Plastic balcony doors are subject to intense load, especially if there is or workplace. The balcony door may experience deforming load due to the formation of condensation or temperature changes. Then it stops functioning normally and the question arises: how to repair the plastic door leading to the balcony with your own hands?
In this article we will answer these questions by briefly describing the malfunctions and how to fix them, which you can do yourself.
Causes of failure of PVC doors and windows
The PVC profile, which is used in the manufacture of balcony doors and windows, must initially cope with such loads. But time, careless handling or increased load on fasteners can lead to door breakage or loose fit to the door frame. These defects not only create inconvenience in use, but also tend to further aggravate the situation, up to the failure of fastening elements or door locking.
To prevent this from happening, it is sometimes necessary to carry out preventive work. In the event of an obvious breakdown, make repairs.
It should be noted that not every repair of balcony doors and windows can be done with your own hands. Large surface defects, frame destruction, damage to the integrity of the glass unit, deformation cannot be repaired. door frame due to exposure high temperatures. In these cases, it is necessary to contact the company that installed the doors or specialists working in this profile.
Minor repairs plastic doors and windows, which can be done with your own hands, may consist of the following operations:
- handle repair;
- seal;
- minor surface defects;
- clamps;
- glass unit replacement;
- door position adjustment.
Tools for repair
Before you begin repairing a door from PVC profile It is necessary to prepare the tools that may be needed during the work process.
Any specialized equipment for minor repairs no balcony doors or windows are required.
In most cases, it is found in every home.
- screwdriver with replaceable bits (screwdriver set);
- screwdriver-drill (cordless);
- set of metal drills ∅1-10 mm;
- building level;
- construction plumb line;
- set of hex keys;
- pliers;
- metal saw;
- a mallet with a white rubber hammer;
- white rubber spatula;
- plastic or wooden spatulas for removing cash.
TO consumables, which may be required when repairing PVC profile products include:
- PVC adhesive Cosmofen Plus-S white;
- adhesive-sealant Cosmofen 345;
- COSMOFEN RM putty for restoration of hard PVC products;
- rubber seals - in case they are damaged and need to be replaced;
- door handles and latches - in case of breakage;
- plastic gaskets.
New seals, handles and gaskets must be from the same manufacturer that are installed on your doors!
In case of repairing dents, cracks and chips on the surface of a balcony door, you may need sanding paper to sand the surfaces with a grit of P-1000 or P-1200 according to ISO or M20 according to GOST (designations of different manufacturing countries may have their own grit designation).
Adjusting doors and windows
The most common problem is doors and windows not closing tightly due to sagging under their own weight or loosening of the hinge fastening elements.
To eliminate the distortion with your own hands, first determine the verticality of the door leaf relative to the door frame using a plumb line. Use a plastic marker (water-soluble) to mark the places where the door hooks onto the frame.
After this, remove from the top door hinge a decorative plug and using hex keys to adjust the position of the door.
It should be remembered that the top screw at the end regulates the movement of the door in the vertical plane, and the screw located on the side in the horizontal plane.
If adjusting the top hinge fails to skew the door leaf, perform the same operation with the bottom hinge.
After the adjustment is completed, the decorative overlays on the hinges are installed in place.
Replacing a door handle
The most common and at the same time easily removable reason.
To remove a broken handle, you need to place the broken handle in a horizontal position - parallel to the floor, press out and turn the decorative plug at the base of the handle 90°. Unscrew the exposed bolts and remove the broken handle. Pull out the square rod on which the handle was attached. Install a new handle with a square rod and secure it unscrewed during dismantling old pen bolts. Rotate the decorative plug at the base of the handle to its original position, closing the heads of the screws.
Replacing the seal
A defect in the rubber seal usually occurs as a result of mechanical damage from hard or sharp objects.
To replace it with your own hands, first dismantle the old seal. This is done mechanically using a flat screwdriver or chisel. The grooves under the old seal must be completely clear of glue residue and dust. Before installing a new seal, the surface of the groove is wiped with Galosh gasoline or 96% denatured alcohol to degrease.
The new seal must be from the same manufacturer as the door, and the width and height of the profile must match the old seal.
