In detail: DIY repair of a wooden balcony door from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.
The main task of any front door, and the balcony door is no exception, is to prevent cold, precipitation and extraneous noise from entering the room. A standard plastic door is optimal in terms of durability and trouble-free operation. Wooden balcony doors are much less common, but they require immeasurably more attention.
Even with high-quality installation and careful operation, any structure needs repair over time. In most cases, repairing a balcony door can be done independently, but sometimes a call of specialists is also required.
Among the main breakdowns of plastic balcony doors, the following can be noted:
- deformation of the door relative to the box;
- wear or damage to the sealing cord;
- faulty glass unit and / or profile;
- damage to door fittings.
The deformation of the door, when it bends or sags, is expressed in the fact that it begins to close loosely, letting in cold and sounds, or clings to the box. In this case, it is enough to adjust the hinges by tightening the axle screws.
When adjusting the position of the plastic door relative to the box, be sure to drop a few drops of machine oil into each groove, lifting it slightly.
Abrasion of the seal requires its complete replacement - this is the most painstaking type of repair of a plastic balcony door, for which you will need to completely replace the cord.
The procedure is as follows:
- Purchase the appropriate sealant and assembly glue in any hardware store.
- Carefully remove the worn-out seal around the perimeter of the door profile.
- You clean the grooves with a sponge from dust and dirt, remove the remnants of glue with a stiff brush.
- Lubricate the grooves with a thin layer of assembly glue and insert the sealing cord.
Video (click to play). |
Do not squeeze or stretch the new seal. The material must completely retain its original shape, only in this case the insulation will be of high quality.
- Grease all joints of the sealant at the corners of the grooves with glue.
- Lubricate the sealing cord with a lubricant that will extend the life of the product.
This element takes on the main load, therefore it breaks down most often. It should be noted that this type of balcony door repair can be carried out both by yourself - to remove the outer cover and tighten the screws, and with the help of specialists who will replace the broken handle.
During operation, various scratches and chips appear on the door. It is almost impossible to avoid this, therefore, when prescribing the repair of a plastic balcony door, purchase a special glue that masks all the flaws, and fine sandpaper. If the door is laminated, you will need a tinting marker.
The fundamental difference lies in the regularity of the care. Wood, being a natural material, requires special impregnation against mold, rot and warpage and varnish (drying oil). And if the seal and handles are restored by analogy with a plastic door, then the repair, in fact, of the canvas is much more complicated.
Always carry out all work on the repair of wooden balcony doors in the warm season and in dry weather - this makes it easier to dismantle the door from the hinges and install it back.
How to repair a door leaf:
- Remove the door, then unscrew the latch, handle and bolts.
- If the door has glass elements, remove the glazing beads and take out the glass.
- Remove the strips, if any, and install a new sealing cord.
- Remove the old paint with a spatula, clean it with sandpaper, grind it, putty cracks and cracks as needed.
- Primer and apply paint or varnish, depending on the pattern of the canvas.
- Putting the door back, in place of the glazing beads fixing the glass, apply silicone glue, which will securely fix the glass and prevent it from rattling.
Often, repairs to a wooden balcony door are required when it starts to creak. Of course, if you like this relic of medieval England, you can leave it as it is. If not, stick a small piece of graphite (a pencil lead) into the loops.
These are the main types of balcony door repair that can be done at home and without much experience. All other work and, in particular, the repair and replacement of double-glazed windows, should be trusted only by professionals who will preserve the heat and waterproofing of the door.
When a specialist is needed to repair a balcony door:
- when cracks of any length and depth appear in the glazing;
- violation of the welded seams of the door frame;
- destruction of any fittings;
- damage to door hinges.
The balcony door is one of the important elements of the apartment's equipment, since the basic requirements for sound and heat insulation are imposed on it, protecting the interior of the dwelling from city noise and bustle. The most common are wooden door blocks, since this material is among the least heat-conducting and has excellent performance. Wooden doors are ideal for any interior and fit perfectly into modern and classic designs.
The main advantages of wooden balcony doors are:- Environmental friendliness;
- Repair or replacement of a wooden balcony door is relatively simple, does not require special skills and can well be done by hand;
- Easy to operate and maintain.
Fact! There are few disadvantages of wooden doors, but the most important ones are their possible deformation due to high humidity, as well as the need for periodic surface treatment with a protective coating.
To install a balcony door with your own hands, you need the following list of tools:- Electric Impact Drill;
- Electric screwdriver;
- Plane, hammer;
- Professional gun for polyurethane foam;
- Level, tape measure, construction marker.
