DIY repair of a lock in a plastic door

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of a lock in a plastic door 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 the 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.

PVC balcony door locks, like all mechanisms, can fail. Long-term and active operation, increased loads, temperature drops - all this can contribute to premature failure. In many cases, you can repair the lock of a plastic door with your own hands and not waste time and money on calling professional craftsmen. The main thing is to have on hand a set of necessary tools and carefully follow all the recommendations of the masters who are engaged in opening and replacing locks.

What can happen to a plastic door?

The locking mechanism has jammed;
The handle has become loose or, on the contrary, began to seize;
The door leaf has ceased to fit snugly;
Loosening of the fittings has occurred.

How to fix a lock on a plastic door?

The first step in repairing or replacing the locking mechanisms on PVC doors is to dismantle the lock and all the fittings. From the tools you need a screwdriver and a screwdriver for this. The procedure is as follows:

Unscrew and remove the fixing screws under the rectangular or square plastic cover. To remove the plug, you need to take it with your hand, turn it horizontally and pull it by hand towards you. Then, using a screwdriver or screwdriver, unscrew the fastening elements of the handle;
Remove the handles;
Remove the fastening plates and fastening screws of the lock itself, remove the mechanism from the body of the door leaf.

If in the process of using the lock there are such difficulties as jamming and seizing, then its core must be cleaned and lubricated. When the lock is completely cleaned, it needs to be greased. It is best to use grease, WD-40, lithium or graphite grease, liquid silicone as a lubricant. As a last resort, you can use machine oil or vegetable oil.

If opening / closing the lock of a plastic door is difficult due to a loose handle, you need to tighten the fastening screws with a screwdriver. If they turn in the nests, then you need to either use thicker and longer self-tapping screws, or seal the nests with small wood chips.

In situations where the handle has broken completely, you need to buy a new one and replace it. The square bar inside is the same for all handles, so there will be no problems with reinstallation. If you need to replace the "scissors", corner switches or hinges, they can be dismantled as follows:

After removing the lock, you need to carefully knock down the pin located in the upper hinge, tilt the door leaf towards you and move it. This will remove the sash from its lower hinge and allow the dismantling of the "scissors", corner switch and rear hold-down;
To remove the door from the hinges, you need to unscrew the screws on the door itself and on the frame. You need to start from the top loop.

What if you can't solve the problem yourself?

In situations where it was not possible to open the plastic door and fix all the faults with your own hands, you can turn to the help of experienced craftsmen. They have all the necessary knowledge and practical skills in the field of locking mechanisms and doors, use special tools in their work. All faults will be eliminated quickly and professionally. On the territory of Moscow and the Moscow Region, you can call the craftsmen at the LOCKSERVICE lock service. According to customer reviews, its main advantages are:

Specialists anywhere in the city and region, their quick arrival within 15 minutes;
Warranty and service for all services for up to 3 years.

The ability to contact the service both by phone number and through an application on the website.

Balcony doors are subjected to the load of their own gravity, narrowing, expansion of the profile when the temperature changes. Repair of plastic entrance doors most often includes adjusting fittings or replacing a failed element. In this article, we will consider possible malfunctions of metal-plastic doors and how to fix them with your own hands.

Plastic doors are a reliable design with high thermal insulation characteristics, but sometimes troubles happen with them.

the lock or handle is broken;
the handle is difficult to turn or, conversely, dangles;
the sash does not fit, the fittings require adjustment;
the awnings loosened.

Many of these problems can be fixed by hand.

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 with grease.

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:

single-point - have one closing point, do not provide sufficient clamping of the sash to the frame;
multi-point or transom - provide protection against burglary and more 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 an 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 is always forceful. For information on how to repair locks on a plastic door, see this video:

We lubricate the necessary elements of the lock and fittings. The door is ready for further use.

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.

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. Image - DIY repair of a lock in a plastic door

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.

Repair of the swing system lock on the loggia.

Swing sash with additional secure locks.

Repair of the sliding system lock.

Sliding opening system.

To eliminate sagging, hexagons are used to repair fittings.

Work order:

1. Remove the plugs from the hinges;

2. The upper screw allows you to adjust the structure vertically using a hexagon. To do this, turn the tool clockwise. Thus, the canvas will be attracted to the loop;

3. The end screw moves the structure horizontally;

4.Adjust another loop if necessary.

What to do if the glass unit is displaced and the door does not close?

