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Fixing French Door Locking Mechanism Replacement

When you lock your french doors, you want to ensure they're secure. This can be achieved by choosing locks that keep your door safe without blocking airflow or affecting the appearance of your home.

French door locks typically come with three-point locking systems, which includes flush bolts on the upper and lower edges each door panel and a lockset for the door that can be opened. This lockset is very hard to break.

How to fix an French door that isn't locking

It can be a significant security risk if your doors don't lock or latch correctly. It could also be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken locking cylinder. But french door glass replacement shoreham-by-sea can resolve the issue in just a few steps.

Most often, doors that don't lock is because there is an obstruction that is blocking the latch. It could be as simple as a small piece of dirt that has gotten stuck in the lock or it could be a problem with the latch itself.

You can check if this is the situation by examining the strike plate (the metal piece that rests against the frame on the inside of the door). If there is a small metal tab protruding from the strike plate, gently tap it with a screwdriver and hammer it to bend it slightly, this will open the hole in the plate, allowing the bolt can drop into the door more easily.

A seized latch is usually caused by a poor alignment or installation. Lubricating the latch can make it function better, but it will not solve issues with how it aligns with the strike plate.

If you do not have a strike plate, it is easy to install one. You will need to remove the lock body from the door (the part that attaches to the frame of the door) and replace the entire lock assembly with a new one. This is a straightforward job that requires a Phillips head screwdriver as well as a power drill.

It is recommended to ensure that the lock is lubricated, especially the cylinder, frequently to ensure it works as well as it can. Utilize a lubricant made of graphite or silicone for this. Apply the lubricant to the key, then rotate it several times slowly until the cylinder can move freely.

A double-cylinder deadbolt is more secure than an ordinary deadbolt when comes to French doors. A simple lock that twists the handle won't be enough to stop intruders from entering, and a standard deadbolt that has a thumb-turn on the inside of the door could be beaten by breaking the glass and gaining access in through it.

How do fix a French door that won't latch

The issue is usually caused by the door latch not properly engaging with the strike plate hole. This is typically due to hinges that are sagging, but it could be due to the location of the latch or the latch itself. To help identify which one causes the problem, use lipstick or a similar marker to pinpoint where the latch is in contact with the strike plate. This mark will help you 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 above, then it could be the position of the latch.

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 aligned correctly. This is particularly true when a door has been closed for an extended period of time. In that time the door might have moved a little. This is especially common with composite and timber doors, as they are susceptible to contraction or expansion based on the weather conditions or the surrounding environment.

To fix this issue, remove the latch on the edge of the door that is active and unscrew it from the handle. Utilizing a sharp chisel 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 position for the door and when the door is shut and opened it will close smoothly without catching or rubbing on the frame.

After the latch hole is enlarged, place the new latch inside the strike plate and screw it into. Next, re-adjust the strike plate using the screw and hammer until it is in the correct position, then test the door. Make any adjustments needed.

Another issue with external French Doors is that the lock's cylinder doesn't turn. This can be due damage or wear and tear. However, it's usually an easy fix. Most of the time, the lock is blocked or the pins inside the cylinder are worn. A simple cleaning can make a huge difference in the performance of the mechanism, and it's definitely worth giving this a try. If the problem persists it's usually necessary to replace the entire lock cylinder.

How to fix an French door that won't open

If your French door isn't locking because of dirt or debris, it is likely that the mechanism is obstructed. The first thing you need to do is to check that the frame of the door is free of obstructions and that nothing is blocking the mechanism that locks. It is possible that the French door frame and the French door aren't aligned properly. This can cause the door to drag onto the frame and ultimately lead to jamming.


The lock mechanism itself is quite simple - the key turns a spindle that then moves a bolt back and forth on a rail. If the handle moves but the bolt doesn't there is a problem, then something is not working. There could be a problem with the mechanics of the lock itself, or it may just require some lubrication. Make use of a silicone spray. It will come with a nozzle that you can use to direct lubricant directly into the mechanisms. Spray generously and then turn the handle to ensure that the lubricant has gotten to all parts of the mechanism.

You might also need to adjust the position of the latch on the French door. It is usually possible to do this from the outside. If your French doors were just installed, you should be able screw the latch and handle into place with no problem. If your French doors are older, you will have to use the template included in the lock kit to mark the location where the holes for the handle on the door and latch on the frame must be. Then, you'll need to drill the hole for the handle or knob at the right height (commonly about 36 inches from floor) and then make a smaller hole along the door's edge for the latch.

After the hole has been drilled it is important to check that the latch plate is positioned correctly over the strike plate on the door frame. If this doesn't fit, then the deadbolt may not retract into the strike plate when you pull the lock lever. In the end, you'll have to screw the latch plate in place.

How do you fix an French door that won't shut

Sometimes, the latch on the latch of a French door can become stuck, and it won't close, making the doors unusable. This is usually a straightforward issue to fix, but it could require you to remove one of the doors that are heavy. Most of the time the latch isn't aligned correctly with the strike plate, the jamb on the door, or both. The dead bolt may not be fully extended or extended or. The misalignment could occur in the course of time because of weather or settling.

If the latch is stuck, it may be difficult to open, however it's generally easy to solve the issue by loosening the screws holding the hinge to the frame, and then inserting shims to make the door a bit higher or lower. This will allow the latch to be closer to the lock mechanism and solve the issue.

If the latch does not fit into the strike plate hole you can repair it by loosening the screw holding the strike plate, and then using an electric or metal file to cut off some of the edges until the latch is able to fit. If needed, you may also need to remove the strike plate to cut out the hole.

Another common problem with French doors is that the locks do not engage correctly. This could indicate an issue with the cylinder that locks if you're using a more recent lock system. If the lock is not working properly, you'll have remove it and look for visible damage.

If you have an older door that has a draught coming in, consider replacing the weatherstripping that was used on the outside of the door. This will create a tight seal, and prevent the doors from catching. You can also put in door sweeps to ensure that all of the gaps you might encounter are sealed. If you decide to do this, make sure that you place the sweeps on both sides of the door and ensure that the sweeps overlap at the bottom.

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