DIY plastic door lock repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of a plastic door lock from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Plastic doors are made of relatively durable material and equipped with high-quality fittings. But with long-term use, as a result of natural wear and tear, the mechanisms begin to dangle, the seal loses its plasticity and cracks, defects appear on the surface of the door from mechanical stress, in general, we can say that the plastic door has broken. Many faults can be eliminated by making do-it-yourself plastic door repairs.

During long-term operation, under its own weight, a natural subsidence of the plastic door occurs. It starts to close and open badly - to cling to the box.

Restoring the normal operation of the door is carried out by tightening or adjusting the hinge mechanism.

The entire door is secured with two hinges. Lower and upper. On the bottom, it seems to stand, and the top keeps it from horizontal movements.

For the horizontal displacement of the door, it is necessary to turn the adjusting screw located at the end of the canopy on the canvas, just the upper hinge. And to adjust the web vertically, you need to tighten the screw on the bottom hinge

For more information on how to repair a plastic door if it does not close well, see the video

During operation, it is constantly subjected to increased mechanical loads. This results in a natural gradual loosening of the fastening screws. To tighten them, they must be removed or turned to the side, it depends on the design of the handle, decorative cover.

Loose screws are tightened with a screwdriver. The decorative cover is returned to its place.

Video (click to play).

The handle dangles on a plastic door, repair - Photo 1

This breakdown can occur when the connection of the handle with the core is broken or some internal element of the lock breaks down. To find out the reason, you need to remove or turn the decorative cover. Unscrew the fastening screws.

If the pin connecting the handle with the core is cut off, then you need to knock out its remnants. Insert a new one.

If the breakdown is related to the handle, then you just need to replace it with a new one. Tighten the fixing screws. Replace the decorative cover.

If it turns out that the lock itself has broken. Then it is necessary to remove the handle and pull out the core. Unscrew the fixing screw at the end of the curtain and remove the lock. Install a new lock and assemble the entire locking mechanism in reverse order.

Replacing the seal of the plastic door - Photo 3

You have noticed that there are drafts from the plastic doors. They are not eliminated by adjusting the position of the door leaf. So it is necessary to change the seal.

We buy a new rubber cord and good glue to fix it.

To restore the tightness of the door, the following operations must be done:

Carefully remove the old seal from the grooves in the door leaf.
Carefully remove remnants of rubber cord.
Degrease the surface in the grooves.
Apply glue to the groove with continuous tape.
The installation of a new sealing cord starts from the corner. Lay it in one piece without stretching or squeezing.

Despite the excellent durability of plastic during long-term operation, small dents and scratches still appear on the surface of the door and frame. This significantly affects their attractiveness.

Repair of a plastic door - Photo 4

At home, you can repair minor damage with a special adhesive.For this area with scratches and dents, you must first degrease.

Apply a thin layer of glue gently. After it hardens with fine sandpaper, it is necessary to clean these places. After degreasing, the cleaned-up defects are covered with a regular or tinted varnish.

For more serious troubleshooting, it is recommended to invite specialists. Especially if the doors are still under warranty.

Plastic doors are deservedly considered one of the most reliable options for any premises. Despite this, even the most reliable door can break under serious loads, as well as during long-term use. Repair of plastic doors is quite possible. The complexity of the repair differs depending on the specific breakdown. Most often, the problems are minor and are eliminated by a small adjustment of the mechanisms, or by replacing the fittings. Repair costs are generally low. In addition, breakdowns are eliminated as soon as possible.

There are several typical breakdowns that occur most often. Such breakdowns include:

Problematic opening and closing of the door (problems caused by adjustment failure, in particular sagging and skewing of the structure);
Insufficient tightness of the door handle to the leaf, loosening of the mechanism;
Broken fittings, in particular: locks, other locking mechanisms, handles, latches;
Cracks and other damage to the glass unit;
Problems with the door seal;
The need to restore the canvas due to the resulting mechanical damage.

Each breakdown requires a specific approach to its elimination. Most problems can be eliminated without resorting to the services of a wizard. Let's take a closer look at how the above types of breakdowns are eliminated.

