A UPVC door that is hard to lock has usually dropped or moved out of line, so the locking points no longer meet the keeps in the frame. In most cases the door can be adjusted back into line, and nothing needs replacing.
Here is why it happens, the signs to look out for and when to stop forcing it and get it looked at.
How a UPVC door locks
Most UPVC doors use a multipoint lock. When you lift the handle, a set of hooks, rollers or bolts along the edge of the door slide into metal keeps on the frame. Turning the key then locks them all in place.
For that to work, every locking point has to line up with its keep. If the door moves even a few millimetres, the points start to catch, and you have to lift the handle harder or lean on the door to lock it.
If the handle will not lift all the way, the key will not turn either. That is often the first sign that something is out of line.
Why UPVC doors drop
A door is heavy, and it hangs from one side. Over time, several things can pull it out of line:
- Hinges that have worked loose or worn
- The glass unit inside the door settling, so the door sags towards the bottom corner
- Seasonal movement, as frames expand in the heat and contract in the cold
- The house itself moving slightly
- Heavy use, or the door being slammed or leant on
Warning signs
Catching a problem early usually makes the fix quicker. Look out for:
- The handle needs lifting harder than it used to
- The key is stiff or will only turn with the door pushed
- The door catches or rubs on the frame
- A draught, a visible gap or daylight along one edge
- Scuff marks on the frame where the door has been rubbing
What you can check yourself
Some checks are safe for anyone to do. Look at the gap around the door, which should be roughly even all the way round. See whether the door rubs at the top or bottom on the lock side. Check the hinge screws are tight.
Keep the moving parts clean and lightly lubricated, following the lock maker’s guidance. Avoid taking the lock apart or adjusting the hinges without knowing how, as it is easy to make things worse.
It also helps to watch the door as it closes. If it drops at the handle side, or hits the frame before it shuts, it has probably moved.
Why you should not force it
The most common mistake is to keep forcing a stiff handle. The gearbox inside a multipoint lock is not designed to take that strain, and it can fail. When it does, the door can end up stuck locked or stuck open, which turns a simple adjustment into an urgent call-out.
If the lock is getting stiff, it is usually cheaper to get it adjusted now than to wait until it jams. If the door will not lock at all, get help rather than leaving the house unsecured. If it has already jammed and you cannot get back in, our guide on what to do when you are locked out covers the next steps.
What a repair usually involves
Most dropped doors are fixed by adjusting the hinges, realigning the keeps and, where the glass has settled, repacking it so the door holds its shape. If a hinge, handle or gearbox has failed, the right replacement part is fitted to suit the door. Multipoint mechanisms vary between manufacturers, so the part needs to match the door rather than just be the nearest fit.
A full new door is rarely needed. On one job in Leominster, a dropped French door that another firm had said would need replacing was taken off its hinges, adjusted and left working perfectly.
Need it looked at?
SWM Locks, Glass & Double Glazing Repairs realigns dropped doors, replaces hinges and handles and frees or renews jammed multipoint mechanisms across Leominster, Ludlow, Hereford and the surrounding area. The approach is to repair first, with the price agreed before the work starts.
Read more about upvc door repairs & alignment and lock repairs & replacement, or see the work Steve does in Leominster and Ludlow.