How to Repair French Doors
French doors are an elegant addition to a home that connects outdoor and indoor spaces. They are susceptible to problems with time, requiring immediate attention for safety and functionality.
Warping, sagging and misalignment of door frame and sash are all common issues. Fortunately, most of these issues can be easily repaired with a bit of time and effort.
Misaligned Locks
Sometimes doors are stuck or misaligned because of humidity, swelling of the wood or the house shifting. This can cause the lock bolt to become loose and making it more difficult to open or close the door. This also puts extra strain on the lock, which can result in mangled lock components or even broken locks altogether. It's an issue that is quite common and is often solved by simple DIY methods.
In some cases all that is required is a bit of lubrication to help the door open and close easily. You can apply graphite as a lubricant, but make sure to select one that is safe for your door. Be sure to clean the door with a damp cloth to eliminate any dirt from the door prior to applying the grease.
Another method to fix a door that's hanging out of alignment is to loosen the hinges and then moving them until they are in line with the frame of the door. However, be careful to avoid over-tightening the screws since this can damage the door or hinges.
If your exterior French doors aren't closing correctly, it could indicate that there is a problem in the lock mechanism. Usually, this is caused by factory screws that are short that become loose with time. Replace the screws with longer ones to pull more wood from the door frames.
You can also alter the lock, but it's more difficult and complicated. Begin by loosening the lock knob or handle using the flat-head screwdriver. Then, you can remove the lock from its cubbyhole by unscrewing and pulling it out. Examine it for any obstructions and then rebuild and tighten the screw connections.
If the latch isn't hitting the strike plate it may be necessary to relocate or expand the strike plate hole. If the strike plate is smaller or higher than the hole for the latch, this could prevent the lock from closing and require locksmith assistance. If the hole is too small, you can enlarge it by using a metal file or drill.
Sagging
If your doors are sagging or have gaps, this can decrease the energy efficiency of your home. These gaps can also create drafts and obstruct your view. Fortunately, there are a few simple fixes to help solve these problems.
To begin, tighten your hinges to ensure they're properly aligned. This should take only 10 minutes, and no tools are required. If this does nothing to fix the problem then you'll need to replace the hinges. They're likely to be to be nearing the end of their lifespan.
Over time the weight of your French door may cause them to loosen. To prevent this from happening ensure that the hinges are secured your door and ensure they are secure. Occasionally, you should also apply lubrication to the hinges using a lubricating spray to extend their life.
Replace damaged or old hinges to stop your door from sliding. A new doorknob or freshly painted doors could affect the alignment of your French door.
Other causes of sagging include foundation settlement, wear on the hinges, or incorrect modifications to your doors. You can fix a door that is sagging by tightening or adjusting the hinges.
It is also essential to inspect the weather stripping and door sweep often to ensure that they're functioning properly. If they're not, removing them and replacing them could fix the issue.
Finally, you should regularly check the wood on your door frame for signs of warping or rotting. These issues can create drafts and not only decrease the effectiveness of your doors, but could also cause water leakage and other damage around your home.
Popular Mechanics advises that if your doors are creaking after you've tried the previous two options, you may have to sand the door jambs using a handplane. To do this, take your doors from the hinges. Place them flat on something sturdy like a sawhorse. Mark the places that need planed, and then use a hand plane to smooth these areas of the doorjamb.
Leaks
The vast areas of glass on French doors can be a common source of water leaks, particularly when you live in a region that receives heavy rainfall. Untreated, these leaks may cause the door frame to become rotted and also the structure around it to deteriorate. Fortunately, fixing leaks is a fairly simple task that should only take a few hours to complete.
Leaks can be caused by many factors, such as
A broken seal
Replace the rubber seals on both sides of your threshold with new seals. This will ensure a perfect fit, which will prevent rainwater from entering your home.
Water is leaking from the sill
This issue can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as a absence of a sill pan or by the use of a sill made of steel that isn't watertight. If you find that water is gathering around your French door, call the builder and ask them to install sill pans or replace the steel sill with a wooden sill that will resist water.
Obstructions
A faulty seal can also cause fog to build up between the double panes glass on French doors, which obstructs the view and lowers energy efficiency levels. This can be corrected by replacing the seal with a new one that is able to block out air and moisture.
Loose Handles
A loose handle on your French doors could be dangerous, as it can be snagged while you're opening or closing the door. By tightening the screws on the handle could solve this problem or you can replace the handle completely if it's damaged or worn out.
A track stop that is not properly installed may cause the doors to jam and scratch the frames. repairmywindowsanddoors can be fixed by putting silicone caulk on tracks or track stops. It's also a good idea to regularly check for cracks and wear on the exterior surface of the frames and doors to ensure they're in good shape.
Warping
If you are not careful If you're not careful, your French doors could begin warping because of exposure to heat or moisture. It is recommended to call an experienced handyman with experience repairing French door. They can guide you on the best way to repair your doors and make sure that they are safe to open and close.
If your doors are seriously bent, you may have to replace them entirely. If they're only slightly warped it might be possible to bring them back to their original position by wetting heavy towels and laying them on the problem area. The towels should remain in place for a few days or until the doors are flattened completely.
This method can be used to repair uPVC or wood doors, provided that the wood is well-seasoned. It is important to remember that this process can be lengthy and is difficult to achieve particularly in the case of doors that are extremely bent.
The doors could warp in the event that they were stored improperly. Keep them away from any building work that produces lots of moisture, like decorating and plastering. They should be kept in a flat place, on a solid surface.
A loose strike plate can also cause warping. To fix this issue, you'll need to take the doors off and set them up on two sawhorses. Then, use a hand plane to remove any wood from the top and bottom of each door. It is essential to work in small steps so you don't end up taking too much wood off the doors, which can cause them to become too thin and brittle.
After the doors have been rehung, screw the strike plate in the appropriate position. If the lock doesn't work after this, the barrel catch might be catching on the side of the frame. This is fixable by spraying silicone onto the latch. If this doesn't work the latch, it may require replacement.