Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement
When you lock your french doors, you need to ensure that they're safe. You can do this by choosing a lock system that will keep your door secure without blocking airflow or impacting the aesthetic look of your room.
French door locks usually have three-point locking that includes flush bolts on the lower and upper edges of each door panel as well as an opening lockset that can be opened. This lock is extremely difficult to break.
How do you fix the problem of a French door that isn't locking
It could be a major safety issue when doors don't lock or latch properly. This could also be a sign of a major issue such as a cracked locking cylinder. However, don't panic, you can usually resolve the issue in just a few steps.
The reason a door won't latch is usually because of an obstruction that is blocking it. It could be as simple as a piece of dirt stuck in the lock, or it could be a problem with the latch itself.
You can determine whether this is the case by looking at the strike plate (the metal piece that sits against the frame on the inside of the door). If there is a small metal tab protruding from the strike plate, gently tap it using a screwdriver and hammer it to bend it slightly to make the hole in the plate and allow bolts can slide into the door more easily.
A seized latch could be the result of improper installation or a poor alignment. Lubricating the latch may help it work better, but it will not solve the issue of the way it lines up with the strike plate.
Installing a strike plate is simple in the event that you don't have one. You will need to remove the lock body from the door (the part that is screwed into the frame of the door) and replace the complete lock with a new one. This is an easy task that requires a Phillips head screwdriver and a power drill.
It is a good idea to ensure that the lock is lubricated particularly the cylinder regularly to make sure it operates as well as possible. Use a silicone or graphite lubricant for this. Apply the lubricant on the key and then turn it slowly several times until the cylinder moves freely.
It is an excellent idea to purchase a double-cylinder deadbolt for your French doors, rather than just a standard one. A lock that is a twist on the handle is not enough to deter burglars as a standard door deadbolt with a thumb-turn could be defeated if you break the glass.
Repairing a French Door that won't latch
The issue is usually caused by the latch of the door not engaging correctly with the hole in the strike plate. It is usually caused by the hinges being sagging. However, it can be due to an issue with the position of the latch or the latch itself. To help determine which causes the problem, apply a lipstick or similar marker to determine where the latch makes contact with the strike plate. The position of the mark will help identify the cause of the issue For instance, if it makes contact below the strike plate's hole, hinges are likely to be the cause, but when it's above, the latch's position could be the reason.
When installing handles or a new lock mechanism on an external French Door it's important that the latch and strike plate holes are properly aligned. This is especially true when a door has been closed for a long period of time. In this period the door might have moved slightly. This is especially common with wooden or composite doors since they are susceptible to expand or contract in response to weather conditions and the environment.
To correct this issue, first remove the lock latch from the door's edge and unscrew the locking strip from the handle. With a chisel that is sharp, the hammer and a chisel make a larger hole for the strike plate in the door frame. This allows you to place the latch in a better position for the door. When the door is closed it will shut without catching the frame.
Once the latch hole has been enlarged, carefully place the new latch into the strike plate hole and screw it in. Then, adjust the strike plate with the hammer and screw until it is sitting in the correct position, and then check the door. Make any necessary adjustments.
Another issue with external French Doors is that the lock's cylinder isn't able to turn. This can be caused by debris or simply wear and tear, but it's usually easy to fix. Often the lock is simply blocked or the pins inside the cylinder are worn. A simple clean can make a world of difference to the operation of the mechanism, and it's well worth giving this an attempt. If the issue continues it could be necessary to replace the lock cylinder.
Fixing a French Door that won't open
If your French doors do not lock the way you want, the issue is most likely caused by debris and dirt blocking the mechanism of the lock. Checking that the door frame is clear and that there is nothing blocking the locking mechanism is the first thing to do. There could also be an issue with the alignment of the French door and its frame. This can cause the French door to slide against the frame, which can result in jamming.
The mechanism for locking is simple. A key rotates the spindle, which moves the bolt up and down on the rail. If french door glass replacement repairmywindowsanddoors but the bolt does not move this could mean that something is stuck. It could be something wrong with the mechanics of the lock itself, or it might just need to be lubricated. Make use of a silicone spray. It comes with a nozzle that you can use to spray the lubricant directly into the mechanism. Spray liberally and rotate the handle until the lubricant has reached all of the mechanisms.
You may also need to adjust the location of the latch on the French door. It is usually possible to do this from outside. If you're French doors have just been installed they should be able to fix the handle and latch in the right position without any difficulty. If your French doors are older, you will need to use the templates included in the lock kit to mark the location where the holes for the handle on the door and latch on the frame should be. Then, you'll need to drill the hole for the handle or knob at the right height (commonly approximately 36 inches above the floor) and then drill a smaller hole on the edge of the door for the latch.
After the hole has been drilled, you need to make sure that the latch plate is correctly placed over the strike plate of the door frame. If it doesn't then the deadbolt might not retract into the strike plate when you push the lever for locking. The latch plate will then have to be screwed in place.
How do you fix an French door that won't close
Sometimes, the latch on the latch of a French door gets stuck so it won't close, making the doors ineffective. There's usually a solution to this, but it can involve taking down one of the doors, especially in the case of heavy doors. In the majority of cases, the issue is that the latch isn't aligned either with the strike plate, or with the door jamb or both. It could also be because the dead bolt isn't fully extended or retracted completely. It is possible to have misalignment in the course of time because of weather or settlement.
If the latch is stuck, it can be difficult to open, but it's usually simple to fix the issue by loosening the screws that hold the hinge to the frame, and then inserting shims to make the door a bit higher or lower. This will bring the latch closer to the lock mechanism, and fix the problem.
In the same way, if the latch isn't getting into position with the strike plate hole on the jamb of the door, you can usually solve the issue by loosing the screw that holds the strike plate and using an electric or a metal planer to cut away some of the edge of the plate until the latch fits. This might also require removing the strike plate and then chiseling out the hole to make it bigger if it is necessary.
The locks on French doors are often unable to engage properly. If you have a newer lock it could be a sign of an issue with the locking cylinder itself. It is necessary to remove the lock and check it for visible obstructions or damages and if it's not working properly you may require replacing it.
Replace the old weatherstripping on the exterior of an older door when you feel a draft coming in. This will create a secure seal and prevent the doors from sagging. You can also install door sweeps to ensure that all of the gaps that could be created are sealed. If you do this, make sure that the sweeps are placed on both sides of the door, and ensure that the sweeps overlap with each other at the bottom.
