Balcony plastic doors are subjected to intense stress, especially if there is or workplace. A balcony door may experience a deforming load due to the formation of condensate or temperature differences. Then it ceases to function normally and the question arises: how to repair the plastic door leading to the balcony with your own hands?
In the article we will answer these questions, briefly describing the malfunctions and ways to fix them, which you can do yourself.
Causes of failure of PVC doors and windows
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 the 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 the fastening elements or locking the doors.
To prevent this from happening, it is sometimes necessary to carry out preventive work. In case of obvious damage - to make repairs.
It should be noted that not every repair of balcony doors and windows can be done by hand. Large surface defects, destruction of the frame, violation of the integrity of the double-glazed window, deformation cannot be repaired door frame due to the impact high temperatures. In these cases, it is necessary to contact the company that installed the doors or to specialists working in this profile.
Minor repairs plastic doors and windows, which can be done by hand, may consist of the following operations:
- handle repair;
- seal;
- small surface defects;
- retainers;
- replacement of a double-glazed window;
- door position adjustment.
Tools for repair
Before proceeding with the repair of the door from PVC profile it is necessary to prepare a tool that may be needed in the process.
Any specialized equipment minor repairs balcony doors and windows are not required.
In most cases, it is available in every home.
- screwdriver with interchangeable bits (screwdriver set);
- screwdriver-drill (battery);
- set of drills for metal ∅1-10 mm;
- building level;
- construction plumb;
- a set of hex keys;
- pliers;
- saw for metal;
- mallet with white rubber drummer;
- spatula made of white rubber;
- plastic or wooden spatulas for cashing out.
TO consumables that may be required when repairing PVC profile products include:
- adhesive for PVC Cosmofen Plus-S white;
- adhesive-sealant Cosmofen 345;
- putty COSMOFEN RM for the restoration of hard PVC products;
- rubber seals - if they are damaged and need to be replaced;
- door handles and latches - in case of breakage;
- plastic pads.
New seals, handles and gaskets must be from the same manufacturer as your doors!
In the case of repairing dents, cracks and chips on the surface of a balcony door, sanding paper may be required to grind surfaces with a grit of P-1000 or P-1200 according to ISO or M20 according to GOST (the designations of different producing countries may have their own grit designation).
Door and window adjustment
The most common problem is the loose closing of doors and windows due to sagging under its own weight or loosening of the hinge fasteners.
To eliminate the skew with your own hands, first determine the verticality of the door leaf relative to the door frame using a plumb line. A plastic marker (water-soluble) marks the places where the door catches on the frame.
After that, remove from the top door hinge decorative cap and using hex keys adjust the position of the door.
In this case, it should be remembered that the upper screw from the end controls the movement of the door in the vertical plane, and the screw located on the side in the horizontal plane.
If by adjusting the upper hinge it is not possible to achieve a distortion of the door leaf, the same operation is performed with the lower hinge.
After the adjustment is completed, the decorative trims on the hinges are put in place.
Door handle replacement
The most common and at the same time easily eliminated cause.
To remove a broken handle, it is necessary to set the broken handle to a horizontal position - parallel to the floor, press and turn the decorative plug at the base of the handle by 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 shaft and secure with unscrewed when dismantling old pen bolts. Turn the decorative cap at the base of the handle to its original position, covering the heads of the self-tapping screws.
Seal replacement
A defect in the rubber seal occurs, as a rule, as a result of mechanical damage by hard or sharp objects.
To replace it with your own hands, the old seal is first dismantled. This is done mechanically using a flat screwdriver or chisel. The grooves under the old seal must be completely cleaned of adhesive residue and dust. Before installing a new seal, the groove surface is wiped with Kalosh gasoline or 96% denatured alcohol for degreasing.
The new seal must be of the same manufacturer as the door, and the width and height of the profile must match the old seal.
After the grease-free groove dries, we proceed to install a new seal by pressing it in with your fingers. When installing, do not tighten the seal. Installation is done from the bottom up. At the end of the installation, the excess length of the seal 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 after waiting for the glue to dry completely.
