Although it does not take much time to fix minor problems, for a young, inexperienced owner, this can become a serious headache. In particular, old balcony blocks can squeak heavily due to corrosion of metal fittings or simply due to lack of lubrication.
With corrosion, the problem is eliminated with the help of WD-40, it comes in aerosol cans, you need to inject lubricant into all problem areas and after 30 minutes. there will be no rust. Then wipe off the dirt and lubricate the mechanism with grease or simple machine oil (spindle).
Repair of plastic balcony doors with deep scratches can also be done by hand. For these purposes, there is a tool called "Cosmofen", popularly known as liquid plastic.
You need to wash and degrease the scratched area, then apply Cosmophen and wait until it hardens, clean the area with thin emery. To add shine, you can polish the cleaned area with a polishing wheel attached to a drill or grinder. But you need to polish carefully, the plastic can burn.
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Of course, it is far from always possible for a home craftsman to repair plastic balcony doors, but we can assure you that the cases that we talked about have been tested in practice and are guaranteed to work.
Plastic balcony doors are subject to intense stress, especially if there is a winter garden or workplace on the balcony. A balcony door can experience deforming loads due to the formation of condensation or temperature differences. Then it ceases to function normally and the question arises: how to repair the plastic door leading to the balcony with your own hands?
In this article, we will answer these questions, briefly describing the malfunctions and ways to fix them that you can do yourself.
PVC profile, which is used in the manufacture of balcony doors and windows, must initially cope with such loads. But time, careless handling or increased stress on the fasteners can lead to door breakage or loose fit to the door frame. These defects not only create inconvenience in use, but also tend to further aggravate the situation, up to the failure of fasteners or door locking.
To prevent this from happening, it is sometimes necessary to carry out preventive work. In case of obvious breakdown, repair it.
It should be noted that not every repair of balcony doors and windows can be done by hand. Large surface defects, destruction of the frame, violation of the integrity of the glass unit, deformation of the door frame due to exposure to high temperatures cannot be repaired. In these cases, you must contact the company that installed the doors or specialists working in this profile.
Small repairs of plastic doors and windows, which can be done by hand, may consist in the following operations:
handle repair;
sealant;
small surface defects;
clamps;
replacement of a double-glazed window;
door position adjustment.
Before proceeding with the repair of a PVC profile door, it is necessary to prepare a tool that may be needed during the work.
No specialized equipment is required for minor repairs to balcony doors and windows.
In most cases, it is available in every home.
screwdriver with replaceable bits (screwdriver set);
screwdriver drill (cordless);
set of drills for metal ∅1-10 mm;
building level;
construction plumb line;
set of hex keys;
pliers;
saw for metal;
mallet with a striker made of white rubber;
white rubber spatula;
plastic or wooden paddles for cashing.
Consumables that may be required when repairing PVC profile products include:
glue for PVC Cosmofen Plus-S white;
adhesive sealant Cosmofen 345;
putty COSMOFEN RM for the restoration of hard PVC products;
rubber seals - in case of damage and the need to replace;
door handles and latches - in case of breakage;
plastic gaskets.
New seals, handles and gaskets must be of the same manufacturer that are installed on your doors!
In the case of sealing dents, cracks and chips on the surface of the balcony door, you may need sanding paper for grinding surfaces with a grain size of P-1000 or P-1200 according to ISO or M20 according to GOST (designations of different manufacturing countries may have their own designation of grain size).
The most common problem is the loose closing of doors and windows due to sagging under its own weight or loosening of the hinge fasteners.
To eliminate the skewing with your own hands, first determine the verticality of the door leaf relative to the door frame using a plumb line. A plastic marker (water-soluble) marks the places where the door catches on the box.
After that, the decorative plug is removed from the upper door hinge and the door position is adjusted using hex keys.
It should be remembered that the top screw at the end adjusts the movement of the door in the vertical plane, and the screw located on the side in the horizontal one.
If by adjusting the upper hinge it is not possible to achieve the skew of the door leaf, the same operation is performed with the lower hinge.
After the end of the adjustment, put in place the decorative overlays on the hinges.
The most common and at the same time easily eliminated cause.
To remove a broken handle, it is necessary to set the broken handle in a horizontal position - parallel to the floor, squeeze and rotate the decorative plug at the base of the handle by 90 °. Unscrew the opened bolts and remove the broken handle. Pull out the square bar on which the handle was attached. Install a new handle with a square bar and secure with the bolts removed when removing the old handle. Turn the decorative plug at the base of the handle to its original position, closing the screw heads.