In the vast majority of cases, problematic opening and closing is caused by a malfunction in the adjustment of mechanisms. The adjustment process does not take much time, repairing a plastic door in such cases is the most simple. Let's consider the adjustment procedure in stages.

First of all, when the door sags, as well as problems with its opening and closing, it is necessary to determine the place in which the canvas contacts the frame. At the point of contact (displacement), a line is drawn with a simple pencil.

The adjustment is to move the blade to the side opposite to the place where the sash touches the frame. For example, if the door catches the upper edge of the frame, it is necessary to move the door leaf down and away from the point of contact.

The adjustment is simple enough. The top and middle hinges have hex screws. Turning the key clockwise presses the canvas against the hinges, counterclockwise - unclenches them. Such repair of plastic doors is quite simple.

The bottom hinge is also adjustable. The screw, which is located at the end of the hinge, adjusts the web in the vertical direction, and the screw on the side - in the horizontal direction.

If the door is fitted with glass, adjustment is possible with a glass unit. For this, the glazing bead is removed, on which the glass is held, and then, with the help of a wooden spatula, the glass unit is moved to the side until the sagging is corrected. Spacers are inserted into the gap where the blade was. After adjustment, the belt should move freely. Upon completion of the adjustment procedure, the glazing beads are installed back, while they should not be confused in places. Incorrect installation can lead to cracks in the web.

It is very simple to repair plastic doors if the repair consists in adjusting a loose handle. The fact is that with increased loads on the mechanism, as well as with prolonged operation, the fasteners of the handles are often unscrewed from the socket by one or several turns. Because of this, the handle begins to hang characteristically.

The elimination of the problem consists in removing the decorative cap from the door and then tightening the dangling screw. The screws can be replaced if necessary.

Repair of a plastic door cannot always be completed without replacing its structural elements. If the locking mechanism breaks down, it is much easier to remove and replace it than to carry out repairs. Locking mechanisms can be purchased at any hardware store. Any other fittings, in particular, a broken doorknob, change in the same way.

Failure of a double-glazed window is a serious problem. The fact is that cracks in glass cannot be completely eliminated. There are special fluids for repairing cracks, however at certain angles, due to the refraction of light, the crack will still be visible. In such cases, replacement of the entire glass unit is required. It is very expensive to repair plastic doors with a broken glass unit, therefore it is necessary not to subject the glass to mechanical stress, to protect it from sudden temperature changes.

One of the main functions of doors is noise and heat insulation of the room. The gasket plays an important role, as it ensures a tight fit of the canvas to the box, does not allow sounds to pass through and retains heat. During operation, the seal wears out, loses its properties.

To replace the seal, you must first select a replacement of the appropriate dimension. It can be purchased at any hardware store. The old seal is removed, and the new one is glued to the door using special glue. It should be noted that the repair of a plastic balcony door, if necessary to replace the seal, is no different from the repair of any other PVC doors.

With prolonged operation of the doors, as well as with mechanical stress, various damages can occur on the door leaf. Plastic doors are repaired by plastic restoration. Such restoration is possible with the help of special compounds that mask damage. They can be purchased at specialized hardware stores. If it is necessary to really qualitatively repair plastic doors that have mechanical damage, it is better to contact a specialist. Only a professional can restore the door to its original state, completely masking all damage.

So, you can repair a plastic door with your own hands, having certain skills and knowledge. Some breakdowns are not significant for repair, and some should be entrusted to specialists. Carrying out repairs yourself, you can save money and spend money on something more necessary.

In order to ensure trouble-free operation, you need to monitor the technical condition of the PVC balcony door. It is better to repair plastic balcony doors regularly. Often, minor problems arise that take a minimum of time to fix. Double-glazed windows need to be repaired less often, since their sashes do not sag under their own weight.

Hinged system made of PVC profile.

Sliding mechanism for balcony plastic construction.

On the eve of work, it is better to purchase all the necessary materials in advance so as not to waste time on searching in the process.

You will need the following materials:

New hardware to replace broken parts;
Plastic gaskets;
Liquid plastic and sealant (for removing scratches or cracks on plastic);
If there are cracks in the glass unit itself, it is better to replace it. It is advisable to entrust the determination of the exact dimensions to specialists.
A new insulation will be needed if the system was installed a long time ago (regardless of the presence of visible damage). In this case, the material can be changed in advance to avoid problems.