Double-glazed window replacement
If a double-glazed window of 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 measure the dimensions of the double-glazed window to be replaced. It is strongly not recommended to take measurements on your own.
Without being a specialist in the installation of PVC profile products, you are unlikely to be able to take into account the required technological tolerances and accurately measure the thickness of the double-glazed window with the measuring tools at hand.
After the new double-glazed window is delivered to you, it is necessary to dismantle the broken one. To do this, with the help of plastic or wooden spatulas and a mallet, the cashing is removed, holding the double-glazed window in the door frame. The old (broken) double-glazed window is removed. The grooves in which it was installed are thoroughly cleaned of dust and glass fragments, degreased with gasoline or alcohol. After drying, we install a new double-glazed window and fix it with the removed cashing.
When replacing glass with your own hands, be sure to observe the following conditions:
- All work with glass must be carried out in cotton work gloves
- When dismantling and installing cashing, do not use excessive force. If you cannot withdraw the cash and dismantle the broken double-glazed window on your own, it is better to invite the master.
- Do not use metal tools in contact with glass and plastic. The plastic may be scratched or damaged. Glass from contact with metal can burst.
Repair of 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 package of putty, we process sanding paper and cover 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 your own. Sometimes you need a special tool that not everyone has at home. Sometimes - the replacement of elements of a plastic structure that cannot be eliminated by any adhesives.
In any case, to carry out some repairs is within the power of everyone, in which we wish you success.
How to repair plastic balcony doors? This question worries those people who have ended the official manufacturer's warranty. In this case, on self repair You can save a lot of money without hiring a professional. If you own the basics of technology, or the replacement of some parts becomes simple and straightforward.
How to adjust plastic balcony doors
To understand exactly when it is time to adjust the plastic balcony door, just take a regular paper sheet. It is placed on the door frame when the door is open. After that, you need to close the door and try to pull out the sheet.
This test must be carried out around the entire door perimeter. If at least in one place the leaf was pulled out with less effort than in the rest, then the door is not pressed against the frame too well.
Depending on the installed fittings, the door is adjusted using eccentrics, trunnions or strikers.
The skew of the door is detected quite simply. It is necessary to take a soft, easily washable marker, which door leaf circled around the perimeter in the closed position. When the door is opened, the lines drawn should be parallel to the frame. If not, this means that the canvas is skewed or sagging.
Skew and sag, as well as the problem when the door clings to the frame, are eliminated with a flat and Phillips screwdriver, and a 4 mm hex box wrench.
Adjustment starts from the top loop. The door opens to its full width. The key is inserted into the spitz of a special adjusting screw. It is necessary to make three turns clockwise. So the design is pulled up to the door jamb, and the skew disappears. If the problem is not completely eliminated, the lower loop is activated.
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 cause the door to open poorly, as it is pressed too tightly against it.
Also, adjustment will 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 by means of a double-glazed window. The process takes place in several stages:
- the glazing beads fixing the double-glazed window are removed;
- with a plastic or wooden spatula, the double-glazed window is shifted to one of the sides;
- special plastic spacers are placed in the gap;
- the doorway is checked;
- glazing beads are hammered into place.
On last step it is very important not to confuse the glazing beads in places.
How to change the handle of a plastic door on a balcony
Breakage of the handle on the plastic door of the balcony happens quite often. The handle can break, crack, and also deteriorate from old age. In any of these cases, the handle will have to be changed independently. Replacement will also be needed if the handle is in good condition, but a handle with a key lock is required. This is necessary when parents want to restrict access to the balcony for small children.
Scheme of turning the handle of a balcony door
The handle is screwed to the sash with two screws. They are not visible in the normal state, because they are closed with a plug that has a rectangular or oval shape.
The plug is hooked by hand, it needs to be slightly pulled towards you. Then it rotates 90 o, that is, it is actually located horizontally.
Then the screws are unscrewed while the door is open. That is, the handle must be in a horizontal position. After the screws are removed, and then the handle itself is removed very carefully. It is desirable to purchase it in the same company where the doors themselves were ordered. The same applies to lockable handles.