A defect in a rubber seal occurs, as a rule, as a result of mechanical damage from hard or sharp objects.
To replace it with your own hands, first dismantle the old seal. This is done mechanically using a flat screwdriver or chisel. The grooves under the old seal must be completely free of glue and dust residues. Before installing a new seal, the groove surface is wiped with Kalosha gasoline or 96% denatured alcohol for degreasing.
The new seal must be of the same manufacturer as the door, and the width and height of the profile must match the old seal.
After the degreased groove dries out, we proceed to install a new seal, pressing it with our fingers. When installing, do not tighten the seal. Installation is carried out from bottom to top. At the end of the installation, the excess length of the seal is cut off with a sharp knife, and the ends of the sealing strip are additionally fixed with glue.
You can close the door only after the glue has completely dried.
If the glass unit of the balcony door is broken, you must first order a new one from the manufacturer that installed the doors. A measurer must come to you and take off the dimensions of the glass unit to be replaced. Taking measurements yourself is strongly discouraged.
Without being a specialist in the installation of PVC profile products, you are unlikely to be able to take into account the required technological tolerances and accurately measure the thickness of the glass unit with the measuring tools at hand.
After the new glass unit is delivered to you, you need to dismantle the broken one. For this, with the help of plastic or wooden spatulas and a mallet, the casings are removed, which hold the glass unit in the door frame. The old (broken) glass unit is removed. The grooves in which it was installed are thoroughly cleaned of dust and glass fragments, degreased with gasoline or alcohol. After drying, we install a new double-glazed window and secure it with the removed cashing.
When replacing glass with your own hands, be sure to observe the following conditions:
All work with glass must be carried out in cotton work gloves.
When dismantling and installing cashing, do not use unnecessary efforts. If you are unable to remove the cashing and dismantle the broken glass unit on your own, it is better to invite the master.
Do not use metal tools in contact with glass and plastic. The plastic can be scratched or damaged. Glass contact with metal may shatter.
Apply COSMOFEN RM putty to shallow dents or scratches using a rubber trowel. After complete drying within the period indicated on the putty package, we process it with sanding paper and cover it with a matte or glossy varnish - depending on the material from which the doors are made.
We briefly reviewed the most common malfunctions of PVC balcony doors and windows and how to fix them with our own hands. Not all breakdowns of balcony doors can be repaired on their own. Sometimes a special tool is required, which not everyone has at home. Sometimes - the replacement of plastic construction elements, which cannot be removed by any adhesives.
In any case, it is within the power of everyone to carry out some repair work, in which we wish you success.
VIDEO 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, which 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.
Do not ignore any slight change in the tightness of the door, 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.
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.
Check the fit of the door leaf. Replace the plugs.
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.
You can find problem areas using paper: clamp 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:
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There are unpleasant situations when the door is completely blocked, or it remains hanging on one hinge, in this case, watch the video instruction:
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The expired service life and mechanical damage to the rubber seal are the next probable reason for the sagging and poor adhesion of the web. As a rule, the service life of the gaskets is several years after the door is installed, then they must be replaced. Sequence of work:
Carefully remove the old seal from the groove, avoiding damaging the web. Remove dust and glue from the groove.
Insert a new one, evenly distributing it around the entire perimeter without creases or wrinkles, starting from the bottom of the door. To properly lay material that is too rigid, the seal must be cut in the corners and additionally fixed with glue.
Cut off excess sealant, fix the edges with glue. Allow time to dry - do not close the door during this time.
If these manipulations did not lead to an improvement in the situation, it is better to contact a specialist - it may be necessary to replace the fittings.
If the door fits snugly against the frame, but the closing mechanism does not work, then the reason is usually in the handle or core. A loose handle can be easily repaired. For this you need:
turn the decorative plug covering the attachment points to the canvas by 90 degrees;
tighten the screws with a screwdriver, adjusting the degree of pressure;
put the plug back in place.
If the core is broken, the handle cannot be repaired. In this case, it can be easily changed to a new one. For this:
Rotate the plug at the base, freeing access to the fastening screws.
Unscrew the screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
Remove the handle with the hinge from the door structure.
Install a new one and fix with self-tapping screws.
Install a plug to mask the fasteners.
Check the quality of installation, pressure and ease of opening of the web.
If the tightness of the glass unit is broken, fogging of the inner glass is observed. In this case, it is more expedient to replace it. Broken glass, severe damage to the lower blind part of the door leaf, the desire to replace the blind leaf with a glass one or vice versa also entail the dismantling and installation of a new double-glazed window. The operation is performed in a matter of minutes in the following sequence:
Remove decorative corners (glazing beads) that cover the line of adhesion of a blank panel or glass unit to the canvas - for this, place a screwdriver or spatula in the groove and carefully separate each corner.
Now the glass unit (panel) can be easily removed and replaced with a new one.
Install the corners in their original place.
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Plastic surfaces lend themselves well to restoration. Depending on the degree of damage, defects can be eliminated in several ways:
Small scratches are masked with a special pencil or Cosmofen liquid plastic.
Deeper damage and chips are filled with sealant or cosmetic glue. After the filler has dried, the surface of the canvas is sanded with fine sandpaper and covered with decorative paint.
The squeak of the hinges not only causes discomfort when using the structure, but also serves as a signal that the factory lubricant has been used up and a new batch is required, otherwise the hardware may fail.For the convenience and accuracy of the work, it is better to use a syringe, which must be filled with any machine oil. Sequence:
Remove the upper hinge plugs and pour oil into the hole.
Make several opening-closing movements to distribute the lubricant more evenly and faster. Make sure the creak is gone.
Remove excess oil, close plugs.
In order for plastic doors to serve for a long time and without problems, one must not forget about leaving, prevent breakdowns in time. Fundamental rules:
regularly treat the mechanisms with oil, and the rubber seal with a special spray - all care products can be purchased from window installers or specialized stores;
regularly tighten the fastening of the handles;
monitor the tightness of the door to the frame - if necessary, adjust the hinges;
when opening / closing, turn the handle strictly to the required angle;
avoid mechanical stress, excessive overlapping on the door leaf and glass unit.
You can eliminate minor defects of plastic doors, make small adjustments to the hinges and handles on your own. It is better to entrust larger repairs (re-weighing, restoring the tightness of welded seams, replacing torn hinges) to professionals - it is difficult to independently perform this type of repair with the required level of quality.
Adjustment of a PVC balcony door should be done immediately if:
excessive force is required to open the door;
when closing, the door leaf clings to the door frame;
the handle of the lock turns tight or, conversely, is too loose;
when the lock is open, the door does not keep in the closed position;
even a tightly closed door allows cold air to pass through.
All these signs are, so to speak, critical. They indicate that the door is already in disrepair. It is possible that in this case a simple adjustment will not be enough and some parts will have to be repaired or changed. This can be avoided if you do the adjustment of the plastic balcony doors with your own hands and do it in a timely manner. Here are some ways helping to identify implicit violations in the position of the door leaf :
Open the balcony door slightly and leave it in this position. If it spontaneously seeks to slam shut or open wide (of course, in the absence of wind or drafts), it's time to tune in.
Take a simple pencil in your hands and take a position on the side opposite to the side of the door opening. After closing the door, outline its perimeter, using the edge of the door frame as a ruler. Now open the door and take a close look at your own art. If the lines you drew turned out to be parallel to the edges of the door leaf, then everything is in order. If not, then there is a slight bias and it's time to prepare the tools.
Take a notebook sheet or a fragment of a newspaper page and slam the balcony door so that the paper is clamped by it. Now try to remove the sheet, paying attention to the effort you had to make for this. In this way it is necessary to check the tightness of the clamp around the entire perimeter of the door ... Ideally, the effort with which you had to pull out the paper will always be the same. If, in different parts of the door perimeter, the sheet is pressed unevenly, then it is necessary to adjust the clamp.
Self-adjustment of the PVC balcony door should also be performed with the arrival of cold weather or, conversely, with warming: in the first case, the door clamp is increased, in the second, it is weakened.
Tip: Relax the pressure for spring and summer should be sure , because when closed tightly (winter mode), some parts of the door unit wear out faster.
The first step is to worry about the availability of such tools:
- Phillips and flat screwdrivers;
- a set of hex keys (for some models you will need keys with an asterisk profile);
Liquid plastic Cosmofen is popular for use in the repair of both plastic windows and doors. Read more about it on this page.
