Handle for a plastic balcony door: what are they and how to choose?

Any plastic balcony or window systems of various modifications have become commonplace in both office and residential premises. Therefore, most owners of PVC products sooner or later face the problem of failure of components such as the handle. After all, any components of the structure tend to break during prolonged use. Of course, replacing it would seem to present no difficulties. But, in order to forget about the problem with the handles of plastic products for a long time, you need to know their variety, modifications and advantages.

The handle on the balcony door is not as primitive as it seems. In fact, it can be quite a complex device with a variety of functions

Rules for choosing a balcony door handle

When planning to purchase a handle for a plastic balcony door, read the main rules for choosing it. It should be understood that the balcony space is regularly exposed to temperature changes and is influenced by humidity. These nuances must be taken into account when choosing such an element.

Also pay attention to:

• brand;
• material.

The manufacturer's brand is important, since the quality of the product, its service life, and appearance depend on the responsibility of the manufacturer. Today, companies such as Maco, Roto and others enjoy credibility among buyers. It is branded fittings that can boast of high quality workmanship. On the Internet, you can first read customer reviews about the brand you are interested in. Remember, good balcony fittings a priori cannot be cheap.

We advise you to give preference to products made in Germany. Many German brands have been producing accessories for more than 100 years, and therefore can guarantee its first-class quality and durability.

The material of manufacture is another relevant factor. Craftsmen who regularly repair such fittings recommend purchasing solutions made of metal or plastic. The fact is that these materials are distinguished by their durability, reliability, and resistance to any weather influences (heat, cold, high humidity, etc.). The handle for the balcony can be made of plastic, but the main mechanism must be made of metal. Evaluate the latter for strength and quality. Some Chinese brands try to pass off salumin as real metal. Such a product will not serve you for long, and it is not possible to repair it.

Photos of examples of handle design for a plastic balcony door

It is necessary to take into account that at the moment there is a large assortment of handles for door and window structures of PVC products on the market. Handles can be made of either plastic or metal. Their color can be very diverse with imitation of different textures.

When purchasing such a product, you need to choose only high-quality handles from well-known manufacturers. Due to the fact that they always bear a high mechanical load, they must meet all quality standards. Only in this case will their service life be long.

What types of balcony handles are there?

After reviewing the market offers, you can make a brief classification of the types of handles for balcony doors. This:

1. Single and double sided.
2. Petals.
3. Seashells.
4. Anti-vandal.

When assessing other parameters of such accessories, they are also classified according to:

1. Material.
2. The nature of the fastener.
3. Color and shape.
4. The appearance of the structure.

Single-sided - an inexpensive solution, but not very practical, with the simplest possible design. It is not always convenient to use them precisely because the handle is only on one side.

One-sided

Double-sided handles for the balcony door are the most popular. They are usually distinguished by a symmetrical design and reliable, durable plastic. These are ideal solutions suitable for almost any balcony door. They are characterized by excellent performance parameters, simplicity and durability of operation. Both sides of the structure are united by a durable square metal rod.

Double-sided for the door to the balcony

Petal handles - used more often for installation on the outside of the door leaf. The material from which they are made for the most part is plastic. Self-tapping screws are used for fixation.

Petal handle

Shell handles – these handles are often made from plastic or aluminum. This fittings are usually mounted on the outside of the door leaf. As a result, you can quickly close the door. This makes it especially convenient if you use the balcony for smoking. The product is fastened with 2 self-tapping screws. Anti-vandal doors are an excellent option for balcony doors located on the first and second floors, as well as in rooms where there is a high risk of unauthorized entry. They are resistant to mechanical stress, strong and reliable. They are based on a special protective mechanism, which makes it almost impossible to open or break them. If an unauthorized opening is attempted (without a key), the mechanism is immediately blocked.

Types by installation method

Before choosing and installing handles on the balcony door, you need to decide how it will be mounted:

• Invoices - basically, these are stationary fittings that are attached directly to the surface of the door leaf from the street side;

• Mortise - the locking mechanism is mounted inside the door, most often by the manufacturer of the window unit, which ensures high reliability of the entire system. These include single-sided and double-sided fittings.

The door is closed using a latch:

• magnetic;
• halved;
• roller

To fix the roller and halve latch on the end of the box, a plate with a hole is attached opposite the locking device installed in the door leaf. When the door is closed, the latch enters the hole in the plate and holds the door in the closed position due to the spring located inside the handle mechanism.

The most durable and simplest option is magnetic fixation, which consists of a magnet at one end and a metal strip at the other.

It is worth adding that the door requires adjustment from time to time due to its sagging during the operational period. Otherwise, the latch may not fit into the groove intended for it.

Latches for balcony doors

In addition to a handle for a plastic balcony door, you may also be interested in purchasing a type of door hardware such as a latch. With proper selection, installation and operation, it can make the door structure convenient and safe. This locking element was created specifically for a high degree of security of the premises from burglary. It is popularly called the “Smoker’s Latch”. Thanks to the installation of such a small but necessary unit, you will forget what it is like to be closed on the balcony. For example, when you go out onto the balcony to hang your laundry or smoke, you simply slam it shut, and then open it again with a slight movement.

You can find these types on sale:

1. Mechanical . These roller latches have a simple operating principle. A roller is mounted on the door end, and a counter part is mounted on the frame, which fixes the roller itself. The counter part is equipped with two hooks, between which the roller “walks” and is grabbed.
2. Fale . This type of latch is reliable and of high quality. However, to install it, you will need to change the entire lock, because... The latch is one part of the lock.
3. PVC latches or latches . They are mounted both on the outside and on the inside of the door. In fact, it is a type of rotary deadbolt (overhead type). Durable, holds the door leaf well. But at the same time, they enjoy little popularity - they spoil the aesthetics, and in force majeure situations they are forced to choose double-glazed windows.
4. Magnetic . Functional, inexpensive, easy to use. The principle of operation is quite obvious - a steel plate is attached to the door end, and a counter part, inside of which a magnet is placed, is attached to the door frame. This type of latches rarely breaks, since there are no complex mechanisms. This fittings do not require maintenance (lubrication, replacement of components).

The maximum benefits of such accessories can be felt by purchasing products from a German or Austrian company. Plastic handles inside must have a metal mechanism, otherwise the design is unlikely to last long.

Which material should you prefer?

The shape and color are chosen depending on the design solution in the interior, but the material is selected for reasons of strength and durability. Thus, handles for plastic balcony doors in an apartment will harmonize perfectly with the window unit if they are made of the same PVC material.

The main thing is to choose a trusted manufacturer to be confident in the quality and strength of the material. For a standard white window unit, a good solution would also be to choose a white metal balcony handle made from aluminum, steel, and brass alloys.

Steel and brass will provide a long service life due to their ability to withstand significant mechanical loads. Aluminum will help maintain lightness.

Advantages of a double-sided handle

Due to the fact that the double-sided type of handles for a balcony door is most often chosen, let’s consider their advantages:

1. They are based on a reliable, strong mechanism made of metal.
2. The product is convenient, an alternative to a shell handle or latch.
3. Soft locking mechanism.
4. Hermetic closure.
5. Resistant to temperature changes.
6. There are a lot of available options for such fittings (from a combination of materials - fiberglass, metal-ceramics, etc.).
7. Narrow design (as a result, you can mount it on a door profile of any width).

Types of door handles

An inexperienced person can easily get confused when going to the market or store to buy door fittings. After all, the choice today is huge. Therefore, you need to know what door handles are in principle. There are universal options that fit into the design of ordinary doors, i.e. suitable for standard 50-70 mm metal-plastic profiles. And this is 90% of all modern balcony doors.

Masters recommend Austrian and German manufacturers. Their products are more expensive than domestic ones, but much more durable. It is better to ignore Chinese manufacturers completely. As practice has shown, their fittings begin to fall apart after just six months of use. The choice of color and handle material for the balcony is a matter of taste, but the color should be in harmony with the window. In addition, the design of the fittings must match other details; if the door is old, this may be difficult. In any case, purely plastic products should be avoided due to their unreliability and fragility.

The most important thing is a reliable rotating mechanism, on which the durability of all fittings depends. It should definitely be metal, but nuances are possible here too. For example, the Chinese love an alloy such as silumin, and it is almost as fragile as plastic.

And according to the type of mechanism, double-sided handles are divided into stationary and movable.

Stationary ones are simply attached to the door leaf; the doors open if you pull or push the handle. Stationary models have a metal plate with double-sided threads or external holes for screws.

The movable handles have a built-in locking mechanism; these are more complex products that come in two types:

• Rotary. In order for the door latch to open, such a handle must be turned to the side.
• Push. In order for the door latch to open, you need to press the protruding part of this model.

Installing a double-sided handle

How the attachment to the balcony door will take place depends on its type. Special skills are not needed to install petal handles and shells. But installing a double-sided one will require some skill, experience, and knowledge from you. The following tools are usually used in the work: electric drill, screwdriver, grinder (an alternative is a hacksaw). If you do not have minimal experience in interacting with these types of tools, it is better to entrust the matter to specialists.

Traditionally, they are performed according to the following algorithm:

1. First, the factory structure is carefully dismantled (the screws are unscrewed and the structure is removed from the door connector).
2. The location is marked for installation of a metal square rod.
3. At the designated points, a drill with a thin drill is used to drill through the door profile.
4. The hardware strip is removed from the door end and a hole is drilled: it is suitable for placing a metal square. A groove is made in the door leaf to install the clamp tongue.
5. The handle is assembled, and the craftsman measures the required length of the metal square.
6. Use a hacksaw or grinder to cut off any excess from the metal rod.
7. We assemble again, mark and drill places for holes for fasteners (the diameter usually does not exceed 3 mm).
8. Next, we fix it (we use strong self-tapping screws of the appropriate size).

Each of the mounting holes is decorated with masking elements. This is optional.

Helpful advice. If your plans include installing a balcony door, you can order the delivery of both the door leaf and the factory handle for it. This will ensure high quality of the entire design and fittings, comfort and durability of its use.

Installation of different types of handles on PVC doors

If you are glazing the balcony yourself, then the pressing problem will be not only the selection of the necessary fittings, but also their correct installation. Each type has its own characteristics in installing the handle. Let's deal with them.

Installation of one-sided handle

When installing a one-sided structure, proceed as follows:

1. Insert the handle into the hole provided for this purpose in the frame, then turn it to the “open” position.
2. Then we pull it out and insert it strictly horizontally.
3. Tighten the screws until they stop. If you screw them loosely, the structure will not function well and will wear out quickly.
4. Screw on the decorative strip.