However, if the plastic balcony door is an outdated model, then the company may not have suitable handles. Then the handle can be found in the construction markets, having previously taken with you a broken one as a sample.
The new product is installed using the same screws. You can buy new analogues. If it is necessary to mount an additional special opening limiter, then a “comb” is inserted into the base - the regulator plate. After that, insert the pin into the hole and tighten the screws.
Replacement of accessories of plastic doors of a balcony
As in 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;
- inconsistency in the assembly technology of the valves.
Balcony door fittings
It is worth mentioning right away that if the warranty period has not expired at the door, it is better to replace it under warranty. This avoids interference with basic and rather complex mechanisms.
The process of dismantling the accessories of the balcony door begins with the dismantling of 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 the handle is written in the previous paragraph of the article. At the same stage, the fixing plates of the main lock, the screws for fastening the main lock, the screws of the base element and the lower middle clamp are removed.
While the sash is in a suspended position, it is very convenient to install a new “thrust” (aka the base element). The same applies to the installation of a new lower middle clamp. After that, you need to continue dismantling the rest of the fittings. To do this, the pin of the upper hinge is carefully knocked out in a downward direction.
The sash must be moved towards itself, and then moved in the same direction. This will remove the sash from the base of the lower hinge. When the sash is removed, the scissors, corner switch and rear clamp can be removed.
You can start consistently installing new fittings. First, the upper corner switch is mounted. It must be directed with the short side up.
"Scissors" are installed after they have been adjusted to size. Before installation, the rear middle clamp is attached to them. As soon as the "scissors" are in place, the switch plate is fixed on them.
The ends of the main gear bars must be deburred before installation. Then you need to unscrew the screws that attach the hinges to the frame. The old upper and lower loops are removed in this sequence.
Video tutorial on adjusting fittings:
Next, you need to install new hinges. The lower hinge is installed first, then the upper one. At the last stage, hinges are installed and sashes are mounted. The sashes must be mounted very carefully, not forgetting to fix them with a pin after installation.
It is necessary to install the handle and, turning it, break the lock rivets.
When turning, no effort is required. Mechanism desirable lubricate graphite grease. After that, the reciprocal levels are mounted, the lock-auto-lift of the sash.
The clamp is adjusted by turning the adjusting bars located on the trunnions. At the very least, the lifting and tilting of the sash relative to the frame is adjusted.
What to do if the door does not open well
The plastic door jams quite often and cannot open if you try to transfer it to the “open” state with a sharp movement from any other position. The handle is locked and the door structure is in the so-called hover state. The whole structure is based on only one point. Usually this is the bottom corner. And then the door is very difficult to open.
But this is normal practice, and you should not panic.
To solve this problem, you need to find out under which brand the door hardware was released. And you can find out by examining the plate of constipation. Most manufacturers place a special metal tongue on the end slightly below the location of 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 tightly pressed against the opening, and the handle gently 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 pushing it down. Then the handle turns all the way down.
If there are problems with the plastic door on the balcony, almost everything can be resolved on your own.
Difficult work, such as replacing fittings, is desirable to carry out only with a certain 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 inefficiently. This may be expressed in the fact that it sticks or does not turn well. There are several reasons for this:
- incorrect 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 fixed with 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 a 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 lubrication. Sometimes a simple cleaning and subsequent lubrication is enough.
If the problem that has arisen is more significant, then parts of the mechanism or the entire mechanism can be replaced. Also, the trouble can be eliminated by adjusting the plastic balcony door.
A metal-plastic balcony door is a fairly reliable thing, but it is also subject to wear over time. The most popular problems are sagging under its own weight, drying out of the sealing gum, breakage of handles and fittings.
Breakdowns that you should not try to fix yourself include:
Cracks in the glass - such work requires the replacement of a double-glazed window;
- Violation of the integrity of the seams of the frame or door leaf;
- "Torn out" loops;
- Hardware breakdowns.
Everything else can and should be repaired by yourself, so as not to spend money on the work of craftsmen.
Door adjustment
The most frequent malfunction metal-plastic balcony doors - sagging. If the door catches 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 subsequently they will be destroyed and replaced.