The balcony door is often placed together with the window, therefore, in order to avoid damage to the glass, it is recommended to remove the double-glazed windows before installation. At the first stage, it is necessary to accurately expose the frame of the wooden balcony door in the opening and fix it with any available means. Optimally suited for this are wooden pegs, which are driven with a hammer between the opening and the frame and, thus, wedging, securely fix the structure.
After the door frame is installed, it is necessary to drill the matching holes in the wooden frame and the concrete opening using a hammer drill. Special dowels for concrete are placed in the prepared holes and, using an electric screwdriver, the structure is securely fixed to the base with self-tapping screws.
At the next stage, it is necessary to re-install the double-glazed windows, and the gaps between the wooden frame and the concrete opening must be filled with polyurethane foam. For a more accurate and high-quality filling of voids with foam with your own hands, you can use a special professional gun. It allows you to adjust the amount of foam released, and is also able to ensure the filling of even the narrowest gaps.
Sooner or later, it becomes necessary to repair wooden balcony doors or their individual elements. This can be caused by cracks on the surface of wooden components, wood swelling, drying out or other mechanical damage.The reason for such deformations can be a significant difference in temperature or humidity levels inside the living room and on the balcony, and repairs in this case should be complete and prompt.When the door structure swells, it is difficult to open the door, its working stroke is impeded by significant friction with the frame along the perimeter of the structure, the locks are displaced in relation to the locking brackets and full closing is impossible. In this case, the repair should consist in the processing of deformed areas with your own hands using a planer, as well as the subsequent processing of the working surface with protective equipment. Repairing a door when any part of the door dries out may consist in attaching additional strips to the edges of the structure using special glue for wood or self-tapping screws. The so-called addition will eliminate drafts and heat loss in the cold season.
When carrying out repairs with your own hands, you need to take care of the integrity of the door surface, for which a special protective tape or film can be glued around the processing site. Repair of a balcony door, unlike metal-plastic analogs, can be carried out without the use of special equipment and directly at the installation site of the structure.
Replacing the balcony door is carried out in cases where the repair of this element is impractical, and its results are short-term. In this case, the dismantling of the old structure is carried out, as well as the installation of a new one in the sequence indicated above.
Any balcony plastic doors need periodic adjustments and minor repairs, which can be done independently using a screwdriver and other common tools at hand. The main thing is to correctly assess the degree of complexity of the breakdown. In case of lack of confidence in one's abilities or serious problems, unprofessional intervention can aggravate the situation and lead to the complete failure of the door and, accordingly, its replacement.
While the windows and doors are under warranty, of course, it is better to entrust all work to the installer. However, the longer the window-door unit stands, the greater the likelihood of defects that can be caused by various reasons:
- installation errors;
- natural shrinkage of the building, especially new buildings;
- negligent use of products, lack of proper care and preventive measures;
- sudden temperature changes, increased exposure to solar radiation.
Regardless of the cause of the occurrence, malfunctions of the balcony door lead to drafts, deterioration of the heat and sound insulation of the room, and in case of neglected problems, it is impossible to fully use the window and door structure.
Any slight change in the tightness of the door should not be ignored, since even a slight sagging can lead to more serious deformations of the door leaf. The sooner you fix the problem, the less the risk of other breakdowns and the greater the level of comfort in the room. Such a defect in operation can arise for several reasons:
- sagging of the canvas under its own weight;
- bad or worn seal;
- failure of door fittings.
The real reason for incomplete opening / closing is not always obvious. To quickly find and fix it, it is recommended to consistently inspect and adjust important components.
This is the first and main type of minor repairs to a balcony door, as follows:
- Determine and mark the place with a pencil where the canvas touches the frame - the adjustment will be carried out by pulling the corresponding loop in the opposite direction.
- Remove the plastic plugs that cover the hinge screws. The upper screw adjusts the blade travel in the vertical plane, the lower screw in the horizontal one. Using the hex key, carefully tighten the desired screw in several movements in the desired direction. Slides the door left or right Raises or lowers the door
A common problem that is especially felt in winter is cracks in the line where the web meets the frame. Through them, cold air, noise and dust enter the room. On the side edge of the sash there are several eccentrics that can be used to adjust the tightness of the door.
Insert the hex key into the trunnion
You can find problem areas using paper: squeeze a small sheet between the canvas and the frame and close the door tightly. If the fit is good, then it will hold on by falling and not moving. Otherwise, you need to adjust the eccentric to the desired level. In the same way, check the tightness of the sash to the frame along the entire door height, adjust if necessary. If blowing from the side of the loop itself:
There are unpleasant situations when the door is completely blocked, or it remains hanging on one hinge, in this case, watch the video instruction: