How to cut a plastic door at home?

How to trim a paneled door. How to shorten a veneer door?

How to carefully and efficiently cut interior veneer doors?

Over time, swing doors undergo deformation, and then the question arises of how to cut the interior door to height.
This need appears as a result of subsidence, swelling (in the case of a wooden door leaf), or a change in floor level. After laying laminate or other new flooring on top of the old one, you also need to shorten the interior doors. Depending on what exactly the door is made of, the methods vary. The most questions arise with veneered models. This kind of fabric is heterogeneous, and the veneer itself is quite easy to damage when sawing. However, even such doors can be shortened, although it will take more time.

Note that it is important to take into account the device itself: hollow products cannot be cut more than 1 centimeter

What is needed to cut an interior door to height?

The height cutting tools are the same as the standard width cutting tools. For this procedure you will need:

Clamps. With their help, the canvas is fixed. You will have to make sure that it stays stable, since a slight shift will ruin all the work.
Square, ruler. Preferably long ones, since the quality of the cut depends on the evenness of the cut line.
Knife. To remove the veneer you will need a sharp and thin tool. It is recommended to sharpen it before starting work.
Sandpaper. If the veneer is varnished, you will need to clean it.
Planer – router – circular saw. Any of these tools will quickly and accurately shorten the height of an interior door.
PVA glue. It is needed at the final stage of trimming for attaching veneer or furniture tape.

In addition, you will need to stock up on masking tape and metal guides for the cutting tool. Just in case, it is better to buy a sheet of veneer - it will be needed if it is not possible to maintain the integrity of the original door covering. You can use furniture edging tape of the appropriate color.

Let us clarify that PVA glue must be thick. It is preferable to use special D2 glue for wood.

Trimming interior veneer doors

Before starting cutting work, the canvas is removed from its hinges. All fittings such as hinges, handles and locks are removed from it. After this the door:

Fixed with clamps or any other available method. The main thing is immobility and reliable fastening of the canvas. Markings are applied. For these purposes, a square and a ruler are used. If the door has veneer on both sides, then the cut mark is also made on both sides and at the ends. Guides are attached. The iron guide is fixed to the canvas using masking tape. Veneer cutting. Using a sharp knife, thin deep cuts are made along the guides. If the door is completely veneered, such cuts are made on all sides. Veneer removal

At this stage, pay attention to the varnish (if any). If it cracks, you will have to remove the coating using sandpaper before removing the veneer layer. Removing unnecessary parts of the door leaf with a plane, saw or router. Slice processing

If necessary, the cut area must be sanded. Preparing for gluing. The cut area is degreased with alcohol. Gluing veneer/furniture tape. The cut is covered with PVA glue, after which veneer or furniture tape is attached to it. The final stage. Excess glue is removed, if necessary, the surface is varnished.

What reasons lead to breakdowns

Error by installers during the installation process and incorrect adjustment of fittings;
Shrinkage of the new building and deformation of the structure;
Incorrect operation of PVC structures;
Excessive exposure to the sun (if the sun's rays constantly fall on the balcony);
Sudden changes in air temperature.

If such problems arise during operation, repairs are necessary. Moreover, such malfunctions can be eliminated independently, without the involvement of experienced specialists. In order for the work to be successful, you should objectively analyze the volume of work and the availability of free time. If you estimate that there is not enough free time, then turn to professionals.

Tools for repair

It is not recommended to repair PVC structures yourself. To ensure that the work is done efficiently, it is better to invite a specialist. Professional installers not only have experience, but also a set of necessary tools to troubleshoot problems.

Repairing a plastic door is impossible without the following equipment:

Adjustment key (hexagon). Often certain numbers are used, but the master carries with him a complete set of such keys.
Pliers - used both for adjustment and for transferring between the “winter” / “summer” modes.
Screwdriver - for quick work with self-tapping screws.
When replacing seals, a utility knife is used (also called a construction knife).
Dimensional accuracy is maintained using a tape measure, which is included in the master’s repair kit.

If structural repairs are carried out by a professional company, the client will definitely receive a guarantee for the services provided.

It's blowing from the balcony door

During operation, cracks may appear on the material, sometimes it loses its shape or breaks. If this stage of wear has reached, it is better to replace the sealing tape.

Correct sequence:

You should buy new material that will fully match the previous one (in type and size);
We dismantle the old tape;
The groove should be thoroughly cleaned of glue residues and accumulated dust;
We install a new seal; the tape can be pressed with your finger, but not pulled (the groove must be dry). The sealant is laid starting from the bottom. This principle is easy to explain: if part of the tape comes off during operation, it will not sag;
The final step is to cut off the ends of the seal and fix the laid edges of the material with glue. The door should not be closed while the glue is drying.

To increase the service life of the seal, the material must be coated every six months with a special agent that will prevent it from drying out. You can purchase the protective composition from PVC window manufacturers.

Preparation stage

“Exposure” of a section of the wall at the site of installation work

This is necessary in cases where the doorway is reduced in an already inhabited room. For example, when moving into a purchased apartment with an old layout, during a major renovation, and the like. This will allow you not only to take all dimensions of the passage with maximum accuracy, but also to assess the condition of the wall. It may be necessary to first expand it slightly, and then artificially reduce it while simultaneously strengthening it.

Changing the Communications Trace

Also one of the typical situations. For example, if the internal electrical wiring was previously laid close to the door block. It is clear that during the installation of the new structure it will be a hindrance; you'll have to change the line.

Based on the results, a conclusion is drawn on how to reduce the doorway. That is, the most acceptable of the methods practiced in everyday life is selected.

What errors are possible when setting up a door?

Many problems can be avoided by performing the correct basic door settings during installation of the structure.

The position of the door leaf in the frame is assessed before the door installation is completed. Some mechanisms cannot be adjusted after installation of the structure.

The dimensions of the gaps in the door frame are carefully checked for subsequent filling of the free space with special foam. If you make a mistake at this stage, you cannot do without reinstalling the box.

The second drawback during setup is the incomplete elimination of irregularities along the edge of the canvas. If the geometry between the panel and the frame is incorrect, the door will not operate correctly.

Proper care of door structures significantly reduces the risk of breakdowns. Regular preventive measures prevent most malfunctions in the future and extend the life of the doors.

Possible breakdowns

There are several typical breakdowns that occur most often. Such breakdowns include:

Problematic opening and closing of the door (problems caused by adjustment failure, in particular sagging and distortion of the structure);
Insufficient tightness of the door handle to the door leaf, looseness of the mechanism;
Broken fittings, in particular: locks, other locking mechanisms, handles, latches;
Cracks and other damage to the glass unit;
Problems with the door seal;
The need to restore the canvas due to mechanical damage.

The door sags

To eliminate sagging, use hexagons to repair fittings.

Work order:

1. Remove the plugs from the hinges;

2. The top screw allows you to adjust the structure vertically using a hexagon. To do this, turn the tool clockwise. This way the fabric will be attracted to the loop;

3. The end screw moves the structure horizontally;

4. If necessary, adjust another loop.

What to do if the glass unit has moved and the door does not close?

We dismantle the glazing beads that secure the glass unit. We carry out the work with special blades;
We separate the glass unit from the canvas in the hinge area using a spatula. We fill the gap with a plastic gasket;
We check the quality of work - the mechanism should close normally.
Installation of glazing beads in their original place.

Installation

During installation of the sash, all actions are carried out in the reverse order. Even placement vertically and horizontally is very important.

The door is placed in the opening. The canvas is pressed against the frame so that the loops fit into the grooves. Control is carried out along the lower tier of fastenings. The position of the sash should be vertical, without distortion.

The door is closing. Pins are inserted into the loops. Press down on the bottom hinged edges until the support rods lift up. Usually a slight click is heard when it locks. The fixed rod should not protrude more than 5 cm.

The tension force of the fasteners to align the door is adjusted with a hex key. After installation, decorative overlays are inserted into the grooves.

Mortise card hinges

Hinges, which slightly lift the door when opening, are advantageous in that they ensure self-closing under their own weight and prevent friction of the lower end of the door leaf on the carpet.

This is especially important if you are laying an expensive high-pile carpet

These hinges have two parts - a bottom card with a fixed axis, which is installed directly on the door frame, and a doorway card. They differ from standard hinges in the inclined plane of contact of their hinges.

The hinge is secured with a card to the door and placed on a fixed axle. Mortise hinges, like standard ones, can also be left or right (I wrote how to distinguish in this article). Countersinking the holes on the hinge map with a fixed axis will help you figure out where the door will open.

Main elements of control mechanisms

To avoid confusion, let us explain the meaning of the special terms that we will use in the step-by-step instructions:

Hinges are hinge elements at the top and bottom of the frame, rotating around which it opens.
Trunnions are cylindrical bushings at the end of the door frame, located along its perimeter. They move when the handle is opened and closed.
The counter (clamping) strips are metal stops. They are located on the box and engage with the trunnions.

How to shorten a plastic door with your own hands? – World of glazing

When carrying out renovations in individual buildings of an old building, where there are very low ceilings and not quite standard doorways, the question often arises of changing the size of the purchased standard door. The same questions may arise when installing and repairing floors, as well as after laying a new carpet floor.

Most modern stores now have the opportunity to change the size of existing doors for sale, since they take into account the needs of customers and have organized small carpentry workshops directly in their stores, or cooperate with companies that can provide this type of service.

But it is not always possible to find people who will undertake changes to a standard door. And sometimes it is necessary to fit a door that has already been purchased and delivered to your home. And it is impractical to transport it for shortening. Therefore, the issue of changing the size of doors at home remains relevant.

And believe me, it is possible to solve this issue on your own, practically without any costs other than your ingenuity and your own labor.

To change door standards, first of all, you need to know the design features of your existing door.

Based on the manufacturing method, interior door designs are divided into panel and frame (panel, frame).

Panel doors consist of: a frame - a frame made of wooden bars (slats), cladding made from sheet material on both sides, and filling in the form of paper honeycombs, polyurethane or spiral shavings. Panel doors can be solid and partially glazed.

If shortening the doors yourself, at home, is not difficult, then changing the width of the door is much more difficult, but also quite possible.

But let’s still focus on the shortening. Before starting work, you must remember the old Russian proverb: “Measure seven times and cut once.” It is necessary to carefully calculate everything, prepare the necessary tools and necessary materials.

We will need:

hacksaw with fine teeth,
a hand-held circular saw or an angle grinder (in common parlance – “grinder”),
plane,
wood glue and wooden blocks of suitable size. We use bars - 30x30 mm.

If we use a grinder, then a cutting wheel for metal is best suited for the work. During operation, it will produce a lot of smoke and fumes, but it will allow you to get a cut without delamination and cracks on materials such as fiberboard and MDF.

If we make the shortening with a hand-held circular saw, then for work we take a disk with small teeth and as many of them as possible - 80-112 pieces.

We will take the measurements we need and begin the shortening process itself.

The door sags

To eliminate sagging, use hexagons to repair fittings.

Work order:

1. Remove the plugs from the hinges;

2. The top screw allows you to adjust the structure vertically using a hexagon. To do this, turn the tool clockwise. This way the fabric will be attracted to the loop;

3. The end screw moves the structure horizontally;

4. If necessary, adjust another loop.

What to do if the glass unit has moved and the door does not close?

We dismantle the glazing beads that secure the glass unit. We carry out the work with special blades;
We separate the glass unit from the canvas in the hinge area using a spatula. We fill the gap with a plastic gasket;
We check the quality of work - the mechanism should close normally.
Installation of glazing beads in their original place.

Recommendations for caring for plastic doors

In order for plastic doors to serve for a long time and without problems, you must not forget about maintenance and prevent breakdowns in time. Basic Rules:

You can eliminate minor defects in plastic doors and make minor adjustments to hinges and handles yourself. It is better to entrust larger repairs (re-hanging, restoring the tightness of welds, replacing broken hinges) to professionals - it is difficult to carry out this type of repair on your own with the required level of quality.

How to shorten a plastic door?

It is not always possible to choose a plastic door that fits perfectly into the doorway. When purchasing, stores provide the opportunity to adjust the design to the required dimensions. Sometimes situations arise when it is not practical to take a door to a store to shorten it. There are various ways to shorten a plastic door.

PVC balcony doors are widely used in glazing doorways. They are closed from the outside using a handle, from the inside using an installed latch. Main advantages:

high strength;
long period of operation;
resistance to changes in temperature and moisture;
good sound insulation;
tightness.

Plastic balcony doors are made from high quality materials. Double glazing is used during installation. The profile is edged with galvanized steel, the joints are welded with a high-quality connection.

Most often, single-leaf plastic structures are installed for balcony glazing. They protect well from noise and have a ventilation function.

Various reasons may lead to the need to reduce the PVC balcony door. For example:

the house began to shrink and it began to close poorly;
the door was made with erroneous measurements;
the presence of a finished structure that does not fit the height of the doorway.

The right option would be to take the plastic door to a special workshop for the production of such products for shortening.

Construction portal No. 1

How to adjust a plastic balcony door? What should you pay special attention to when carrying out repairs? When is the time to make adjustments to the plastic system?

Plastic doors have an impressive mass, which over time leads to their sagging, causing them to close poorly and losing their former tightness.

It doesn't have to take a long time. Adjustment may be required even immediately after installation. You can do it yourself.

In order to implement this, you will need the following tools:

screwdrivers (phillips);
keys of different sizes (hexagonal);
flat screwdriver and plastic spacers (set).

Repairing a plastic structure is not a difficult task, but it requires some special knowledge. It will be much more difficult for a person who has never encountered anything like this than for a professional. You can find out how to adjust a plastic balcony door in the repair instructions or the manufacturer’s website, as well as the recommendations described here.

Preparing the canvas for work

Remove the fabric from the hinges and free it from the fittings (handles, hinges, other protruding elements).
Place the canvas on a workbench or flat area (table), securing it with clamps. It is necessary to ensure complete immobility.
The doorway and leaf are carefully measured to determine the optimal cutting location and the degree of shortening. Marking is being done.
The place for the cutting tool to work is being prepared. When working with a circular (circular) saw, a board is secured below the cut point. If a grinder is used, it is recommended to provide a stop on both sides of the cutting line.
If there is veneer, it is carefully cut with a knife along the guides. If there is a varnish coating, then to prevent it from cracking along the cutting line, the varnish is removed with sandpaper.

Complete preparation of the blade will facilitate the cutting process and improve quality.

Drilling a hole in the door

A 6.0 mm drill is used for drilling. Drilling is done from the side of the room. The tool must be held level, strictly perpendicular to the surface. On the side of the loggia or balcony, a 10 mm drill is used.

To check the correctness of the hole, insert a long axle into it and try to rotate the drive without fixing it with screws. If everything is done correctly, the procedure will go without problems.

The handle is inserted. Before making cavities, markings are made for the protruding parts - they must be completely immersed in the PVC profile, and screws will also be screwed into them. Smaller holes are drilled at the designated points, and then 0.9 cm.

Trouble-shooting

There are problems that can be solved quite easily. For example, the answer to the question of how to remove the blue protective film from a plastic door is simple. It is enough to warm it up with a hair dryer. But there are situations when it is first necessary to determine the cause of the malfunction of the structure.

Users are interested in how to shorten a plastic door with their own hands. This can be done if you have the skills and appropriate tools.

accurate measurements are taken;
the lower part of the canvas, frame is cut off;
a reinforced insert (impost) is attached with self-tapping screws;
the seams are covered with sealant.

Let's look at other types of operational problems, as well as methods for eliminating them.

The door sags

Caring for a plastic door involves periodic adjustment. To eliminate the sagging, you will need a hexagon (4 mm) and two screwdrivers (flat, Phillips).

The door opens wide.
The cover is removed.
Make 3 turns with the key clockwise.

Thus, the product will be pulled up to the jamb and the sagging will be eliminated.

When manipulations with the upper loop do not produce results, the lower one is adjusted, which has 2 screws (vertically and horizontally).

Blowing from the balcony door

This sign indicates the need to replace the sealing cord. To do this, the old element is removed using a screwdriver, the installation site is cleaned of dirt and prepared for installing a new one.

Before laying a new seal, the groove is coated with glue. Start installation from the corner, stroking with your finger so that the glue sets.

To prevent this problem from recurring as often as possible, lubricate the sealing cord with glycerin twice a year (increases elasticity).

The door handle is loose

The fittings also periodically fail. When door handles become loose, a simple solution to the problem is to tighten them using special screws.

There is a plastic strip at the base of the handle that hides the mounting screws. By turning it 90 degrees, we gain access to them and tighten them with a screwdriver.

Crack in plastic

If small cracks form on the surface of the plastic, the problem can be solved on its own. You purchase a special product that will glue the crack (you can choose the color that best matches the shade). After drying, the surface is carefully sanded (until completely smooth).

But some cracks cannot be repaired without calling a specialist. Therefore, before you start working on the problem yourself, consult with repair companies.

The door closes tightly

If the plastic door opens/closes with great force, it should be adjusted. To do this, both adjusting screws in the upper and lower hinges rotate evenly, and the door moves in the desired direction (in the opposite direction from the skew).

How to eliminate a squeak

To eliminate the squeak, the same adjustment will be required. First, you need to wipe and lubricate the hinges, and then loosen them until the creaking disappears.

It is better to repeat the lubrication procedure periodically as a preventive measure.

Door distortion

The distortion is detected by a simple method:

Use a marker (use one that is easily washed off) to outline the closed door;
after opening, we compare the marker marks on the door and frame (the lines must be parallel).

If there is a skew, adjustment will help (described in the paragraphs above).

Scratches and chips on plastic

Liquid plastic will help remove small scratches. This remedy is applied to the damaged area. After drying, the procedure is repeated.

Elimination of scratches and chips

Plastic surfaces lend themselves well to restoration. Depending on the degree of damage, defects can be eliminated in several ways:

Small scratches are masked using a special pencil or Cosmofen liquid plastic.
Deeper damage and chips are filled with sealant or cosmetic glue. After the filler has dried, the surface of the canvas is sanded with fine sandpaper and covered with decorative paint.

Instructions for doing the work yourself

Before carrying out work, remove the canvas from its hinges and prepare it by removing handles and other accessories from it. The door is cut on a workbench, but if one is not available, a large, stable table will do.

If a solid wood panel needs to be adjusted to the opening due to sagging or rising floors, then it is best to trim the door from below. Take 2 height measurements: at the hinge part and in the vestibule. Transfer the measurements to the canvas, setting aside the new dimensions from the top edge. Draw a straight line through 2 points. To do this, it is advisable to use a long ruler and a square to control the right angles between the edges.

Attach the guide rail according to the marked markings. When using a power tool, it is better to use a metal strip or ruler. If you cut a door with a hand hacksaw, guides made from straight slats will do. Press the template to the canvas with clamps above the markings.

To preserve the layer of varnish and veneer on a polished door, treat it with a grinder. The tool's blade will leave a cut with smooth edges that cannot be made with a saw. You need to guide the angle grinder along the guide bar. Before processing, stick tape along the marking line and transfer the straight line to its surface.

If there is no grinder, the varnish coating on the part to be removed is removed with emery cloth, and the veneer is cut with a sharp knife on both planes of the canvas and on its edge parts. After this, the door can be sawed off along the guide.

Remove the clamps and sand the cut edges with sandpaper. You need to glue an edge strip onto a veneered door, matching its shade to the veneer. If the massive canvas is painted, cover the cut with paint or varnish. Hang the door leaf on the frame, eliminate distortions and attach the removed fittings.

Work is performed in the same sequence when replacing the canvas: the standard dimensions of the new product can be changed in height and width. When performing work, you need to consider what the product is made of.

Basic rules for dismantling

Plastic is not a very durable material, but if additional substances are added to it, the PVC structure can last for many years. Plastic doors are very popular. They are installed not only in residential premises, but also in offices, factories, and warehouses. The doors can be easily dismantled if you know the algorithm of actions. Regardless of the model, this process is similar, but it is worth considering the main nuances:

First of all, it is worth studying the features of a particular door. Sometimes it can be made from a combination of materials. Moreover, collapsible doors, which are assembled in parts, have become fashionable. They are disassembled in a similar way, therefore, in order to get to the hinges or completely dismantle the door, you will need to carry out the assembly process in reverse order;
To avoid causing damage to the structure, first unscrew and remove all door hardware. Removing loops can be especially difficult. If the door is old, then most likely they will be made of steel and cast. In this case, removing the canvas will cause serious difficulties;
Some doors are installed immediately with the frame, so removal will require removing the entire structure from the doorway. Afterwards you need to put the door on the floor, and in a horizontal position deal with the hinges;
When removing hinges, we must not forget that most of them are equipped with pins. Only after the pins have been removed can the door leaf be removed. Most often there are three of them, on volumetric doors there are four;
If the door is massive and has additional wooden or glass inserts, then the product will have considerable weight. In this case, you cannot do without an assistant.

Most often, the loops are mounted at the same distance from each other. This is due to the fact that such a move allows you to distribute the load from the mass of the door leaf and avoid sagging hinges. When it comes to cast hinges, the task will be more difficult, but modern hinges have long been produced as collapsible ones.

To understand how to remove a plastic door from its hinges correctly and quickly, you can watch a video that will clearly show the correct procedure.

Advice from professionals

A panel made of solid wood or MDF can be cut from the bottom if it does not have panels or their imitation. If there is a symmetrical decor, it is better to trim on both sides, dividing the size of the cut part by 2. These measurements are set aside from each edge, without disturbing the symmetry of the top and bottom panels. Do the same if you need to reduce the standard width of the door leaf.

Hollow frame doors should not be shortened too much. The product consists of wooden blocks of limited thickness. When performing work, you need to leave at least 1-1.5 cm of the frame bar inside the canvas. You can shorten the door as indicated for the design with panels - at the top and bottom. When trying to install a standard door in a small opening, the molded frame materials are shortened to measure and secured in the opening. The dimensions of the sash will have to be adjusted using the technology described above.

Solid wood canvas sometimes swells due to excess moisture and does not fit well into the frame. This problem can be eliminated with a plane or a grinder (hand router). Remove the blade, place it on a workbench and process its edge with a cutting tool, removing a few millimeters of chips from the desired side. Hang the door and test its movement. If the problem is not resolved, repeat the treatment.

To get an even cut of an array when using a circular saw, you will need a disk with a large number of small teeth. But even under this condition, it will not be possible to cut the veneered product efficiently. For MDF panels, it is better to use a jigsaw, and carry out the work in compliance with the rules protecting the veneer layer (sticking tape, cutting through the veneer).

If it is possible to use a manual router, then you should only choose it for the job. The tool will make an even and clear cut, and the cutting line will not have to be processed additionally either on a massive product, or on MDF or a frame model. To properly apply the edge tape, use PVA glue and an iron. The adhesive layer must be applied to the cut of the canvas and allowed to dry. Place the tape on the edge of the door and iron it through the paper with a hot iron. After cooling, cut off the excess tape with a sharp knife and lightly rub the edges with sandpaper.

Possible breakdowns

There are several typical breakdowns that occur most often. Such breakdowns include:

Problematic opening and closing of the door (problems caused by adjustment failure, in particular sagging and distortion of the structure);
Insufficient tightness of the door handle to the door leaf, looseness of the mechanism;
Broken fittings, in particular: locks, other locking mechanisms, handles, latches;
Cracks and other damage to the glass unit;
Problems with the door seal;
The need to restore the canvas due to mechanical damage.

Adjustment

Scheme of primary adjustment of hinges and clamping mechanism.

We will find out further how to adjust a plastic balcony door. Whatever fastenings and fittings the system is equipped with, its adjustment is carried out according to the same principle.

It is carried out by installers who carry out installation work.

During operation, owners must assess the need for adjustment themselves. For example, in a practical way you can determine the clamping density. To raise the door along the vertical axis, it is necessary to adjust the screw located in the lower end hinge. For these purposes, a hex key (5 mm) is used.

The position of the lock strike plate is adjusted using a hex key (2.5 mm) or using a flat-head screwdriver. To do this, you need to insert the tool you have into the counterplates and bring the moving element into the desired (correct) position;
Hinges may need to be adjusted if functionality is lost. These hinges are made of a special metal alloy. The purpose of the hinges is to connect the sashes and the frame. The presence of hinges gives us the opportunity to open and close.

Scheme for adjusting the balcony door when sagging.

How to adjust the door yourself or call a professional for help? They have the necessary experience and high-quality installation and installation instructions. Adjusting plastic doors with your own hands is not always considered advisable. According to existing European standards, the number of cycles for hinges (opening/closing) reaches 200,000.