Currently, most structures for window and balcony openings are made of PVC profiles.The company that installs the glass unit also carries out technical control during the warranty period and fixes faults free of charge. However, after the end of the warranty, the likelihood of breakdowns only increases, so it is important to understand how the balcony sash is being repaired.

Read also: U341e DIY repair

If the design is under warranty, call the master; if the owner tries to repair the metal-plastic product on his own, the warranty is canceled.

If the entrance plastic door stops opening / closing as expected, it may have sagged and needs adjustment of the awnings. To adjust the awnings, we pry on, open the plug on the hinge, remove the decorative overlays, and adjust the awning with a hexagon.

If the sash creaks, grease the awnings.

It is not possible to overtighten the screws due to the fact that their seats have expanded and the thread turns. We fix this problem:

we change the bolts for longer and larger diameters (if necessary, it will be necessary to drill holes in the metal plate of the hinge);
we seal the landing nests with wood chips;
we transfer the loops to another place, slightly shifting their location up or down.

If you save money and ordered a door with weak hinges that cannot withstand the load, you can replace them with more powerful ones. You can buy awnings for entrance plastic doors in any window company.

During operation, the screws with which the handle is attached may loosen. Repairing a loose plastic door mechanism is very easy to do with your own hands. At the base of the handle is a vertical decorative plate that covers the fasteners. We turn it to a horizontal position, pry the plate, pulling it slightly towards ourselves, turn the plate to a horizontal position.Access to the fasteners is open, we tighten the bolts with a Phillips screwdriver, return the cover to its place.

If the handle is broken, we purchase a new one from a window company. The square rod for the hardware groove is standard for all handles, pay attention to the material from which it is made. We unscrew the broken product from the balcony door, insert the square into the hardware groove, fasten it with bolts.

If the handle is intact, but it is difficult to turn, it is necessary to lubricate all moving parts of the fittings.

If the locking mechanism breaks down, you need to figure out whether it is possible to replace a separate element or whether the entire mechanism needs to be changed. For a more accurate determination of the degree of breakdown, we call the wizard from the window company.

Reinforced aluminum handles are 2-3 times more expensive than plastic ones, but they will pay off as it is almost impossible to break it.

Consider how to fix a broken lock on plastic doors with your own hands. We remove the door handle, according to the above method we get to the bolts, unscrew them, take out the handle. The doorknob is inserted into the hardware groove using a square fixing. Watch the video below about repairing the castle:

Two types of locks are used on plastic entrance doors: with and without a latch. The latch keeps the door closed, preventing it from opening from the wind or touch.

lanyard, triggered by pressing the handles;

roller in the form of a hinge mechanism - to open the door, you need to pull it towards you.

Repair the latch, see this video:

Multi-point locks provide high sound and thermal insulation

tight fit of the sash to the frame.

Multi-point locks are more expensive, but they provide high sound insulation and thermal insulation due to the tight abutment of the sash and prevent it from sagging when closed due to locking elements located at several points.

The multi-point lock for plastic doors consists of a main and additional locking mechanism, a solid screw and a tire that moves all elements of the system. Such a lock can be with a folded push or roller latch.

Repairing a lock may include replacing the core, latch, or individual locking elements. Replacing the lock is done with your own hands by purchasing components and seeking advice from specialists.

We change the lock and handle with our own hands. Stages of replacing the lock for plastic doors:

We open the sash, unscrew the screws.
We turn the decorative plug horizontally at the base of the handle, unscrew the bolts holding the handle.
We remove the lock, the handle.
We measure the length according to the old drive, align the holes for the handle pin.
We prepare the lock, install it in the groove, you can hammer it into the hole with a rubber hammer with not strong blows.
We install the handle, tighten with bolts, close the fasteners with a plate.

After installing the lock, the first turn of the handle always takes place with force. For information on how to repair locks on a plastic door, see this video:

If the sash is hanging on one hinge and it is not possible to turn the handle, then the door to the balcony was opened in two modes at once. You can fix this problem yourself within a few minutes. We find an opening blocker from the end of the sash, it looks like a tongue, it is located at the end in the middle, by pressing, we bring it to a horizontal position. Press the sash firmly against the frame, turn the handle to the ventilation mode, and then to the opening mode. The sash will snap into place, the handle will turn properly.