After the grease-free groove has dried, we begin installing a new seal, pressing it in with our fingers. When installing, do not tighten the seal. Installation is done from bottom to top. Upon completion of installation, the excess length of the sealant is cut off with a sharp knife, and the ends of the sealing tape are additionally fixed with glue.
You can close the door only until the glue has completely dried.
Replacement of glass unit
If a double-glazed window on a balcony door is broken, you must first order a new one from the manufacturer that installed the doors. A measurer must come to you and take the dimensions of the glass unit to be replaced. Taking measurements yourself is strongly not recommended.
Without being a specialist in installing PVC profile products, you are unlikely to be able to take into account the required technological tolerances and accurately measure the thickness of the glass unit using the measuring tools at hand.
After the new double-glazed window is delivered to you, you need to dismantle the broken one. To do this, using plastic or wooden spatulas and a mallet, remove the casing that holds the glass unit in the door frame. The old (broken) glass unit is removed. The grooves in which it was installed are thoroughly cleaned of dust and glass fragments, and degreased with gasoline or alcohol. After drying, we install a new double-glazed window and secure it with the removed casing.
When replacing glass with your own hands, be sure to comply with the following conditions:
- All work with glass should be carried out wearing cotton work gloves.
- When dismantling and installing cashing, do not use excessive force. If you cannot withdraw cash and dismantle the broken double-glazed windows yourself, it is better to invite a specialist.
- Do not use metal tools in contact with glass or plastic. The plastic may be scratched or damaged. Glass may break if it comes into contact with metal.
Repairing scratches and dents
By using rubber spatula Apply COSMOFEN RM putty to shallow dents or scratches. After complete drying within the period indicated on the putty packaging, we process sanding paper and coated with matte or glossy varnish - depending on the material from which the doors are made.
Instead of a conclusion
We briefly reviewed the most common malfunctions of PVC balcony doors and windows and how to fix them yourself. Not all damage to balcony doors can be repaired. on our own. Sometimes you need a special tool that not everyone has at home. Sometimes - replacement of elements of a plastic structure, which cannot be eliminated by any adhesives.
In any case, anyone can do some repair work, and we wish you success.
How to repair plastic balcony doors? This question worries those people whose official manufacturer's warranty has expired. In this case, on self-repair You can save a significant amount without turning to specialists. If you know the basics of technology, or replacing some parts becomes simple and understandable.
How to adjust plastic balcony doors
To understand exactly when it’s time to adjust a plastic balcony door, just take a regular sheet of paper. It is placed on the door frame when the door is open. After this, you need to close the door and try to pull out the leaf.
This test must be carried out along the entire door perimeter. If in at least one place the leaf was pulled out with less force than in the others, it means that the door is not pressed against the frame too well.
Depending on the installed fittings, the door is adjusted using eccentrics, a pin or a strike plate.
Door misalignment is detected quite simply. You need to take a soft, easily washable marker that you can use to door leaf circled around the perimeter in the closed position. When the door opens, the drawn lines should be parallel to the frame. If not, this means that the canvas is skewed or sagging.
Warping and sagging, as well as the problem when the door clings to the frame, can be eliminated using a flat-head and Phillips screwdriver, and a 4 mm hexagonal spanner.
Adjustment starts from the top hinge. The door opens to its full possible width. The key is inserted into the pin of a special adjusting screw. It is necessary to make three turns clockwise. This way the structure is pulled towards the door jamb and the distortion disappears. If the problem does not completely resolve, the lower loop is involved.
Scheme for adjusting the pressure of a plastic door
You can eliminate the uneven position of the door by evenly rotating the adjusting screws of both hinges. The door should move in the right direction.
It is important to remember that pulling the door too tightly against the jamb will result in the door being difficult to open because it will be pressed too tightly against it.
Adjustment will also be required if the balcony door creaks. In this case, the loops are loosened, lubricated and tightened.
Video:
Repair of a balcony door can be carried out using double-glazed windows. The process takes place in several stages:
- the glazing beads securing the glass unit are removed;
- use a plastic or wooden spatula to move the glass unit to one side;
- special plastic spacers are placed in the gap;
- door movement is checked;
- the beads are hammered into place.
On last stage It is very important not to mix up the glazing beads.
