Replacing School Lockers

Posted by Jess Fry on 13th March 2023

Do they need replacing?

There are many reasons why you might think the lockers in your school need replacing. Perhaps they’re looking old and worn out, maintenance bills are piling up or you simply just need to cater for more students than before. Whatever the reasons, it is worth thinking about replacing your school lockers with plenty of time to prepare.

Unsure about whether your lockers need replacing or just some TLC? If your lockers are getting old, have creaky doors, or have keys missing, it’s possible that Helmsman can help with the maintenance and service of the lockers rather than having to purchase new ones. Our service team consists of highly skilled engineers to keep your lockers as good as new.

However, there will be occasions where your lockers are approaching the end of their life and need replacing. If your metal lockers have started to rust, from exposure to moisture, or the wrong cleaning products, they will likely need replacing before the rust spreads and affects the appearance and usage of the lockers.

Maybe your lockers have been repaired a few too many times and the maintenance is becoming too costly. At this point, it can be helpful to weigh up the cost of repeat repairs versus the cost of new lockers which don’t require expensive upkeep. If the parts you require are no longer available due to the age of your existing lockers, this may also be a reason to upgrade the lockers to avoid having to pay out for more difficult to source items.

If the use of your lockers has changed, and they are now too small or too large for the intended users, an upgrade could be helpful to save space or provide a more user-friendly option. As lockers can have a relatively long lifespan, it might be that the school has changed its layout since they were installed. If you’re wanting to move the lockers to a different area of the school, and the area won’t fit as many lockers, it could be a great time to upgrade them, or if the area has more space perhaps, you’ll want to purchase more.

If priorities have changed, for example, you require lockers that are intended for use by more than one individual, the locks you have might not be providing what you need. Plus, with new technology available you may have a need for extras such as heated or charging lockers.

What are the next steps in replacing your school lockers?

So you’ve decided you do need to upgrade your school lockers; now there are a lot of things to consider before you place an order.

Material and finish

Firstly, you’ll need to think about what material or type of locker you want for the school. Whilst the traditional school locker is made from metal, it may be that you want to upgrade to a more long lasting material such as a laminate locker. These are made with a mild steel carcass and have solid grade laminate doors, providing a more heavy duty product which is less likely to dent or scratch. Whilst a laminate locker is more expensive, the upgrade in material could pay for itself in the long run by being easier to keep clean and damage free, resulting in less maintenance costs.

Sizing

Lockers can come in all sorts of sizes and designs, so make sure to think about which is going to be the best option for your school lockers. Within Helmsman’s School Locker range we cater for KS1 students, KS2 students, and our standard locker range is suitable for secondary schools and above. These range from a height of 1200mm, up to 1800mm, however as we manufacture our lockers in house, to order, we can cater to any specific needs you may have.

Design

Next, you’ll need to think about what will be going into the lockers and how much space you’ll need in each compartment. Our KS1 and KS2 lockers are available in 1-3 compartments, whilst our standard range is available in up to 6 compartments. The more compartments you choose, the more students you can provide lockers for, however, this does mean each individual compartment will be smaller. So it’s important to think about what your lockers will be used for.

Accessories

Don’t forget, it’s not just about the internal area of the locker. Both laminate and metal lockers can come with many additional extras, locking options, finishes, and numbering choices. Sloping tops mean that clutter can’t be stored on top of the lockers and potentially cause damage and locker stands can be provided with cladding to stop things being lost underneath.

Timing

Whilst the summer holidays might seem a long way away, it’s never too early to contact us and get the ball rolling. With the short window of time in the summer holidays to get repairs and replacements sorted you don’t want to miss the boat. It might be that the laminate colour you’re wanting is on a longer lead time than expected, or you’re wanting the lockers installed by our professional team in the peak period of the summer break. Plus, with all of our lockers manufactured to order, it’s better to be prepared sooner rather than later.

Take a read of our Education Brochure here to find out more about our range of school lockers, cubicles and other products.

Contact us today on 01284727626 for more information about our school lockers and talk to our team about the different options available to you. Alternatively, send us a quote request here.

Prime Time for Refurbishment

Posted by Kamile Speteliunaite on 16th June 2021

Summer months can be the perfect opportunity to schedule projects to upgrade and refurbish changing areas and locker rooms in schools and sports facilities. Security and durability are highly important when refurbishing your lockers and cubicles. At Helmsman, we can replace locks, keys, locker doors and cubicle locks if needed. We can even add more security to your changing room cubicles with anti-peep rails and anti-finger trap solutions. We have a variety of cost-effective options.

School Sector

School lockers see a lot of action. Vandalism issues aside, school lockers need to withstand daily use. Metal lockers have been a favourite of schools; however, we have noticed a new trend from schools using laminate lockers. Laminate lockers are aesthetically pleasing, and more so are incredibly durable.

Many schools are still favouring cam locks and swivel locks as a locking system. These locking systems are easily interchangeable and Helmsman can offer swivel locks and padlocks as a pair for your school lockers. Locker keys and master keys are also easily replaceable. We manufacture keys in-house.

Helmsman can provide metal and laminate colour samples for large projects if doors need to be replaced because of damage or wear and tear. Changing locker doors is a hassle-free job, and depending on the number of lockers, our installation and service team can have it in place in no time. Summer holidays are the perfect time to renew and replace lockers and cubicles. During this time, schools are empty, and maintenance work can without any disturbance.

