Why Adding A French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement To Your Life Can Make All The Impact
Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement
When you lock your french doors, you want to ensure that they're safe. This can be achieved by choosing the right lock that will keep your door secure while not restricting airflow or affecting the appearance of your home.
French door locks are typically a three-point lock that includes flush bolts at the upper and lower edges of each door panel, and a lockset on the operable door. This lockset is very hard to break.
How to fix a French Door that won't lock
If your doors aren't locking or latch properly, it can be a serious safety risk. This could be an indication of a major issue such as a cracked locking cylinder. Don't worry, the problem is fixable by following a few simple steps.
A door that doesn't latch is usually due to an obstruction that is blocking it. It could be as simple as dirt getting stuck in the latch or the latch could be defective.
You can check whether this is the situation by examining the strike plate (the metal piece that is placed against the frame on the inside of the door). If there is a small metal tab protruding from the strike plate, tap it gently using a screwdriver, then hammer to bend it slightly to open the hole in the plate, allowing bolts can be dropped into the door more easily.
A latch that is stuck could be the result of improper installation or a poor alignment. Lubricating the latch will help it work better, but will not fix alignment issues.
If you don't have a strikeplate it's easy to install one. You'll need to take the body of the lock from the door (the part that screws into the door frame) and then replace the whole lock assembly with a brand new one. You will need a phillips-head screwdriver and a power drill to do this, but it's not a major task.
It is recommended to lubricate the new lock especially the cylinder regularly to ensure that it works as well as possible. You can use silicone or graphite lubricant for this. Apply the lubricant to the key, then turn it several times slowly until the cylinder is able to move freely.
A double-cylinder deadbolt can be more secure than the standard deadbolt when it pertains to French doors. A simple twist lock on the handle won't be enough to keep intruders out and a standard deadbolt with an internal thumb-turn of the door can be beaten by breaking the glass and reaching in through it.
How to fix a French door that won't latch
Most often, the issue is caused by the door latch not connecting to the strike plate hole. It is often caused by sliding hinges. However, it can be due to a problem with the latch position or the latch itself. You can use lipstick, or another similar marker, to identify which is the culprit. This mark will help determine the cause of the issue. For example when the mark is below the strike plate then it's probably the hinges. If it's higher, then it could be the latch position.
When installing handles or an entirely new lock mechanism for an external French Door it's important that the latch and strike plate holes are properly aligned. This is especially true when one door has been closed for a long period of time. In that time the door might have moved. This is most common for composite or timber doors as they are susceptible to expand or contract according to the weather and the environment.
To correct this issue, first remove the lock latch from the active door's edge. Then, remove the locking strip from the handle. Utilizing a sharp chisel the hammer and a chisel expand the strike plate hole within the door frame. This allows you to place the latch in a more suitable position for the door. When the door is closed it will close without catching on the frame.
Once visit the next post for the latch has been expanded, insert the new latch on the strike plate and screw it in. Next, re-adjust the strike plate with the hammer and screw until it is in a more appropriate position, then test the door. Make any adjustments needed.
Another common problem with external French Doors is that the lock's cylinder isn't able to turn. This could be due to obstructions or wear and tear, but it is usually easy to fix. Most of the time, the lock is obstructed or the pins within the cylinder are worn. It's worth a try to see if a simple clean can help. If the issue is not resolved, it is often required to replace the entire lock cylinder.
Repairing a French Door That Won't Open
If your French doors aren't locking, the problem is most likely due to dirt and debris obstructing the mechanism of the lock. Checking that the door frame is free of debris and there is nothing blocking the locking system is the first thing you need to do. It could be that the French door frame and French door aren't aligned properly. This could cause the door to drag onto the frame and ultimately result in jamming.
The lock mechanism is simple. A key rotates a spindle, which then moves the bolt upwards and downwards on a rail. If the handle is moving but the bolt doesn't, then something is stuck. It could be that the lock's mechanics aren't working or it could require lubrication. Make use of a silicone spray. It will come with a nozzle that you can use to direct the lubricant directly into the mechanism. Spray liberally and rotate the handle to ensure that the lubricant has gotten to all of the mechanisms.
It is also possible to change the location of the latch on the French door. This is a simple task and is typically done from the outside of the door. If you're French doors are brand new, you will most likely be in a position to screw the handle and latch in place without difficulty. If they're old then you'll be required to mark the positions of the holes for the handles on the door and the latch on the frame of the door with a template provided with the lock kit. Then, you'll need to drill the hole for the handle or knob at the right height (commonly about 36 inches from the floor) and then drill a smaller hole on the door's edge to install the latch.
Once the hole is dug, you must make sure that the latch plate is set over the strike plate of the door frame. If the latch plate does not fit correctly the deadbolt won't retract into strike plate when you pull the lock lever. The latch plate will then have to be screwed in the correct position.
How do fix an French door that isn't closing
The latch on a French Door may become stuck and not close. This can render the doors inoperable. There's usually a simple fix for this but it can involve removal of one of the doors, especially in the case of heavy doors. In most cases the problem is that the latch is not aligned or with the strike plate or with the door jamb or both. It might also be that the dead bolt isn't being extended or fully retracted. Misalignment can occur as time passes because of weather or settling.
It is sometimes difficult to open a door that is stuck. To fix this, loosen the screws holding the hinge to the frame and then add some shims so the door is raised or lowered. This will allow the latch to be closer to the lock mechanism and fix the problem.
Similarly, if the latch isn't able to get into position with the strike plate hole on the door jamb typically, you can fix it by loosening the screw that holds the strike plate and using an electric or metal planer to cut away some of the edge of the plate until the latch is able to fit. If needed, you may also need to remove the strike plate in order to make the hole.
Another issue that is common to French doors is that the locks don't engage properly. If you have a newer lock this could indicate an issue with the cylinder that locks. You'll need to take off the lock and inspect it for visible obstructions or damage, and if it's not functioning properly, you might require replacing it.
If you have an older door with a draft coming in, consider replacing the old weatherstripping around the outside of the doors. This will provide a tight seal and help keep the doors from slipping or locking incorrectly. You can also add door sweeps to ensure that all of the gaps that could be created are sealed. If you choose to do this, be sure that the sweeps are placed on both sides of the door and that the sweeps overlap with each other at the bottom.