How to change the handle of a plastic door on a balcony
Breakage of the handle on a plastic balcony door happens quite often. The handle can break, crack, or deteriorate from age. In any of these cases, you will have to change the handle yourself. Replacement will also be needed if the handle is in good working order, but requires the installation of a handle with a lock that can be locked with a key. This is necessary when parents want to limit access to the balcony for small children.
Balcony door handle rotation diagram
The handle is screwed to the sash using two screws. They are not visible in the normal state, since they are closed with a plug having a rectangular or oval shape.
The plug is pryed off with your hands; you need to slightly pull it towards you. Then it rotates 90°, that is, it is actually located horizontally.
Then the screws are unscrewed while the door is open. That is, the handle should be in a horizontal position. Afterwards, the screws are removed, and then the handle itself is removed very carefully. It is advisable to purchase it from the same company where the doors themselves were ordered. The same applies to handles with a lock.
However, if the plastic balcony door is an outdated model, then the company may not have suitable handles. Then the handle can be found at construction markets, having previously taken the broken one with you as a sample.
The new product is installed using the same screws. You can purchase new analogues. If it is necessary to install an additional special opening limiter, then a “comb” is inserted into the base - a regulator plate. After this, you need to insert a pin into the hole and tighten the screws.
Replacing fittings for plastic balcony doors
As is the case with plastic windows, doors also often need to replace fittings. There are three main reasons why replacement is necessary:
- physical wear of mechanisms;
- violation of installation technology;
- discrepancy in the assembly technology of the valves.
Elements of door fittings for balconies
It’s worth mentioning right away that if the door’s warranty period has not expired, it is better to replace it under warranty. This allows you to avoid interfering with basic and rather complex mechanisms.
The process of dismantling the balcony door fittings begins with dismantling the “thrust bearing”, at the same time the main lock is removed.
The lock can only be removed after the handle has been removed. How to remove a pen is written in the previous paragraph of the article. At the same stage, the fastening plates of the main lock, the screws for fastening the main lock, the screws for the base element and the lower middle clamp are removed.
While the sash is in a suspended position, the new “thrust bearing” (also known as the base element) is very convenient to install. The same applies to installing a new lower middle clamp. After this, you need to continue dismantling the remaining fittings. To do this, carefully knock out the pin of the upper hinge in a downward direction.
The sash needs to be pulled towards you and then moved in the same direction. This will remove the sash from the base of the lower hinge. With the sash removed, you can remove the scissors, corner switch and rear clamp.
You can begin to sequentially install new fittings. First, install the top corner switch. It must be directed with the short side up.
The “scissors” are installed after they have been adjusted to size. Before installation, the rear middle clamp is attached to them. Once the scissors are in place, the switch plate is secured to them.
The ends of the main gear bars must be deburred before installation. Then you need to unscrew the screws securing the hinges to the frame. The old top and bottom loops are removed in this sequence.
Video lesson on adjusting fittings:
Next you need to install new hinges. The lower hinge is installed first, then the upper one. At the last stage, the hinges are installed and the sashes are mounted. The sashes must be mounted extremely carefully, not forgetting to secure them with a pin after installation.
It is necessary to install the handle and, by turning it, break off the locking rivets.
No effort required when turning. Mechanism preferably lubricate graphite lubricant. After this, the striker strips and the sash auto-lifting blocker are installed.
The pressure is adjusted by turning the adjusting bars located on the trunnions. Lastly, the lift and tilt of the sash relative to the frame is adjusted.
What to do if the door doesn't open well
The plastic door quite often jams and cannot open if you try to force it into the “open” state from any other position with a sharp movement. The handle is blocked and the door structure is in a so-called frozen state. The entire structure rests on only one point. This is usually the bottom corner. And then the door is very difficult to open.
But this is normal practice, and there is no need to panic.
To solve this problem, you need to find out under what brand the door hardware was produced. And you can find out by examining the constipation plate. Most manufacturers place a special metal tongue on the end slightly below the handle.
When jammed, the tongue must be moved to a vertical position. At the same time, with the other hand, the handle is set to a horizontal position, that is, to the “open” state.
