Doors and Windows - Patio door problems
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Margo2
05-20-08, 10:57 AM
We have a hinged Crestline patio door that is driving me crazy. It is sticky and difficult to open and close. My husband can do it with some slamming around. I cannot unlock it to open it or to lock and close it - very frustrating. This door has acted up like this since we purchased our new town home about four years ago. I believe it gets worse with certain weather conditions. DOes anyone have any ideas about what to do about it?
Just Bill
05-20-08, 04:34 PM
The door may need some adjustment, which may require a professional familiar with the door.
But one thing that is often a problem are the door sweeps. They accumulate dirt/stuff and don't slide over the threshold as they should. Wipe the door sweeps with some windex or similar cleaner to get them clean. Clean the threshold similarly. Moisten a paper towel with vegetable oil, Pam, etc., wipe the vinyl weatherstrips previously cleaned, and the threshold. Now try the door. It should work much more easily.
But one thing that is often a problem are the door sweeps. They accumulate dirt/stuff and don't slide over the threshold as they should. Wipe the door sweeps with some windex or similar cleaner to get them clean. Clean the threshold similarly. Moisten a paper towel with vegetable oil, Pam, etc., wipe the vinyl weatherstrips previously cleaned, and the threshold. Now try the door. It should work much more easily.
Margo2
05-21-08, 01:57 PM
Tried the cleaning thing and oil but still have problems. When you lift the handle to close and lock the door the bolt comes out if the door is open but it will not come out when you shut the door and therefore you cannot lock it.
XSleeper
05-21-08, 04:19 PM
Sounds like your door is sagging. This could be due to settling, and maybe the frame or the door itself is no longer square.
First, you should check to see if your hinge screws are all tight. Since your door won't lock unless you pull up on it, I'm guessing that it might benefit from some long screws in the jamb-side hinge. Remove 1 or 2 screws from the top jamb-side hinge and replace them with a couple 3" long screws. As you tighten those screws down snug, it may help to lift the door a little. Doing this with a cordless drill will be a lot easier than doing it by hand, but be careful not to strip the head of the screw, and don't tighten it so tight that you break the screw.
First, you should check to see if your hinge screws are all tight. Since your door won't lock unless you pull up on it, I'm guessing that it might benefit from some long screws in the jamb-side hinge. Remove 1 or 2 screws from the top jamb-side hinge and replace them with a couple 3" long screws. As you tighten those screws down snug, it may help to lift the door a little. Doing this with a cordless drill will be a lot easier than doing it by hand, but be careful not to strip the head of the screw, and don't tighten it so tight that you break the screw.