Consider how to repair a plastic door if it starts to blow into it, or it does not close tightly. In this case, you will need to adjust the fittings. How to do this, see the video below:

Troubleshooting steps:

Remove the decorative overlays from the hinges.

Determine the vertical level of the sash relative to the frame using a plumb line.

We mark the places where the sash engages the frame with a water-soluble marker.

We carry out the adjustment with a hexagon, adjusting the sash pressure.

To lift the sash up, we insert the hexagon into the upper hole of the lower hinge, located in its outer part. Turn clockwise with a hex wrench. To lower the sash, turn it counterclockwise.

To move the door to the left or right, insert the hexagon into the hole on the inside of the lower hinge, turn it in the desired direction.

When adjusting the fittings, take into account that the degree of adhesion of the sash to the frame is varied by twisting the upper hinge.

A plastic door is valued for its tightness, heat and sound insulation. But during operation, structural violations are possible, which lead to distortions, and therefore the absence of all these qualities. You can also repair a plastic door yourself.

The repair work depends on the existing problem. And the first step is to determine the cause of the violation.

Plastic door is inexpensive but reliable

Having installed a plastic door in the apartment, it is recommended to immediately purchase the tool that will be needed for repair work:

screwdriver with a set of nozzles; To repair a plastic door, you need different attachments for screwdrivers
screwdriver or drill with a set of drills for metal;
building level;
plumb line (you can make it yourself); A plumb line will help adjust the door
hex keys; Repair will not work without a hex wrench
pliers;
saw for metal with fine teeth;
a mallet with a rubber tip (it is better if it is white rubber); The mallet will help replace the glass unit
a spatula (it is also desirable that it be made of white rubber);
casters (they can be plastic or wood).

Some materials are also required:

specialized glue for working with PVC products;
adhesive sealant;
putty for the restoration of PVC products;
rubber compressor;
handles, latches, locks (depending on the breakdown);
plastic overlay.

When replacing fittings, it is recommended to choose a product of the same brand that was originally installed on the door.

There are several reasons that can provoke a breakage of the handle on a plastic door:

wear, failure due to the end of the service life;
mechanical damage;
misuse.

You also need to solve problems that arise for various reasons in different ways:

Cracks in the handle body due to improper use. They cannot be repaired, so the handle will need to be replaced. To do this, turn the handle plate at the base by 90 degrees, unscrew the screws and, together with them, the hardware itself. Next, install a new element in the same place. If the handle is cracked, then it must be replaced.
The handle is turned, but the door does not close. It is impossible to return such a handle to its original position, which means that the door can also be closed. The problem lies in the abnormal operation of the blocker. This can be corrected by pressing down the metal tab at the end of the door and at the same time turning the handle back to its original state. If this does not work, then the problem lies in the deformation. To eliminate it, you need to put a rubber backing under the plate.
It is difficult to turn the handle. Usually, you can open the door only if you make a lot of effort.Drying of the lubricant may become the reason, which means that all moving mechanisms need to be treated with oil. Better to take a special vehicle for this. If the problem persists, it means that the structure is sagging. For repairs, you need to remove the hinge plugs of the door itself and adjust these elements using a hex wrench. The key must be turned clockwise, having previously inserted it into the desired loop.

A plastic door is considered reliable, but various troubles can happen with its lock, for example, the locking mechanism may break and the door does not close.You need to prepare all the necessary tools and materials in advance:

new fittings, identical to the one that will be repaired;

plastic gaskets;

silicone or plastic sealant;

insulation for doors in the event that the system was installed a long time ago, regardless of its condition.

You can do it yourself to repair the lock of a plastic door. This must be done in the following sequence:

Remove the door handle by first turning the plate and then unscrewing the screws.

To repair the lock, you need to remove the handle of the plastic door

In the event that the problem lies in a sunken latching element, it is worth disassembling the lock itself, unscrewing all the fixing bolts, and reinstalling the part. During this, you need to check the functionality of the spring and replace it if necessary.