Leisure Sector

Leisure facilities, gyms and spa health centres are oozing luxury as they mostly use digital locks for smart-looking lockers. We can replace digital locks or can replace doors and upgrade your lockers with digital locks. The advantages of having leisure lockers with digital locks are endless. Security and convenience is a top priority for the customer.

Helmsman can easily replace your old wrist straps if you still choose to use the reliable key and strap. Master key or locker key replacements are easily achievable and will be with you in no time by post. Other replacement and refurbishment services, including cubicles, can be assessed by a site survey and replaced by our installation and maintenance team.

We offer free consultation about the services you may require and help you decide what is best for your site. Helmsman specialists would be happy to do a site survey for large projects before refurbishing your lockers and cubicles. Our service goes beyond the leisure and school industries too. We can refurbish offices and other commercial sites.

For more information, get in touch with us today! Email service@helmsman.co.uk or fill in our contact form here.

Enquire Now

Are you thinking about replacing School Lockers?

Posted by Helmsman Lockers on 22nd June 2019

When replacing school lockers many factors need to be considered. This area needs careful consideration as this is a long-term investment in your schools future. Here are some of the variables you could consider:

They have become too old

If you’re thinking about replacing school lockers that are old and grubby, you may very well consider going for a complete new locker solution. Old lockers will cause more trouble over time e.g. creaking doors, replacement locks and keys. Locker graffiti dates the overall appearance of the school locker.
If the maintenance is becoming too costly, now might be the time to reinvest in a locker system that keeps costs down. Not only will it save you from costly maintenance but would also prove to be a better investment in the long run. However, at your discretion, some lockers may still be good enough with a new door or lock being replaced.

They’re past the stage of replacing parts

Many manufacturers offer replacements for locker parts. These include parts such as hinges, locks, doors etc. The services are brilliant allowing schools and students to get along with their day to day operations. However, when a school locker has a major amount of wear and tear and has undergone repairs many times the need to replace the locker intensifies.

Several areas have rust

Rust on painted or protected steel surfaces will spread! Not only is this unpleasant to look at, but it can also be harmful to open skin such as cuts. Also, rusted metal expands and breaks the protective coating which allows more rust to form. This calls for the removal of the rusted lockers immediately to stop the spread. Consideration should be given to the replacement lockers especially if they are exposed to wet gear.
An aluminium type locker is more suited to such an area.

Visible damages have become an eyesore

Lockers which have had their doors either kicked in or dinted are probably the main factor that will influence a decision on whether to replace or update. Fixing the dents is plausible on some occasions but the deeper the dint the more likely hood of a replacement door.
There are many types of doors available and if dents have been an issue in the past, you may want to consider replacing them. A laminate door can replace the metal door and is available in a range of colours and is much more durable.

Space optimisation is needed

Over the years’ course content has changed, the materials used have been upgraded and our students have adapted to new ways of learning. If your students are finding it difficult to store their belongings in the lockers, then it is time to upgrade the lockers.
In some subject courses, the content is by way of whiteboard learning and all the information is electronic. However, there remains a need for printed copies for further learning in each subject area with large folders and heavy schoolbags. Previous studies have pointed to back problems resulting from students carrying heavy schoolbags on their backs. From a health and safety point of view, students should at least be given the choice to have a locker for the school year. This allows them to carry specific subject materials between classes where possible.
The number of locker compartments needed is an important point to consider i.e. in some cases the number of students in the school. The place where the lockers will be positioned needs consideration also. This could be along a corridor or to space already designated for lockers. The width and depth of your student lockers should be discussed in detail to ensure the space available meets their needs. Thereafter and space permitting, whether it’s two, three or four compartments this should give you an idea of the number of lockers to be purchased.

Upgrading to locker types suitable for schools today?

If the standard locker doesn’t target the specific needs of your students, then it’s time to upgrade. Since the growth of the internet, almost every student has a laptop or device with a charging facility. Most locker manufacturers have adapted to this growing trend and incorporated a range of lockers to meet these demands. Charging lockers suitable for laptops, phones and other devices offer security, meets their needs and is space optimising.

There are so many options that can take care of your specific needs. A cube locker for example is a clever modular storage system and is designed to go almost anywhere. These may be the answer for storing small valuable items and can be supplied with a charging facility also. You need to consider investing in a locker type that suits the world of a trending student of today. The market has a variety of options available that also helps in bringing about a vibrant look to the school surroundings.

What to do with the old school locker?

When you have reinvested in new school lockers you have to consider what to do with the old ones. Firstly, in keeping our environment safe repair lockers where possible.
Instead, you could donate them to a local charity and relieve yourself from any hassle. Consider contacting your nearest metal junk dealer as they may take away the lockers free of charge. You could make use of a reliable auction website or offer to an online reuse network if the school lockers are still in good condition.

If they are in good condition, they could be taken to any Recycling Centre and placed in the re-use container. Alternatively, your local borough or district council offers a charged bulky waste collection service.

What to do now?

With education budgets under pressure, it’s important to get professional advice on optimising your storage solution. We can help you by either providing an entirely new locker system or by reusing some of your existing lockers with additional brand new lockers where required. For more information contact us here or fill out the quotation form by clicking the button below.