We dismantle the glazing beads that fix the glass unit. We carry out the work with special blades;
We separate the glass unit from the canvas in the area of the hinges, using a spatula for this. Fill the gap with a plastic gasket;
We check the quality of work - the mechanism should close normally.
Installation of glazing beads in the same place.

During operation, cracks may appear on the material, sometimes it loses its shape or breaks. If a similar stage of wear has occurred, it is best to replace the seal strip.

Correct sequence:

You should buy a new material that will fully correspond to the previous one (in type and size);
Dismantle the old tape;
The groove should be thoroughly cleaned of glue residues and accumulated dust;
We install a new seal, the tape can be pressed down with a finger, but not pulled (the groove must be dry). The sealant is laid starting from the bottom. This principle is easy to explain: if a part of the tape comes off during operation, it will not sag;
The final step is to cut off the ends of the sealant, and fix the laid edges of the material with glue. Do not close the door while the glue is drying.

To increase the service life of the seal, the material must be coated every six months with a special agent that will not allow drying. You can purchase a protective compound from PVC window manufacturers.

This procedure is considered the simplest when compared with other problems. Depending on the degree of breakdown, this element can be tightened in the right places, adjusted or replaced.If the handle is loose, turn the base plank 90 degrees. Thus, it will be possible to regulate the self-tapping screws that attract the element to the PVC profile. In order to better fix the part, use a screwdriver.Self-adjustment of self-tapping screws with a screwdriver. Image - DIY repair of a lock in a plastic door

The need for replacement may come to light unexpectedly when inspecting the mechanism.

Let's consider the order of actions:

Turn the handle or part that is preserved parallel to the floor;
We remove the plug, which is located at the base (turn by 90 degrees);
We unscrew the screws with a Phillips screwdriver;
Dismantle the handle together with the rod from the structure;
We install a new mechanism in the socket. In the event that the rod is too long, you need to saw it off with a special machine;
We fix the screws. In the process, you need to control the force in order to avoid damage to the handle itself or the PVC profile;
We mount the latch back, masking the screws;
We check the installed part, namely the door clamp and the handle free play.

Removing the handle with a Phillips screwdriver.

Usually, the handle is installed from the inside of the room, but this is not always convenient.

Restoration of the plastic surface is the elimination of cracks and scratches.Plastic recovery methods:1. Minor damage can be removed with a special Cosmofen compound. After exposure to the agent, the surface is covered with "liquid plastic".2. When repairing significant flaws on the plastic, use cosmetic glue, which is used to fill the gaps. A white sealant is also suitable for filling deep cracks. After the aggregate dries, the surface is sanded with fine emery paper.3. The final stage of restoration is surface treatment with a special construction pencil.Sometimes, when eliminating sagging, the door is pulled too tight, after which it is difficult to close it. Image - DIY repair of a lock in a plastic door

It is better to entrust this work to professionals in order to avoid unpleasant consequences: condensation, frozen glass, problems with operation. If the warranty period is valid, you should contact the company that installed the PVC structure.Installing yourself may adversely affect the appearance.

Installers' mistake during installation and incorrect adjustment of the fittings;
Shrinkage of the new building and deformation of the structure;
Incorrect operation of PVC structures;
Excessive exposure to the sun (if the sun's rays constantly fall on the balcony);
Sudden changes in air temperature.

In the event that such problems arise during operation, repair is necessary. Moreover, such malfunctions can be eliminated independently, without the involvement of experienced specialists. In order for the work to be successful, it is necessary to objectively analyze the volume of cases and the availability of free time. If you appreciate that there is not enough free time, then contact the professionals.

Most often, hardware breaks or awnings are loosened

Plastic doors are a reliable design with high thermal insulation characteristics, but sometimes troubles happen with them.

the lock or handle is broken;
the handle is difficult to turn or, conversely, dangles;
the sash does not fit, the fittings require adjustment;
the awnings were loose.

Many of these problems can be fixed by hand.

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.

To adjust the awnings, you need a hex wrench

If the sash creaks, grease the awnings with grease.

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

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.

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:

single-point - have one closing point, do not provide sufficient clamping of the sash to the frame;
multi-point or transom - provide protection against burglary and more

Multi-point locks provide high sound and thermal insulation

tight fit of the sash to the frame.

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:

We lubricate the necessary elements of the lock and fittings. The door is ready for further use.

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.

Video (click to play).

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.

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