7 Essential Tips For Making The Best Use Of Your French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement

You'll want to secure your french doors securely. This can be done by selecting locks that keep your door secure without restricting airflow or affecting the aesthetics of your space.

French door locks typically come with a three-point locking system that includes flush bolts on the upper and lower edges of each door panel, and a lockset for the door that can be opened. This type of lock isn't easy to crack.

How to fix a French Door That Won't Lock

If your doors aren't locking or latch properly, it could be a major safety issue. It could also be a sign of a bigger issue like a damaged or broken locking cylinder. But don't despair it is possible to fix the issue with just a few steps.

A door that won't latch is usually because of obstructions that block it. This could be as simple as a small piece of dirt that has gotten stuck in the lock, or it could be an issue with the latch itself.

If you look at the strike plate (the metal piece on the side of the doors that rests against the frame), you can see if it is true. If you notice a tiny tab of metal protruding out from the strike plate, gently tap it with a screwdriver until it bends it. This will allow the bolt to slide into the door more easily.

A latch that is stuck can be caused by incorrect installation or a poor alignment. Lubricating the latch may help it function better, but it doesn't solve the issue of how it lines up with the strike plate.

If you don't have a strike plate it's simple to install one. The lock body (the part that screws in the door frame) must be removed from the door and the lock assembly replaced. This is a simple job that requires a phillips head screwdriver as well as a power drill.

It is a good idea to ensure that the lock is lubricated especially the cylinder regularly to ensure that it functions as efficiently as it can. You can use graphite or silicone-based lubricant for this. Apply the lubricant on the key, then turn it several times slowly until the cylinder is able to move freely.

It's recommended to purchase double-cylinder deadbolts for your French doors, instead of simply a standard deadbolt. A simple lock that twists the handle isn't enough to keep intruders out and a standard deadbolt with an internal thumb-turn of the door could be beaten by breaking the glass and reaching into the door.

Repairing a French Door that isn't latching

Often the issue is caused by the door latch not properly engaging with the strike plate hole. It is often caused by sagging hinges. However, it can also be due to an issue with the position of the latch or the latch itself. You could use a marker, such as lipstick, or another similar marker to determine which one is responsible. The location of the mark will help determine the source of the issue For instance, if it contacts below the strike plate hole, then hinges could be the probable cause, but if it is above then the position of the latch could be the reason.

It is important to ensure that the strike plate is aligned with the latch holes when installing handles or a lock mechanism on a French Door. This is particularly true when a door has been closed for a prolonged period of time. In that time the door might have moved. This is most common for composite and timber doors, since they are prone to expansion or contraction depending on the weather conditions or the surrounding environment.

To fix this, remove the latch at the top of the active door and remove it from the handle. Utilizing a sharp chisel the hammer and a chisel expand the strike plate hole within the door frame. This will permit the latch to be put in a more suitable location for the door and when the door is closed and opened, it will close smoothly without rubbing or catching the frame.

After the latch hole is expanded, insert the new latch on the strike plate and screw it in. Then, adjust the strike plate with the screw and hammer until it is in a more appropriate position, and then check the door. Make any necessary adjustments.

Another issue that is common to external French Doors is that the lock cylinder won't turn. This could be due to dirt or wear and tear, but it's usually easy to resolve. Often the lock is simply obstructed or the pins within the cylinder are worn. It's worth a shot to see if a simple cleaning can help. If the problem persists it could be necessary to replace the lock cylinder.

How do fix an French door that won't open

If your French doors aren't locking the way you want them to, it's most likely caused by dirt and debris obstructing the mechanism for locking. The first thing you should take is to ensure that the frame of the door is free of obstructions and nothing is blocking the mechanism that locks. There could be www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk with the alignment of the French door and its frame. This can cause the door to slide onto the frame and ultimately lead to jamming.

The lock mechanism is straightforward. A key rotates a spindle, which then moves the bolt up and down on a rail. If the handle moves, but the bolt does not it means that something is stuck. It could be that the lock's mechanics are faulty or it might need lubricating. Try using a silicone spray. It will come with a pipe can be used to direct the lubricant into the mechanisms of the lock. Spray the spray liberally and then rotate the handle to ensure the lubricant has reached all of the mechanisms.

It is also possible to change the position 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 able to screw the latch and handle into place without any problem. If your French doors are older, you will need to use the templates that comes with the lock kit to mark the locations where the holes for the handle on the door and the latch on the frame must be. Then drill the hole for the handle or knob at the right height (commonly approximately 36 inches above the floor) and then make a smaller hole along the edge of the door for the latch.

Once the hole is drilled, you need to make sure that the latch plate is correctly positioned over the strike plate of the door frame. If it's not the deadbolt, it may not retract into the strike plate when you pull the lever to lock. The latch plate will then require to be screwed into the correct position.

How do you fix the problem of a French door that isn't closing

Sometimes, the latch on the latch of a French door can become stuck, and it won't close, making the doors ineffective. There's usually a simple fix for this however it may require removal of one of the doors, especially in the case of heavy doors. The most common cause is that the latch isn't aligned either with the strike plate or with the jamb on the door, or both. It could also be because the dead bolt isn't fully extended or retracted completely. The misalignment can happen in time, as a result of weather conditions, or due to the settling of the house.

It can be difficult to open the door if it is stuck. To resolve this issue take off the screws that secure the hinge to the frame, and then, add shims so the door is raised or reduced. This will make the latch closer to the lock mechanism and fix the problem.

If the latch isn't able to fit in the strike plate hole you can repair it by loosening the screw that holds the strike plate, and using an electric or metal file to cut off some of the edge until the latch fits. If you need to, you might have to take off the strike plate to make the hole.


Another issue that is common to French doors is that locks don't engage properly. This could be due to a problem in the locking cylinder if you're using a more recent lock system. It is necessary to remove the lock and examine it for visible damage or obstructions and if it's not working properly you may need to replace it.

Replace the weatherstripping that was installed on the outside of a door that is older if you notice drafts coming in. This will create a secure seal and keep the doors from slipping or locking improperly. Door sweeps can be added to close any gaps. If you decide to do this, make sure that you place the sweeps on both sides of the door, and that the sweeps overlap with each other at the bottom.