Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement You want to lock your french doors securely. This can be achieved by selecting a lock that keeps your door secure without blocking airflow or affecting the aesthetics of your space. French door locks are typically a three-point lock system which includes flush bolts at the upper and lower edges of each door panel, and a lockset on the operable door. This type of lock isn't easy to penetrate. Fixing a French Door that won't lock If your doors won't lock or don't latch properly, it can be a major safety issue. It could also be a sign of a major issue like a damaged locking cylinder. But don't despair you can resolve the issue in a few simple steps. Most often, a door that won't lock is due to an obstruction that blocks the latch. It could be as simple as dirt getting stuck in the latch, or the latch may be defective. You can confirm whether this is the situation by looking at the strike plate (the metal piece that is placed against the frame on the side of the door). If you see a tiny metal tab sticking out of the strike plate, tap it gently with a screwdriver and hammer it to bend it slightly, this will make the hole in the plate and allow bolts can be dropped into the door more easily. A seized latch can be caused by incorrect installation or an improper alignment. Lubricating the latch will allow it to work better, but it won't solve alignment issues. If you don't have a strike plate it's simple to install one. You will need to remove the lock body from the door (the part that screws into the door frame) and replace the entire lock assembly with a new one. This is a straightforward job that requires a phillips-head screwdriver and a power drill. To ensure that the lock functions as efficiently as it can, it is a good practice to lubricate it frequently, particularly the cylinder. Utilize a lubricant made of graphite or silicone for this. Apply the lubricant to the cylinder and then turn it slowly several times until the cylinder moves freely. A double-cylinder deadbolt can be more secure than an ordinary deadbolt when comes to French doors. A simple twist lock on the handle isn't enough to keep intruders out, and a standard deadbolt that has an internal thumb-turn of the door could be beaten by breaking the glass and then reaching into the door. Fixing a French Door that isn't latching The issue is often caused by the latch of the door not connecting correctly with the hole in the strike plate. This is usually caused by sagging hinges but it could be due to the position of the latch or the latch itself. To determine which of these is the culprit you can use a lipstick or similar marker to determine where the latch makes contact with the strike plate hole. This mark will help determine the cause of the problem. For example when the mark is below the strike plate then it's likely the hinges. If it's higher, then it could be the latch position. When installing handles or the new lock mechanism on an external French Door it's important that the latch and strike plate holes are aligned correctly. This is particularly important if one door has been closed for a long amount of time. In this period the door might have moved a bit. This is particularly common with wooden or composite doors since they are prone to expand or contract in response to weather conditions and the environment. To correct this, first remove the lock latch from the door's edge. Then, remove the locking strip from the handle. Then using a sharp chisel and hammer, you can increase the strike plate hole in the door frame. This will allow you to put the latch in a more suitable position for the door. When the door is shut, it will close without catching on the frame. After the latch hole is expanded, insert the new latch inside the strike plate and screw it in. Then, adjust the strike plate using the screw, hammer and nut until it is in the proper position. Test the door. Make any adjustments that are needed. The lock cylinder on external French Doors won't turn. This can be caused by debris or simply wear and tear, but it's usually easy to fix. Most of the time, the lock is blocked or the pins inside the cylinder are worn. A simple clean can make a big difference in the performance of the mechanism, and it's definitely worth giving this the go-ahead. If the problem persists it's often necessary to replace the entire lock cylinder. How do you fix an French door that won't open If your French doors aren't locking the way you want, the issue is most likely caused by dirt and debris blocking the mechanism of the lock. The first thing you need to do is check the frame of the door is clear of obstructions and that there is nothing blocking the mechanism that locks. There might also be an issue with the alignment of the French door and its frame. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/chelmsford-french-door-repairs-near-me/ could cause the French door to move against the frame, which can result in jamming. The lock mechanism is straightforward. A key rotates a spindle, which then moves the bolt upwards and downwards on a rail. If the handle turns but the bolt doesn't move, this means that something is stuck. It could be that the lock's mechanics aren't working, or it may just require lubrication. Try using a silicone spray - it will come with a pipe can be used to direct the lubricant into the mechanism of the lock. Spray liberally and rotate the handle to ensure the lubricant is reaching all of the mechanisms. You may also have to alter the position of the latch on the French door. It is generally possible to do this from the outside. If your French doors are just installed and you are able to fix the latch and handle 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 drill the hole for the handle or knob at the correct height (commonly approximately 36 inches above the floor) and then make a smaller hole along the edge of the door to install the latch. After the hole has been dug, you must make sure that the latch plate is positioned over the strike plate of the door frame. If this doesn't fit, then the deadbolt may not retract into the strike plate when you pull the lever for locking. The latch plate will then need to be screwed into place. Repairing a French Door that isn't closing Sometimes the latch on a French door is stuck and it can't be closed, rendering the doors ineffective. There's usually a simple fix for this but it can involve removal of one of the doors, in particular when they're heavy. In the majority of cases, the issue is that the latch isn't aligned or with the strike plate or with the jamb on the door, or both. The dead bolt might not be fully extended or extended or. Misalignment happens over time, due to weather conditions or the settlement of the house. It can be 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 that allow the door to be raised or lowered. This will allow the latch to be closer to lock mechanism and resolve the issue. If the latch doesn't fit in the hole of the strike plate, you can solve the issue by loosening the screw that holds the strike plate, and then using an electric or a metal file to trim the edges until the latch fits. If necessary, you may have to take off the strike plate in order to cut out the hole. The locks on French doors can sometimes fail to latch properly. This could be due to a problem in the locking cylinder, especially if you're using a newer lock system. You'll need to remove the lock and check it for visible obstructions or damage and if it's not working properly you may require replacing it. If you have an older door that has a draft entering, you can replace the weatherstripping that was used on the exterior of the door. This will create a secure seal and will to keep the doors from sticking or locking improperly. You can also add door sweeps to ensure that all the gaps that could be created are sealed. Install the sweeps on both the top and bottom of the door.