A door that catches on the frame or will not latch is one of the most common jobs we get called about. When a PVC double door won't close, it is usually because the door has dropped slightly or the frame has shifted, and both are often adjustable at home. This guide walks through the checks and fixes, and shows you where the line is between a quick tweak and a specialist job.
Before you reach for a screwdriver, watch the door as it swings shut and note where it goes wrong.
Knowing the symptom tells you which adjustment to try first, so you are not turning screws at random.
Most uPVC and composite door hinges can be adjusted in more than one direction using an Allen key or screwdriver, depending on the hinge type. The three movements are height (up and down), lateral (side to side) and compression (in and out).
If you have flag hinges (the tall, barrel-shaped type common on newer doors), there is often a cap you pop off to reach the screws. Take a photo before you start so you know your starting point.
If the door swings shut fine but will not latch or lock, the problem is usually alignment between the lock and the keeps on the frame.
Small movements make a big difference here, so adjust gently and test often.
If the door closes but feels loose or lets in a draught, the compression adjustment pulls it in tighter against the weather seals. If it feels far too stiff and hard to lock, back the compression off slightly. The gasket around the frame should be intact and springy. A flattened or perished seal lets in draughts no amount of adjustment will cure, and that is a cheap part to replace.
Hinge and keep adjustments cover the majority of doors that will not close. Some signs, though, mean it is time to bring us in. If the door has dropped because a hinge is worn or pulling out of the frame, if the multipoint lock feels gritty or will not throw even when aligned, or if the frame itself has moved because of a settlement issue, those need a proper look. Forcing a misaligned door can wreck the lock, which is a far bigger bill than an adjustment.
We sort dropped, sticking and unlockable doors all the time. Our window and door repairs in York cover hinge and lock adjustments, worn seals and failed mechanisms. If the door is genuinely past its best, our uPVC doors in York page shows the replacement options.
Usually the door has dropped on its hinges or the frame has shifted, so the door catches or the lock misses its keeps. Both are often fixable with hinge and keep adjustments. Hot weather and a dirty frame can also be to blame.
Find the height adjustment screw on the hinges, usually reached with an Allen key, and turn it to lift the door a millimetre or two. Test after each small turn until it stops catching.
The multipoint lock hooks are missing the keeps on the frame. Adjust the keeps or strike plate a millimetre or two so the bolts slide in cleanly, and check every hook engages, not just the latch.
Yes. uPVC and composite doors expand slightly in heat and can stick or bind, then close normally as they cool. If it only happens on hot days, a small hinge adjustment often solves it.
If a hinge is worn or pulling from the frame, the lock feels gritty or will not throw, or the frame has moved, get a specialist in. Forcing the door can damage the lock and turn a small job into a big one.
Rather replace a tired door than keep tweaking it? Download our latest brochure to see the range, or request a free quote and we will pop out for a look.