The door is adjusted in this way: take a simple pencil and mark with it the places where the sash catches the frame. When such places are determined, the sash must 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 bottom - for the horizontal. Usually these are hexagon screws for 2, 3 or two and a half. 
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 double-glazed window in the right direction. Carefully remove the glazing beads that hold the glass unit in the door and move it to the side in such a way as to eliminate the sagging of the sash. To keep the double-glazed window 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 taken from. It is impossible to confuse the upper bead with the lower one or the left one with the right one in any case - their sizes may differ by several millimeters. Installing a larger glazing bead instead of a smaller one may cause cracking.
Elimination of drafts
Another type of repair of plastic doors on the balcony, which you can do with your own hands, is the elimination of drafts. If the door leaf is set evenly, but it still blows from the balcony, you need to change the sealing gum around the perimeter of the door and frame.
This is done in this way:
The sealing gum in the door dries out very quickly. So that it does not have to be changed too often, every six months it needs to be treated with special silicone-based compounds. You can buy one from the same company that installed your doors.
When mounting the seal, do not under any circumstances tighten it!
You can also fix smaller misunderstandings yourself:
If door knob or the lock is broken - they need not be repaired, but changed.
Speaking of castles
If your balcony door has a lock (what if?), Which does not behave the way you would like, you can also fix it yourself. In particular, you can fix problems such as a jammed lock or broken core.
If the lock sticks:
- Remove the plastic frame of the lock and the handle;
- Unscrew the fixing 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 in reverse order.
If there is a problem with the core, everything is much simpler. Repairing it, if possible, is definitely unprofitable. Therefore, the "secret" of the castle must simply be replaced.
This can be done without even removing the handle and without taking the lock out of the door leaf:
- Open the door and unscrew the fixing bolt of the core. It is located immediately under the crossbar (retractable part) of the castle;
- Push the core out of the door leaf;
- Install a new secret in its place;
- Screw the fixing bolt into place.
These simple manipulations will return the metal-plastic balcony door to its former functionality and reliability. Remember that in case of more serious damage, it is highly not recommended to take on the repair of plastic balcony doors on your own. If something goes wrong, you can only make things worse. Your failed attempt can either significantly increase the cost repair work or lead to the need to replace a broken door.
Repair and adjustment of plastic balcony doors
The manufacture of plastic balcony doors is made from a fairly durable material, while their fittings are of very high quality. But as a result long term operation, due to natural wear, the mechanisms begin to loosen up, the seal becomes not so strong, cracks appear on it. On the surface of the door there are various defects from mechanical influences. This means that the balcony door has become unusable. Many shortcomings can be eliminated by independently making repairs and without resorting to the help of specialists.
Types of malfunctions of balcony doors
Before starting the repair, it is necessary to determine the type of malfunction that has occurred. Problems can be serious and self-repairable. Serious problems can only be eliminated by professional craftsmen, while basically the damaged part is completely replaced or the door is dismantled.
These serious faults 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 welds of the sash or frame;
- broken loops.
These problems cannot be fixed on your own.
Self-correcting faults include:
Problems arising during the opening and closing of the door - in order to troubleshoot, it is necessary to move the double-glazed window or adjust the door leaf using the hardware capabilities;
- the sashes are not pressed tightly against the frame - the pressure of the plastic doors should be adjusted;
- the integrity of the seal is broken;
- the profile surface is slightly damaged (this may be abrasive damage or scratches);
- shattered handle.
Balcony door repair by adjusting 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 its opening and closing. You just have to lift it up a little by the handle. This is not only inconvenient, but also negatively affects the service life of such fittings.
Repair of a balcony door begins with 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 consists in moving the door sash in the direction opposite to the point at which it hits the frame. For example, if the sash clings to the threshold or frame with its lower corner, you should move it to the opposite side from the corner or up.
Regulation 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 that, the same adjustment is made on the lower loop. In most fitting systems, the upper screw contributes to the movement of the sash up and down, and the side screw to move it horizontally.
