turn the key; that often frees the lock.

Loose or broken hinges

The hinges carry the whole weight of the door, and every opening and closing wears them a little. Over the years they work loose, more so on heavy doors such as a door with a mirror. The door then sags, rubs at the bottom and stops lining up with the lock.

Bent or dented door

Doors usually bend from a knock while the almirah is being moved, from someone leaning or children swinging on an open door, or from forcing a stuck lock. A bent door doesn’t close flush and strains the hinges and the lock. A dent or a mild bend can usually be straightened; a torn door needs more than that.

Rust

Rust starts where the paint is broken and the steel stays damp, such as the bottom edge and the back facing the wall. How to prevent it is covered below.

The photos below are our own work, not repairs. On any steel almirah, it is doors and locks like these that wear out after years of use.

What to do before the repair, and what not to

Until it is repaired, these simple steps help keep a small problem from getting bigger. They apply to any steel almirah.

• Empty it before you move it. A full almirah is very heavy, and the weight can bend the body or the base when it is tilted.
• Lift, don’t drag. Dragging puts strain on the legs and the base.
• Keep the doors shut while moving it. Tie them shut with a cloth or rope, so a door can’t swing open and bend on its hinges. Don’t lock a lock that is already sticking.
• Keep it dry. Wipe off water as soon as you see it, and move the almirah a little away from a damp wall.
• Move valuables somewhere safe if the lock is broken or won’t close.
• Don’t hammer a bent door. It cracks the paint and leaves the sheet uneven, and the bare steel then rusts.

Why almirahs rust, and how to prevent it

Most steel almirahs are made of mild steel, not stainless steel. Ours are made from CRCA steel, which is also a mild steel. On this kind of steel it is the paint that keeps rust away, so rust starts wherever the paint is broken and the steel stays damp.

The usual causes:

• A damp wall behind the almirah in the rains
• Mopping water that collects under the base
• Clothes put away before they are fully dry
• Scratches and chipped paint from moving, left bare

To prevent it:

• Leave a small gap from the wall, and a bigger one if the wall gets damp.
• Don’t let mopping water stand under the almirah; wipe the bottom edge dry.
• Put clothes away only when they are fully dry, and wipe up spills straight away.
• After the rains, check the back, the bottom edge and the corners once.

When repair makes sense, and when a new almirah is better

Repair makes sense when the body and frame are straight, the sheet is solid, and only one or two parts have failed: a lock, a hinge, a door, or a little rust in places. A new almirah is usually the better choice when:

• The body is badly rusted, with holes along the bottom or the back.
• The frame is bent or twisted, so the doors don’t line up even after the hinges are fixed.
• The sheet is very thin and dents when you press it, so a straightened door will dent again.
• Several things have failed at once: the lock, the hinges, the doors and rust, all together.
• It no longer suits you: you need more space, a locker, or an almirah sized to your wall or niche.

If you are thinking of a new one, read our steel almirah buying guide first, and see the steel almirahs we make in Agra. We make every almirah to your size in our own factory. Ask us which sheet gauge will be used before you order; we tell you openly.

Brick wall almirah with broken doors?

If your almirah is built into the wall with bricks and only the doors on the front have given way, that is not a steel almirah repair. It needs new gates: see steel gates for brick wall almirahs.

If your wall almirah already has steel gates and only a hinge or a lock has gone, send a photo on WhatsApp first and we will tell you if it can be fixed. If you would rather have a full steel almirah in place of the brick one, see wall-fit almirahs built to your wall.

Before you send photos: a short checklist

Go through this list before you message us. With all of it in hand, it is easier for us to tell you whether your almirah can be repaired.