Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement When it comes to locking your french doors, you want to ensure that they're safe. You can accomplish this by selecting a lock that will ensure your door is secure without obstructing airflow or affecting the aesthetic look of your room. French door locks typically have three-point locking systems 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 system is difficult to crack. How do you fix a French door that won't lock It can be a significant security risk if your doors don't lock or latch properly. This could be an indication of a serious issue such as a broken locking cylinder. But don't worry, the issue can be solved with just a few steps. Most often, doors that don't close is because of an obstruction that blocks the latch. It could be as simple as dirt stuck in the latch or the latch could be defective. You can check if 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 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 seized could be due to improper installation or a poor alignment. Lubricating the latch may help it work better, but it will not solve issues with the way it lines up with the strike plate. If you do not have a strike plate it's easy to install one. It is necessary to remove the body of the lock from the door (the part that is screwed into the frame of the door) and replace the entire lock with a new one. You will need a phillips-head screwdriver and a power drill for this, but it is not a daunting task. It is a good idea to ensure that the lock is lubricated especially the cylinder regularly to make sure it works as well as it can. You can use silicone or graphite lubricant to do this. Apply the lubricant onto the key, and then turn it several times until the cylinder is able to move freely. A double-cylinder deadbolt is better than an ordinary deadbolt when is used on French doors. A simple lock that twists the handle won't be enough to keep intruders out, and a standard deadbolt that has a thumb-turn on the inside of the door could be defeated by breaking the glass and then reaching in through it. How to fix the problem of a French door that isn't latching The problem is often caused by the latch of the door not engaging properly with the hole in the strike plate. This is typically due to hinges that are sagging, however it can also be due to the position of the latch or the latch itself. You could use a marker, such as lipstick, or a similar marker, to determine which one is responsible. This mark will help you identify the root of the issue. For example, if the mark is below the strike plate then it's probably the hinges. If it's higher it could be the position of the latch. When installing handles or the new lock mechanism on an external French Door it's important that the latch and strike plate holes are properly aligned. This is especially true in the event that one door was closed for a long amount of time. During this time the door could be a little shifted. This is particularly common with composite and timber doors, because they are prone to expansion or contraction based on the weather conditions or the surrounding environment. To correct this issue, first remove the latch from the active door's edge and unscrew the locking strip from the handle. With a chisel that is sharp, the hammer and a chisel make a larger hole for the strike plate in the door frame. This will allow you to put the latch in a better position for the door. When the door is shut, it will close without catching the frame. After the hole in the latch is increased, insert the new latch on the strike plate and screw it into. Then, adjust the strike plate with the hammer, screw and nut until it is in the proper position. Test the door. Make any adjustments needed. Another issue that is common to external French Doors is that the lock cylinder won't turn. This could be caused by debris or simply wear and tear, however it's usually easy to fix. The lock may be obstructed or the pins of the cylinder worn. It's worth trying to see if a quick clean can make a difference. If the issue persists it could be necessary to replace the lock cylinder. Repairing a French Door That Won't Open If your French doors won't lock the way you want them to, it's most likely due to dirt and debris obstructing the mechanism for locking. Making sure that the frame is clean and there is nothing obstructing the locking system is the first thing you need to do. There might also be a problem with the alignment of the French door and its frame. This could cause the door to sway over the frame, which can eventually result in jamming. The mechanism behind the lock is fairly simple. The key rotates a spindle which then moves a bolt back-and-forth on a rail. If the handle turns but the bolt doesn't move this could mean that something is stuck. There could be a problem with the mechanics of the lock itself or it could just need lubricating. Try using https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/nottingham-french-door-repairs-near-me/ . It comes with a pipe that you can use to channel the lubricant into the mechanism of the lock. Spray liberally then turn the handle to ensure that all parts of the lock mechanism are well-lubricated. It is also possible to adjust the position of the latch on the French door. It is generally possible to do this from outside. If you're French doors are new and brand new, you'll be in a position to screw the latch and handle in the right position without a problem. If they are old you'll have to mark the locations 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. The hole to install the knob/handle at the correct height. This is usually about 36 inches above the floor. Then, you can drill smaller holes on the outside of the doors for 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 it doesn't then the deadbolt might not retract into the strike plate when you pull the lever for locking. Finally, you will have to screw the latch plate into place. How to fix a French Door That Won't Close The latch on the latch of a French Door may become stuck and not close. This renders the doors inoperable. There's usually a simple solution to this, but it could require taking down one of the doors, particularly when they're heavy. In most cases, the latch is not aligned properly with the strike plate, jamb of the door, or both. The dead bolt may not be fully extended or retractable. The misalignment can happen with time, due to weather, or from shifting of the house. It can be difficult to open doors that are stuck. To resolve this issue take off the screws that secure the hinge to the frame and then, add shims that allow the door to be raised or reduced. This will make the latch closer to lock mechanism and solve the issue. If the latch isn't able to fit inside the hole of the strike plate, you can fix it by loosening up the screw that holds the strike plate, and then using a metal planer or electric file to trim the edges until the latch fits. It may also mean taking off the strike plate and then chiseling out the hole to make it bigger if required. The locks on French doors often fail to engage properly. This could indicate 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 obvious obstructions or damage and if it's not functioning properly, you might require replacing it. If you have an older door that has a draught coming in, consider replacing the old weatherstripping around the exterior of the door. This will form a tight seal and stop the doors from catching. You can also add door sweeps to ensure that all the possible gaps are closed. If you do this, make sure that the sweeps are placed on both sides of the door, and that they overlap with each other at the bottom.