Similar actions should be taken when the latch is jammed. The reason for this may be abrasion and deformation of elements that require mandatory replacement.

To replace the lock cylinder, you need to unscrew all the fixing bolts of the armor plate and the end. Pull out the cylinder, install a new part there and return the fixing bolts to their place.

It is not always possible to fix the lock, sometimes it is easier to replace it

In the event that the breakdown is significant and the repair is not able to solve the problem that has appeared, a complete replacement of the locking mechanism may be required. It must be performed in the following sequence:

Open the sash, then unscrew all the screws.

All screws at the end of the door must be unscrewed

If there is a decorative plug, it should be turned horizontally, and then unscrew all the bolts that hold the handle.

Remove both the lock and the handle itself.

To replace the lock, the handle must also be removed

Measure all parameters, in particular, it concerns the length according to the old drive.

Check if the knob shift holes line up.

Install the prepared lock into the groove. If necessary, it can be hammered in with light tapping, using only a hammer with a rubber nozzle.

Before fixing the lock, you need to check whether it fits into the prepared groove

Install the handle in its place and fix it with the bolts.

Please note that the lock may work on first use if force is applied.

This procedure may be required if you need to replace the glass unit. This is quite easy to do. First, prepare the necessary tools and materials:

gloves, as there is a risk of injury to your hands;
screwdriver;
putty knife;
knife, the sharper the better;
suction cups, preferably rubber. Rubber suction cups help prevent glass from breaking

Next, you need to do the following:

Remove the sash, for which you need to pull out the retaining rod, which is located in the upper hinge.
Now, with a knife or spatula, you need to pick up the glazing bead itself, installing the tool between the frame and the glazing bead. Repeat a similar procedure along its entire length. This should be done as carefully as possible, since there is a high risk of scratching the glass unit. You need to remove the glazing beads carefully.
Get the glazing bead, while moving parallel to the glass.
Remove the horizontal glazing bead in the same way. When removing the last element, you need to hold onto the glass.
Now the glass unit can be removed, for which you can use rubber suction cups. Be sure to wear protective gloves.

It is also quite easy to insert a double-glazed window:

Remove dust and dirt from the seam frame.
Insert a double-glazed window into the opening.
Install glazing beads. The horizontal ones are installed first, and then the vertical ones. If necessary, they can be hammered in with a rubber-tipped hammer.
Now the glass unit needs to be wiped and checked for scratches. If they are found, then it is worth treating the surface with sandpaper.

When installing a door with your own hands, be sure to remove the film from it. This is easy to do, for which it is necessary:

Using a building hair dryer. To remove the film, the air stream must be directed to the frame and make sure that it does not hit directly on the glass unit. As a result of exposure to hot air, the film dissolves and is removed almost independently. But a regular hair dryer won't help. The best way to remove the film is to warm it up with a construction hairdryer.
The use of a professional scraper, which is designed to work with a ceramic hob.
Removing the film with a knife or blade, but you need to move very carefully and remove a small piece of the film at a time. You should pry off the film with a sharp point and tear it off little by little. Remaining glue can be removed with a damp sponge. Additionally, you should use a bath detergent. If you remove the film with a knife, then there is a risk of damaging the plastic
The use of a solvent. The use of a weak solution is allowed, and this should be done with the utmost care. It is best to take White Spirit for this purpose. The agent must be poured onto the treated area, wait a little and remove the film. Any plastic solvent should be used with care.
Removing film residues with an eraser. Relevant only if there is not much of it left.
Use of special products for cleaning plastic surfaces.

Adjustment of a plastic door may be required for various reasons. This is most often needed in the case of sagging. The adjustment can be done as follows:

Remove the plugs from the hinges.

Depending on whether you will be adjusting vertically or horizontally, insert a hex wrench in the top or socket screw. The top one is responsible for vertical adjustment, the end one is for horizontal adjustment. You need to turn the key clockwise.

The hinges can be adjusted vertically and horizontally

Adjust the second hinge if the situation calls for it.

You need a hex key to adjust the door

Video (click to play).

A nuisance with a plastic door can happen at any time of operation, even if the installation was carried out in compliance with the technology and no violations were found during use. Therefore, it is so important to know how to repair the most common complications with your own hands.