The design of the hinge mechanism involves the presence of a sash part with a metal insert, a frame part with existing fastening pins, a spacer bushing (for connection), as well as a Teflon frame.

You can also get acquainted with the technology on the websites of manufacturers of such structures. But not everything is so simple; with insufficient knowledge and skill, the structure can easily be rendered unusable (broken), so if there is such an opportunity, it is better to use the help of specialists.

Poor opening/closing of the sash

You should not ignore any slight change in the tightness of the door, since even a slight sagging can lead to more serious deformations of the door leaf. The faster you fix the problem, the lower the risk of other breakdowns and the greater the level of comfort in the room. This operating defect can occur for several reasons:

The real reason for incomplete opening/closing is not always obvious. To quickly find and fix it, it is recommended to sequentially inspect and adjust important components.

Adjusting the hinges

This is the first and main type of minor repair of a balcony door and is performed as follows:

Adjusting the eccentrics

A common problem, which is especially noticeable in winter, is the gaps in the line where the canvas meets the frame. Through them, cold air, noise and dust enter the room. At the side end of the door there are several eccentrics that can be used to adjust the tightness of the door.

Insert the hex key into the trunnion

You can detect problem areas using paper: clamp a small sheet of paper between the canvas and the frame and close the door tightly. If the fit is good, then it will hold without falling and moving. Otherwise, you need to adjust the eccentric to the desired level. In the same way, check the tight fit of the sash to the frame along the entire height of the door, and make adjustments if necessary. If it blows from the direction of the loop itself:

Unpleasant situations happen when the door is completely blocked, or is left hanging on one hinge, in this case, watch the video instructions:

Replacing the seal

Expired service life and mechanical damage to the rubber seal are the next probable cause of sagging and poor fit of the canvas. As a rule, the service life of gaskets is several years after the door is installed, then they need to be replaced. Sequence of work:

If these manipulations do not lead to an improvement in the situation, it is better to contact specialists - the fittings may need to be replaced.

How to trim a panel door with fiberboard panels

Panel or frame-honeycomb doors with canvases or linings made of fiberboard are the best solution when replacing only the door leaf (hanging the leaf on an old door frame), as well as for installing doors in non-standard doorways in walls and partitions. By non-standard, I mean openings with a height of less than 2.03 m and a width of less than 68 cm, which is not so rare in houses, “Khrushchev”, panel, block and brick houses with cement screed or gypsum panels on the floor.

Replacing a door completely is time-consuming, expensive, noisy and dirty. Especially if you have to widen the doorway. In houses with brick or block walls and partitions, to increase the height of the doorway, you will first have to install new lintels. In panel houses, some residents destroy the upper part of the reinforced concrete panel of the load-bearing walls. Not that this greatly reduces the load-bearing capacity of the walls, but there is enough noise and dust. Installing a door in such an opening can take up to 2 weeks, taking into account the sealing of the slopes. The installation price (excluding the cost of the door) can be up to $200-300.

How to secure the box?

The installation of plastic doors begins with the installation of the frame; for this you need to do the following:

A door frame is inserted into a pre-prepared doorway. For convenience, it can be tilted; make sure that the edges of the product are at the same distance from the walls. This will guarantee that the door will be installed smoothly.
You will need to prepare in advance a slatted level, the size of which will be at least half a meter, and several wedges with which you will level the structure. In addition, when installing with bolts, you will need a hammer drill, a drill, fasteners and a hammer. All this needs to be kept at hand.
Installation of plastic doors and windows occurs in approximately the same way. First, the level is placed on the threshold and wedges are driven under it. It is necessary to ensure that the box stands perfectly level, otherwise the sash will quickly sag and will not be able to open normally, or problems with it will arise immediately. The same procedure is done with the sides of the structure. They are knocked down with wedges, achieving an even position. Fixing the door should begin from the top of the doorway, then move to the bottom.

Advice: when installing, you must ensure that the box is pressed tightly against all placed stops and does not deviate from them. It is more convenient to do the work together.

The installation of plastic doors should not begin until you make sure that the frame is in the correct position, does not deviate to one side, or is skewed. If a misalignment occurs, the frame needs to be adjusted and checked whether it is positioned correctly using a building level. It is more convenient to start installation from the side of the canopies from the top of the structure.