The door is pressed tightly against the opening, and the handle carefully and slowly turns down to the end - to the “closed” state.
Other manufacturers place a metal plate with a spring instead of a tongue. In this case, the plastic door is aligned vertically, and the plate is pressed against the seal. The balcony door should then be closed by pressing it. Then the handle is turned all the way down.
If problems occur with a plastic door on a balcony, almost everything can be resolved on your own.
It is advisable to carry out complex work, such as replacing fittings, only if you have some experience. In other cases, just follow the instructions.
Balcony door closing mechanism
During operation, the mechanism for closing the doors to the balcony may begin to function ineffectively. This may result in it sticking or turning poorly. There are several reasons for this:
- improper operation;
- lack of care or insufficient care;
- wear of parts or the entire mechanism during use;
- damage to the integrity of the fittings;
- skewed door array;
- low quality materials.
In most cases, the problem is corrected by using special greases designed for door hardware or adjustments.
It is very important that the selected lubricants do not contain acids or aggressive resins.
The latter can not only cause significant damage to the appearance of the plastic balcony door, but also damage the components of the mechanism or handle itself.
Therefore, before resorting to any drastic measures (repair or replacement), you should check the mechanism for the presence of lubrication. Sometimes simple cleaning and subsequent lubrication is enough.
If the problem that arises is more significant, then you can replace parts of the mechanism or the entire mechanism. The problem can also be eliminated by adjusting the plastic balcony door.
A metal-plastic balcony door is quite reliable, but it is also subject to wear and tear over time. The most common problems are sagging under its own weight, drying out of the rubber seal, breakage of handles and fittings.
Failures that you should not try to fix yourself include:
Cracks in glass - such work requires replacement of the double-glazed window;
- Violation of the integrity of the seams of the door frame or leaf;
- “Torn out” loops;
- Hardware breakdowns.
Everything else can and should be repaired yourself, so as not to waste money on the work of craftsmen.
Door adjustment
The most frequent malfunction metal-plastic balcony doors - sagging. If the door catches on the frame when closing and you have to lift it by the handle, you need to adjust the hinges. Otherwise, the fittings are subject to severe wear and tear, and subsequently they will be destroyed and replaced.
The door adjustment is carried out in this way: take a simple pencil and mark with it the places where the door clings to the frame. When such places are identified, the sash needs to be moved in the opposite direction. That is, if the door clings to the frame with the lower right corner, then when adjusting the hinges it will need to be pulled up and to the left. Work must begin from the top loop. Typically, the top bolt on the hinge is responsible for vertical offset sash, and the lower one - behind the horizontal. These are usually 2, 3, or two and a half hex screws. 
In most fitting systems, the adjusting bolts are hidden behind decorative plastic caps. To gain access to the adjustment, they must be carefully removed.
The second option for adjusting the door is to shift the center of mass. This is done by moving the glass unit in the desired direction. Carefully remove the beads that hold the glass unit in the door and move it to the side so as to eliminate the sagging of the sash. To keep the glass unit in this position, place plastic spacers, and then install the glazing beads in place.
When removing glazing beads, be sure to remember their location or mark where they were removed from. Under no circumstances should you confuse the top bead with the bottom or the left with the right - their sizes may differ by several millimeters. Installing a larger bead instead of a smaller one may result in the formation of cracks.
Eliminating drafts
Another type of repair of plastic doors on the balcony that you can do yourself is eliminating drafts. If the door leaf is level, but it still blows from the balcony, you need to change the rubber seal around the perimeter of the door and frame.
This is done this way:
The rubber seal in the door dries out very quickly. So that it does not need to be changed too often, once every six months it needs to be treated with special silicone-based compounds. You can purchase one from the same company that installed your doors.
When installing the seal, do not tighten it under any circumstances!
You can also eliminate smaller misunderstandings yourself:
If door knob or the lock is broken - they need to be replaced, not repaired.
By the way, about castles
If your balcony door has a lock (what if?) that does not behave as you would like, you can also fix it yourself. In particular, you can fix problems such as a jammed lock or a broken core.
If the lock sticks:
- Remove the plastic lock trim and handle;
- Unscrew the fastening bolts of the lock and the core (located at the end of the door);
- Remove the lock and disassemble it;
- Lubricate the moving parts with machine oil;
- Assemble the castle;
- Reinstall it and the handle by performing the steps in reverse order.
