Once you understand what each hinge screw does, most door niggles take minutes to sort. Knowing how to adjust a new uPVC door or a composite one puts you in control of the small tweaks that keep it swinging sweetly, whether it is rubbing, dropping or letting in a draught. This guide explains the three directions of adjustment and how to use each.
Why doors need adjusting
Even a perfectly fitted door moves over time. The frame and wall shift a little with the seasons, the door settles on its hinges, and heat expands the materials in summer. A brand new door often needs its first adjustment once it has bedded in, which is normal rather than a sign of a fault. The trick is knowing which way to turn things.
Know your hinges
Most modern uPVC and composite doors hang on adjustable flag hinges, the tall cylindrical hinges you can usually adjust in all three directions with an Allen key. Older doors may have butt or T hinges with fewer adjustment points. Pop off any plastic caps on your hinges and you will see the adjustment screws underneath. It is worth taking a photo first so you remember your starting point.
The three axes of adjustment
This is the part that makes everything else make sense. Flag hinges move the door in three directions, and each one cures a different fault.
Height (up and down)
The height screw lifts or drops the whole door on its hinges.
- Use it when: the door has dropped and drags on the threshold or catches at the bottom of the latch side.
- How: turn the height adjustment screw a quarter turn at a time, doing each hinge evenly, until the door lifts clear.
Lateral (side to side)
The lateral screw moves the door left or right within the frame.
- Use it when: the door rubs on one side, or the latch does not line up with the keep.
- How: shift the door away from the edge it is rubbing on, testing after each small turn so the gaps stay even down both sides.
Compression (in and out)
The compression adjustment pulls the door tighter against the weather seals or eases it off them.
- Use it when: you feel a draught (pull the door in) or the door is too stiff to lock (ease it off).
- How: adjust in small steps and check the door still locks smoothly, since too much compression makes the handle hard to lift.
A simple order to work in
If a door has more than one issue, tackle them in this order for the easiest result:
- Height first, so the door sits at the right level and stops dragging.
- Lateral next, so the gaps down each side are even and the latch lines up.
- Compression last, to seal out draughts once everything else is squared up.
Always make small quarter-turn adjustments and close the door to test between each. Big turns overshoot and leave you chasing the fault back and forth.
Adjusting the keeps too
Sometimes the door is fine but the lock still will not engage cleanly. In that case the keeps (the metal plates on the frame the bolts drop into) need a nudge. Look for shiny marks where the bolts are catching, loosen the keep screws, move it a millimetre or two, and retighten. On a multipoint lock, check every hook and roller engages, not just the main latch.
What not to do
- Do not force a stiff lock. If the handle will not lift, adjust the door or keeps rather than forcing it, or you risk snapping the gearbox.
- Do not plane a composite door. Cutting through the outer skin exposes the core and voids the guarantee.
- Do not overtighten the compression. A door crushed into its seals is hard to lock and wears the gasket out faster.
When to call a professional
Hinge and keep adjustments cover the vast majority of door problems. If the door still will not sit right after careful adjustment, a hinge is worn or pulling from the frame, or the lock feels gritty and will not throw, it is time for a professional. A frame that has moved with the building needs correcting properly, not endless tweaking.
We are happy to sort it. Our window and door repairs in York cover hinge and lock adjustments across York and North Yorkshire. If you are weighing up a replacement, our uPVC doors in York and composite doors in York pages show the full range.
FAQs
How do I adjust a new uPVC door that is rubbing?
Use the lateral adjustment on the flag hinges to move the door away from the edge it is rubbing on, making quarter-turn changes with an Allen key and testing after each. Keep the gaps even down both sides.
What are the three hinge adjustments on a uPVC or composite door?
Height (up and down) to lift a dropped door, lateral (side to side) to fix rubbing and lock alignment, and compression (in and out) to tighten against draughts or ease a stiff door. Most flag hinges adjust in all three.
Why does my new door need adjusting already?
New doors settle on their hinges and the frame and wall move a little as they bed in, so a first adjustment soon after fitting is normal. Heat expansion in warm weather can also mean a small tweak.
How do I fix a draught around a uPVC door?
Use the compression adjustment to pull the door tighter against the seals, then check it still locks easily. If the rubber gasket is flattened or perished, replace it, as no adjustment cures a failed seal.
Which hinge adjustment stops a door dropping?
The height adjustment. Turn the height screw on each hinge a quarter turn at a time, evenly, to lift the door back to level so it stops dragging on the threshold or the frame.
Prefer a fresh door fitted and adjusted properly? Download our latest brochure to browse the range, or request a free quote and we will pop out for a look.