Tip: Once you have installed the screws and dowels, do not tighten them too tightly. The door frame may still need to be adjusted.

It is very important that the box stands level, especially if you decide to use dowels and anchors instead of foam. Anchors can bend the profile.

How to shorten a PVC door. Trouble-shooting

Users are interested in how to shorten a plastic door with their own hands. This can be done if you have the skills and appropriate tools.

accurate measurements are taken;
the lower part of the canvas, frame is cut off;
a reinforced insert (impost) is attached with self-tapping screws;
the seams are covered with sealant.

Let's look at other types of operational problems, as well as methods for eliminating them.

The door sags

Caring for a plastic door involves periodic adjustment. To eliminate the sagging, you will need a hexagon (4 mm) and two screwdrivers (flat, Phillips).

The door opens wide.
The cover is removed.
Make 3 turns with the key clockwise.

Thus, the product will be pulled up to the jamb and the sagging will be eliminated.

When manipulations with the upper loop do not produce results, the lower one is adjusted, which has 2 screws (vertically and horizontally).

Blowing from the balcony door

This sign indicates the need to replace the sealing cord. To do this, the old element is removed using a screwdriver, the installation site is cleaned of dirt and prepared for installing a new one.

Before laying a new seal, the groove is coated with glue. Start installation from the corner, stroking with your finger so that the glue sets.

To prevent this problem from recurring as often as possible, lubricate the sealing cord with glycerin twice a year (increases elasticity).

The door handle is loose

The fittings also periodically fail. When door handles become loose, a simple solution to the problem is to tighten them using special screws.

There is a plastic strip at the base of the handle that hides the mounting screws. By turning it 90 degrees, we gain access to them and tighten them with a screwdriver.

Crack in plastic

But some cracks cannot be repaired without calling a specialist. Therefore, before you start working on the problem yourself, consult with repair companies.

The door closes tightly

How to eliminate a squeak

To eliminate the squeak, the same adjustment will be required. First, you need to wipe and lubricate the hinges, and then loosen them until the creaking disappears.

It is better to repeat the lubrication procedure periodically as a preventive measure.

Causes of defects

Main components that need to be checked during installation.

After the installation of the plastic system is completed, adjustment is carried out simultaneously with a stability check. Fastening is done using loops, several on each side. Adjustment of plastic balcony doors, or more precisely, their movement, is carried out using screws located in the hinges.

In order to have free access to these screws, you first need to remove the decorative elements (covers) covering them. Traditionally, the design is equipped with three hinges. The doors need to be opened to their full width and the screw that secures the door must be unscrewed from the back of the hinges. For these purposes, use a hexagon (3 mm);
After closing, you need to remove the decorative elements covering the screws. To make adjustments in the horizontal plane, use a horizontal screw (long).

How to adjust the clamping mechanism if, when opening or closing, the door or handle is not functional enough.

If there is a need to shift to the left or right, then you will need to twist all the existing loops (usually three). To correct the position of the opposite edge of the canvas, you need to tighten the screws of two hinges at the same time.

In order to carry out repairs correctly, you need to know what to adjust or repair. More precisely, to determine what exactly caused the existing defect.

Most often, the reasons are sagging under the weight of its own weight, loose fit to the seal as a result of low pressing force, weakening of the hinges, and so on.

If you are having difficulty opening or closing or the handle is not functional enough, then it is time for a change. Also, the need for adjustment is indicated by such a circumstance as the presence of a draft.

This means that there are gaps in the structure, which should be absent if done well.

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Individuality of PVC structures

Products made of polyvinyl chloride are made with the addition of components (stabilizers, pigments) that increase strength and resistance to ultraviolet rays and other natural causes. The structures also include elements that reduce deformation in the event of physical damage.

PVC is a highly flammable material, resistant to alkalis and acids. It contains no parts that are harmful to human health.

PVC structures react to temperature changes as follows:

Lowering the air temperature increases the elasticity of products, but at the same time their fragility increases. Installing plastic structures in winter (at temperatures below -15 degrees Celsius) is associated with the risk of structural failure.
High temperatures mean softening of the plastic, so installing structures in very warm rooms is undesirable.

The main aspect when installing PVC products is their compliance with the list of requirements depending on the purpose.