If there is a problem with the core, everything is much simpler. Repairing it, even if possible, is definitely not cost-effective. Therefore, the “secret” of the lock simply needs to be replaced.
This can be done without even removing the handle or removing the lock from the door leaf:
- Open the door and unscrew the core mounting bolt. It is located immediately under the bolt (retractable part) of the lock;
- Push the core out of the door leaf;
- Install a new secret in its place;
- Screw the mounting bolt into place.
These simple manipulations will allow you to return your metal-plastic balcony door to its former functionality and reliability. Remember that in case of more serious damage, it is highly not recommended to undertake the repair of plastic balcony doors yourself. If something goes wrong, you can only make the situation worse. Your unsuccessful attempt may either significantly increase the cost repair work, or lead to the need to replace a broken door.
Repair and adjustment of plastic balcony doors
Plastic balcony doors are made from fairly durable material, and their fittings are of very high quality. But as a result long term During operation, due to natural wear and tear, the mechanisms begin to become loose, the seal becomes less durable, and cracks appear on it. On the surface of the door appear various defects from mechanical influences. This means that the balcony door has become unusable. Many shortcomings can be eliminated by making repairs yourself and without resorting to the help of specialists.
Types of balcony door faults
Before starting repairs, it is necessary to determine the type of malfunction that has occurred. Problems can be serious and can be fixed on your own. Serious problems can only be eliminated by professional craftsmen, and usually the damaged part is completely replaced or the door is dismantled.
Such serious malfunctions include:
- a crack in the glass of the balcony, in this case it is necessary to completely replace the double-glazed window;
- destruction of fittings;
- violation of the integrity of the welded seams of the sash or frame;
- torn loops.
You cannot fix these problems on your own.
Malfunctions that can be resolved independently include:
Problems that arise when opening and closing the door - to fix problems, it is necessary to move the double-glazed window or adjust the door leaf using the capabilities of the fittings;
- the doors are not pressed tightly against the frame - the pressure of the plastic doors should be adjusted;
- the integrity of the seal is compromised;
- the profile surface is slightly damaged (this may be abrasive damage or scratches);
- loose handle.
Repairing a balcony door by adjusting the fittings
The most common malfunction of a balcony door is its sagging under its own weight. As a result, it is slightly deformed, but there are no problems with opening and closing it. You just have to lift it a little by the handle. This is not only inconvenient, but also has a negative impact on the service life of such fittings.
Repairing a balcony door begins with making a mark, which is placed in the place where the door leaf touches the frame. The segment where the mark begins to shift away from the straight line is problematic. Repairing a balcony door by adjusting the fittings involves moving the door leaf in the direction opposite to the point at which it touches the frame. For example, if the lower corner of the sash touches the threshold or frame, you should move it in the direction opposite to the corner or up.
Adjustment starts from the top loop. A hex wrench is installed in the slot of the adjusting screw and several turns are made clockwise, bringing the sash to the hinge. After this, the same adjustment is made on the lower loop. In most fitting systems, the top screw helps move the sash up and down, and the side screw moves it horizontally.
Repairing a plastic door leaf using double glazing
This repair consists of the following:
- remove the glazing beads that hold the glass unit in place;
- using a plastic or wooden spatula, move the glass unit to the side so that the sash disappears;
- spacer plastic spacers should be inserted into the gap instead of the blade;
- after that, the progress of the door is checked, if everything is fine, the beads are put in place.
You should pay attention to the fact that beads must be installed. observing the position, i.e. the top should not be confused with the bottom, and the left with the right. This is necessary because the sizes of the beads differ from each other by several millimeters, and if you install such a part bigger size in place of a smaller one, a crack may form.
Replacing the seal
If the plastic door does not close tightly, then the repair will consist of replacing the sealing rubber. Basically, it is changed after several years of use, because it begins to lose its properties. Sometimes the seal wears out due to mechanical damage.
Before repairing the door. you should purchase a seal. the configuration of which is similar to the previous one. Using available tools, remove the old seal from the groove and insert the new seal. It should be rolled out evenly without stretching. At the corners, the seal should be trimmed and additionally fixed with rubber glue.
