What Can A Weekly French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement Project Can Change Your Life Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement

You want to lock your french doors with security. You can accomplish this by selecting a lock that will ensure your door is secure without blocking airflow or impacting the appearance of your home.

French door locks typically have three-point locking, which includes flush bolts on the upper and lower edges each door panel and the door's lockset that can be opened. This lock is extremely hard to break.


How to fix a French Door that isn't Locking

It could be a major safety issue in the event that your doors do not lock or latch correctly. This could be a sign of a major issue such as a broken locking cylinder. Don't worry, the problem can be solved with just a few steps.

The majority of the time, a door that won't lock is due to an obstruction blocking the latch. It could be as simple as dirt getting stuck in the latch, or the latch may be defective.

You can determine whether this is the situation by looking at the strike plate (the metal piece that rests against the frame on the side of the door). If there is a tiny metal stub sticking out from the strike plate gently tap it using a screwdriver to bend it. This will let the bolt slide in more easily.

A seized latch can be caused by incorrect installation or an improper alignment. Lubricating the latch will help it to work better, but will not fix issues with alignment.

If you don't have a strikeplate, it is easy to install one. You will need to remove the body of the lock from the door (the part that screws into the door frame) and replace the complete lock with a new one. You will need a phillips-head screwdriver and an electric drill for this, but it's not a major task.

To make sure that the lock operates effectively it is a good practice to regularly lubricate it, particularly the cylinder. You can use graphite or silicone-based oil to do this. Apply the lubricant onto the key, then rotate it several times slowly until the cylinder is able to move freely.

It's recommended to get double-cylinder deadbolts for your French doors, instead of simply a standard deadbolt. A simple twist lock on the handle won't be enough to stop intruders from entering, and a standard deadbolt with an inside-facing thumb-turn of the door can be defeated by breaking the glass and reaching in through it.

Repairing a French Door that isn't latching

Most often, the issue is caused by the door latch not working with the strike plate hole. This is usually caused by sagging hinges however it can be due to the location of the latch or the latch itself. You could use a marker, such as lipstick, or another similar marker, to identify which is the culprit. This mark can help you determine the source of the problem. For instance when the mark is below the strike plate then it's probably the hinges. If it's above it could be the latch position.

It is important to be sure to align the strike plate and latch holes when installing handles or the lock mechanism on the French Door. This is especially true when a door has been closed for an extended period of time. During this time the door could have moved slightly. This is especially common with wooden or composite doors since they are prone to contraction or expansion according to the weather and the environment.

To correct this, first remove the latch from the door's edge and unscrew the locking strip from the handle. Then with a chisel that is sharp and hammer, increase the strike plate hole in the door frame. This will allow the latch to be placed in a more suitable position for the door and when the door is closed and opened, it will close without catching or rubbing on the frame.

Once the latch hole has been enlarged, carefully place the new latch into the strike plate hole and screw it into. Then, adjust the strike plate with the hammer, screw and nut until it is in the right position. Test the door. Make any necessary adjustments.

Another issue with external French Doors is that the lock's cylinder isn't able to turn. This can be caused by debris or simply wear and tear, but it is usually easy to resolve. The lock may be obstructed or the pins of the cylinder are worn. A simple cleaning can make a huge difference in the performance of the mechanism, so it's well worth giving this an attempt. If the issue is not resolved, it is often required to replace the entire lock cylinder.

How do you fix an French door that won't let you open

If your French doors do not lock the way you want, the issue is most likely due to dirt and debris obstructing the lock mechanism. Checking that the door frame is clear and that there is nothing blocking the locking mechanism is the first thing you need to do. There could be a problem with the alignment of the French door and its frame. This could cause the door to slide over the frame, which can eventually cause jamming.

The lock mechanism itself is quite simple - the key rotates a spindle, which is then able to move a bolt back and forth on a rail. If replacing french door glass is moving but the bolt does not it means that something is stuck. There could be a problem with the mechanics of the lock itself or it might just need lubricating. Try using a silicone spray. It will come with a pipe you can use to direct the lubricant into the mechanism of the lock. Spray liberally then turn the handle to ensure that all parts of the lock mechanism are lubricated.

There is also the possibility of having to adjust where the latch is located on the French door. This is a simple task and is usually done from the outside of the door. If you're French doors were just installed they should be able to screw the handle and latch in the right position without any difficulty. If your French doors are older, you'll need to use the template that comes with the lock kit to mark the location where the holes for the handle on the door and the latch on the frame need to be. Then, you'll need to drill the hole for the handle/knob at the proper height (commonly approximately 36 inches above the floor) and then make a smaller hole along the door's edge for the latch.

Once the hole has been made, you must make sure that the latch plate is set over the strike plate of the door frame. If it's not the deadbolt, it may not retract into the strike plate when you push the lock lever. The latch plate will require to be screwed into place.

Fixing a French Door that won't close

The latch on the latch on a French Door can get stuck and can't be closed. This can render the doors inoperable. This is usually a straightforward issue to resolve, but it could require the removal of one of the heavy doors. In the majority of cases, the issue is that the latch is not aligned either with the strike plate or with the jamb of the door or both. It might also be that the dead bolt isn't being extended or retracted completely. It is possible to have misalignment over time because of weather or settling.

It can be difficult to open a door that is stuck. To solve this issue you need to loosen the screws that hold the hinge to the frame, and then, add shims to make the door raised or lowered. This will get the latch closer to the lock mechanism, and will solve the problem.

If the latch does not fit inside the strike plate hole you can solve the issue by loosening the screw that holds the strike plate, and using an electric or metal file to cut off some of the edges until the latch fits. If necessary, you may also have to remove the strike plate to make the hole.

The locks on French doors often fail to latch properly. This could be a sign of a problem in the locking cylinder, especially if you're using a more recent lock system. If the lock isn't working properly, you'll have take it off and examine for any visible damage.

If you have an older door that has a draught entering, you can replace the weatherstripping on the outside of the doors. This will create a secure seal and stop the doors from sagging. Door sweeps can be used to fill in any gaps. Install the sweeps on both the top and bottom of the door.