Repair of a plastic door leaf with a double-glazed window
This repair is as follows:
- remove the glazing beads that hold the double-glazed window;
- using a plastic or wooden spatula, the double-glazed window is shifted to the side so that the sagging of the sash disappears;
- spacer plastic spacers should be inserted into the gap instead of the blade;
- after that, the move is checked at the door, if everything is fine, the glazing beads are installed in place.
You should pay attention to the moment that the glazing 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 dimensions of the glazing 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.
Seal replacement
If the plastic door does not close tightly, then in this case the repair will consist in replacing the sealing rubber. Basically, it is changed after a few years of operation, because it begins to lose its properties. Sometimes the seal wears out due to mechanical damage.
before repairing the door. you should buy a sealer. whose configuration is similar to the previous one. Using improvised tools, the old seal is removed from the groove and the new seal is inserted. It should be rolled out evenly without pulling. At the corners, the seal should be cut and additionally fixed with rubber glue.
plastic door handle repair
A malfunction of this element leads to the fact that the plastic structure cannot be opened or it will constantly jam. The handle may turn very tight or not turn all the way. In this case, in order to eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to perform a horizontal adjustment of the door.
The latch is a device that keeps the door in the closed position after someone has stepped onto the balcony. This element begins to wear out over time and may break. Therefore, you need to buy a new latch and install. It is fastened with screws at the end of the door, and in order to replace it, the screws should be unscrewed, the broken latch removed and a new one inserted.
If the connection of the handle to the core is broken, then the locking mechanism, handle or latch may fail. To find out the cause of the malfunction, it is necessary to remove and turn the decorative cover, and then unscrew the fastening screws. Then you should check the pin that connects the handle and the core. If it turns out that it is cut off, 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 that, the fastening screws are wrapped back. and the decorative cover is installed in place.
Conclusion
It is not advisable to independently repair a plastic balcony door, because only specialists can qualitatively eliminate all the shortcomings that have arisen during its operation. With rather serious problems, when repairs cannot solve anything, a new plastic door will need to be installed.
Winter is getting closer. AND balcony door seal replacement is becoming more and more relevant. Don't put off this work until tomorrow if it can be done today. Your comfort, and savings on heating, and even health will directly depend on this (after all, everyone knows how bad drafts can affect health, and rather strong cold comes from a balcony door that is blown). We offer three of the most popular types of window seals, which are available from our craftsmen, so they can change the old one for a new one immediately upon arrival at your place. Prices are for the material with installation, here is a list of the presented seals in our company:
1. Ordinary rubber seal, made in Russia - 100 rubles per linear meter.
2. Silicone seal "KVE", made in Germany - 150 rubles per linear meter.
3. Polyurethane foam seal "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 structure. But it often turns out that such an unpleasant problem as blowing out a balcony door can be solved elementarily: by changing the door seal. Don't wonder what happened to your door! Just call the wizard, and he will determine the cause and offer the best ways for you to resolve the issue.
Why can a seal fail? It would seem that what could happen with this gum. After all, there is nothing to break there: no complex mechanisms, no details, only a monotonous monolithic structure. But, this is a delusion. Yes, the seal for balcony doors is really 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 operation, everything is more or less clear. And what does improper handling of sealing material imply? Everything is simpler than it might seem at first glance. The fact is that even the highest quality sealant is affected by 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 specially designed for this silicone grease, then these factors will have the most detrimental effect on the condition of the sealing gum. The result will be their cracking, 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 operation of the door (and window) seal means, first of all, the neglect of caring for it. We can provide your doors and windows with such care professionally and absolutely inexpensively.
It is not necessary to rule out the possibility mechanical damage seals by negligence. In this case, the replacement of 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 through, letting cold, moisture, wind, noise, and so on into the room - do not worry: order a balcony door repair in a specialist in these services famous company"RemOknaService", and comfort, warmth, coziness will return to your home!
Be sure to check your windows and doors for winter readiness. For details, please call or contact the office. Replacing rubber seals on balcony doors and windows are made by the masters of our company on the day of treatment, even on weekends and holidays. Contact us for a window seal replacement service and we will respond as quickly, efficiently and inexpensively as possible.