Plastic door handle repair
Failure of this element means that the plastic structure cannot be opened or it will constantly jam. The handle may turn very tightly or not turn all the way. In this case, to eliminate the problem, it is necessary to perform a horizontal adjustment of the door.
The latch is a device that keeps the door closed after someone has entered the balcony. This element begins to wear out over time and may break. Therefore, you need to buy a new latch and install it. It is secured with screws at the end of the door, and in order to replace it, the screws must be unscrewed, the broken latch removed and a new one inserted.
If the connection between the handle and the core is broken, the locking mechanism, handle or latch may fail. To determine the cause of the malfunction, it is necessary to remove and rotate the decorative cover, and then unscrew the fastening screws. Next, you should check the pin that connects the handle and the core. If it turns out that it is cut, then its remains must be knocked out and a new one inserted. If the problem is in the handle, then it is replaced with a new one. After this, the fastening screws are screwed back in. and the decorative cover is put in place.
Conclusion
It is not advisable to repair a plastic balcony door yourself, because only specialists can qualitatively eliminate all the shortcomings that arose during its operation. In case of quite serious problems, when repairs cannot solve anything, you will need to install a new plastic door.
Winter is getting closer. AND replacing the balcony door seal is becoming more and more relevant. Don't put off this work until tomorrow if it can be done today. Your comfort, savings on heating, and even your health will directly depend on this (after all, everyone knows how bad drafts can be for your health, and a rather strong cold emanates from a balcony door that is blown through). We offer three of the most popular types of window seals, which our craftsmen have in stock, so they can replace the old one with a new one immediately upon arrival to you. Prices are indicated for material with installation; here is a list of sealants presented in our company:
1. Conventional rubber seal, made in Russia - 100 rubles per linear meter.
2. Silicone sealant "KBE", made in Germany - 150 rubles per linear meter.
3. Polyurethane foam sealant "Schlegel", made in Germany - 250 rubles per linear meter.
As a rule, when it is discovered that the problem lies in the door leading to the balcony, they begin to look for specific reasons in the door itself. door design. But it often turns out that such an unpleasant problem as the ventilation of a balcony door can be solved in an elementary way: by changing the door seal. Don't wonder what happened to your door! Just call a specialist, and he will determine the cause and offer the best solutions for you.
Why can the seal deteriorate? It would seem what could happen to this elastic band. After all, there is nothing to break there: no complex mechanisms, no parts, just a monotonous monolithic structure. But this is a misconception. Yes, the seal for balcony doors is truly a monolithic material. But it can deteriorate either over time, as a result of its long and intensive use, or much faster, namely, as a result of improper handling.
With long-term use, everything is more or less clear. What does improper handling of sealing material mean? Everything is simpler than it might seem at first glance. The fact is that even the highest quality seal is susceptible to the influence of external destructive factors, such as, for example, changes in air temperature, ultraviolet radiation, moisture, and so on. If you do not regularly (about 1-2 times a year) clean it of dust and debris, and also do not treat it with a specially designed product. silicone grease, then these factors will have the most detrimental effect on the condition of the sealing rubber bands. The result will be their cracking and loss of elasticity. That is, they will very quickly become unusable due to their uselessness: they will not be able to provide optimal tightness of the door structure. The same applies to window seals.
That is, improper use of door (and window) seals means, first of all, neglect of caring for it. We can provide your doors and windows with this type of care professionally and absolutely inexpensively.
There is no need to exclude the possibility mechanical damage seals due to negligence. In this case, replacing the balcony door seal may also be necessary. If the need for it arose for this or any other reason, and your door began to blow, allowing cold, moisture, wind, noise, etc. into the room, do not worry: order balcony door repairs from a company that specializes in these services famous company"RemOknaService", and comfort, warmth, coziness will return to your home!
Don't forget to check your windows and doors for winter readiness. For details, please call or visit the office. Replacing rubber seals on balcony doors and windows is carried out by our company’s craftsmen on the day of your request, even on weekends and holidays. Contact us for the service of replacing window seals and we will respond as quickly, efficiently and inexpensively as possible.