The design of door attachment points in PVC door blocks provides for the possibility adjusting its position in three directions :
- horizontally (the gap between the door leaf and the hinge rack is adjusted at the top, bottom or immediately along the entire height);
- vertically (the height of the door suspension changes relative to the door frame);
- frontally (the density of the door pressing against the sealing elements of the doorway is adjusted).
The adjusting screws can be accessed by removing the decorative panel from the hinge with the door open (we use a 3 mm hexagon).
Let's consider all three adjustment options in more detail.
For the movement of the door leaf to the right or left (to or from the hinge rack), a long adjusting screw is responsible, located horizontally under the decorative strip. If the door closes clings to the box from the side of the latch in the middle or along the entire height , the screws should be turned clockwise one or two turns in all three hinges. If the bottom edge of the web farthest from the hinges touches the threshold, tighten the screws only in the upper and middle hinges.
The vertical adjustment screw on the hinge is responsible for moving the door down (turning the screw counterclockwise) or up (clockwise). Such adjustment is resorted to in the event that if the bottom edge of the door rubs against the threshold when closing or opening or it closes normally, but dents are visible on the upper or lower seals ... Use a 5mm Allen key to rotate the screws. The same key, but 2.5 mm, will be needed to adjust the position of the striking plates at the top and bottom of the door frame. For this operation, in addition to the hexagon, you will need a flat screwdriver. The main striker plate will also have to be displaced with a Phillips screwdriver.
Before adjusting a plastic balcony door, it is important to know that the density of the door to the frame is adjusted differently in different models:
On the vertical end of the door on the side opposite to the hinges, there can be three eccentrics, which must be turned with a suitable tool.
Some models have a trunnion on the door hardware that must be turned with pliers. For maximum pressure, it should be given a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door block, for minimum - parallel.
Sometimes the clamp can be adjusted by frontal displacement of the striker. For this purpose, there is a hex head screw under the bar.
Adjusting screws may not always save the day. It so happens that a defect occurs, but the corresponding screw is already in the extreme position. In this case, use another way to adjust the door with a glass unit ... Gently prying with a chisel, it is necessary to remove the glazing beads holding the glass unit. Then, between the glass unit and the plastic, using special blades in the right places (depending on which defect has to be corrected), PVC gaskets are installed. By correctly choosing the location of the gaskets and their thickness, you can change the geometry of the door and thus eliminate the skew. When installing the glazing beads in place, they should be carefully knocked out with a rubberized hammer.
Tip: When removing the glazing beads, mark them so that you can then install each exactly in its place. Often, manufacturers use different types of glazing beads to fix the glass unit from the inside and outside.
Plastic door handles have two problems:
1. The handle turns too tight or not completely
Most often, such a problem is caused by the incorrect position of the door leaf and after adjusting it in one of the above ways, the lock mechanism should work properly. If the adjustment does not help, the lock will have to be replaced.
2. The handle is loose
If the trim, installed in the place where the handle is attached to the door, is rotated 90 degrees, access to two screws will open. Tightening them with a Phillips screwdriver will correct the defect.
If the door is used with a bias for a long time, it can deform the seal. In this case, it must be replaced with a new one having a similar cross-sectional shape. The old seal is removed from the groove with a screwdriver, which is then cleaned of dirt and glue residues. When installing a new seal, make sure that it is not stretched. Before installing the profile, the groove must be coated with glue, especially in those places where the ends of the seal will be located.
In order for a plastic balcony door to do without adjustment longer, equip it with two very useful devices: microlift and opening limiter ... The microlift holds the weight of the door in the closed position, preventing it from sagging. The opening limiter prevents the hinges from loosening when the door rests on the jamb (with full opening).
Do not hang bags with heavy contents on the door handle (let alone open). The plastic door itself is heavy and the extra weight can lead to sagging sooner.
Periodic lubrication with a silicone compound will help extend the life of the seal and make it more plastic and susceptible to deformation.
Remember to lubricate the lock regularly as well. If its handle is difficult to turn, users begin to put pressure on it (and at the same time on the door) with all their weight, while strongly pulling the door towards themselves. In such conditions, bias is inevitable.
In this section, we invite you to watch a video on the topic of our article "Adjusting plastic balcony doors: DIY instructions for setting up". You will see how in practice the procedures that we described above are carried out.
Video (click to play).
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