Selecting and installing a double handle for a balcony door

Installing a double-sided handle on a balcony door is an important issue that should be approached responsibly. In order to efficiently install an element that no door can do without, you need to study the features and sequence of the process. And also at the stage of planning repair work, you should decide what exactly the product will be, because there are many different types of door handles.

Double-sided handle for balcony door

Types of door handles

Depending on the mechanism, double-sided handles can be:

1. Standard (stationary).
2. Movable.

Standard handle

Products such as a stationary door handle are a conventional design, on both sides of which there is an element that, when pulled, opens the door.

In its structure, the stationary handle has a metal plate, which is located inside the door structure. On both sides of this plate there is a thread into which the functional part is screwed or places for screws so that the handle can be screwed on.

Movable handle

If it is enough to install and adjust the placement of a stationary element, then to install movable door handles you need to have some skills. The movable handles have a locking mechanism in their structure. In turn, this type of handle is divided into two types:

1. Rotary.

   
   Rotary handle for balcony door

2. Push.

In the first case, the mechanism works like a handle for a loggia and balcony. You need to turn the door handle to the side or lower it and the latch opens.

In a push latch for a balcony or interior door, the latch mechanism is activated when the protruding part is pressed and then rotated.

There are also several types of how to install it. Overhead mechanisms and mortise installation systems. The installation method is determined initially and is known when purchasing the product. The installation option determines what tools and materials you need to purchase.

Double-sided handle installation process

The movable handle is a mechanism that is worth paying attention to when you need to choose a balcony handle. These are the most popular types of handles for balcony doors and loggias. A double-sided handle is usually installed on a plastic balcony door.

Installation of accessories

Now let's look at how to install a double-sided handle on a balcony door. Before proceeding with the actual installation, it is recommended to prepare all the tools that will be needed during installation:

• Screwdriver and drills of the required size;
• Metal knife;
• Double-sided handle.

The entire installation process is carried out in several stages:

• The old fittings are being dismantled;
• A new hole is drilled, but if the double-sided handle is mounted on a plastic balcony door with the same diameter as the old holes, then there is no need to make new ones;
• Separate the double-sided structure into two parts;
• In the center, the handle fastening should be 8 mm, and the holes for the screws should be 6 mm;
• Before drilling holes for screws, you need to mark them using a simple pencil;
• The fittings are attached to the finished holes using special fasteners, but it is important to install sealing rubber at the screw locations;
• After the handle is screwed on, a special decorative cap is attached to the screws so that the fittings look harmonious and beautiful;
• When the handle is completely installed, you need to check its operation by opening and closing the mechanism several times.

It is important to pay attention to the tightness of the door leaf to the frame to ensure good thermal insulation.

Thus, before installing a double-sided handle on a plastic balcony door, you need to decide on the type of mechanism, its external design and reliability. With the right approach to choosing a handle, you can protect your home from drafts, cold and the penetration of ill-wishers.

What's good about a double-sided handle?

It is not without reason that double-sided handles are often the choice of those who have plastic balcony doors. After all, installing such a handle allows you to freely open the door structure, both from the side of the apartment and from the street. The main advantages due to which they rely on this type of handle are:

1. The double-sided handle lock hardware can be used for many years. As a rule, this is a strong, durable metal handle inside, which has a reliable mechanism.

2. On the outside and inside, this element can be made of different materials. Most often it is plastic, but it can also be metal, glass and other types of coatings.
3. The structure of double-sided handles includes a mechanism called a locking mechanism. Thanks to this, the door closes tightly, protecting the room from drafts, dust and cold. Hermetic closing of the doors ensures the correct location and fixation of the structure. In addition, the metal mechanism of the double-sided handles has heat-resistant material inside its structure. This ensures stable operation of the movable locking mechanism, regardless of whether it is cold or warm outside.

   
   Diagram of the design of the double-sided handle mechanism for the door to the balcony

4. The handle is usually narrow. Therefore, it looks harmonious and aesthetically pleasing on any door structure.

The need to install a double-sided handle on a balcony door, as a rule, arises after the installation of plastic windows. Few people can foresee in advance that this will be needed, because new windows are not installed often. However, the majority of citizens who smoke almost immediately face the problem of tobacco smoke being drawn into the apartment through a poorly closed balcony door. After all, it is impossible to close it with a handle from the outside, and ordinary balcony latches practically do not prevent the penetration of smoke. The obvious way out is to install a double-sided handle on the door. But even a “master with golden hands” will not be able to double simple window handles with a common long pin, due to the design of the standard plastic sash. A normal sized handle just won't fit on the outside. Let me say, I saw such a door with my own eyes! And it’s simple: factory-made balcony doors with a double-sided handle are made from a wider profile, equipped with other fittings, and, of course, cost more. A special set will help solve the problem of installing a double-sided handle on a regular plastic balcony door. The outer handle is narrow, which allows it to fit into tight spaces near the frame. For added security, a lock is often installed on the inside handle. If you are away from home for a long time, you can lock the balcony door with an external handle, which is especially important for residents of the upper floors.

First, you need to determine whether such a double-sided handle is suitable for your door. After all, if mistakes are made when installing windows, even a narrow external handle can rest against the frame when closing the balcony door. Using a pencil, draw a vertical line right along the edge of the rubber seal, thus indicating the amount of overlap of the frame on the sash in the closed position.

The width of the marked strip should be no more than 6-7 mm. If it is larger than 8mm, you need to adjust the balcony door first, otherwise the outside handle will not fit.

In most ordinary plastic windows, the main (inner) handle is located at a distance of 35 mm from the outer edge of the sash. In this case, the back mass of the lock (the distance from the center of the handle axis to the edge of the fold) is 15 mm.

We check, and if everything matches, you can proceed to installing the headset.
Important!
Next comes the most critical stage of work. To eliminate possible mistakes and not spoil the appearance of the sash, you should not install a double-sided handle on the balcony door yourself! This should be done by an experienced specialist! Based on the size of the backbone, the position of the lock, the size and shape of the sash, future holes are marked.

The photo shows a 60 mm profile with a flat rebate; in this case, it is easiest to correctly mark the drilling locations. In sashes of 70 mm or more, the street side is usually narrowed, and you need to measure directly from the inner rebate, and not from the edge of the sash. After everything has been double-checked and “measured seven times,” you need to attach the outer handle to the marking, make sure once again that it will not interfere with the door closing, and only then start drilling. The fittings are removed, partially or completely. It is better to first mark the holes with a thin drill (I use 3 mm), then drill out to 10 mm. Inside, in most cases, you need to go through a layer of metal. It is not advisable to drill with a diameter greater than 10 mm; markings are done as accurately as possible.

Once the through holes are drilled, the outer handle is fitted in place and the door hardware is reinstalled. All that remains is to cut the screws from the kit to the required length, and sometimes shorten the pin (depending on the thickness of the sash), clear the profile from the marks, and assemble the set.

That's it, the double-sided handle is installed on the balcony door.

Now it closes tightly and securely from the outside, and the noisy balcony latch can be completely removed. Your loved ones will be happy!

Why is a double-sided handle bad?

Along with many advantages, there is also a disadvantage that can be called big. This disadvantage is a decrease in the level of security. Not surprising, because the handle, which opens from the street side on the balcony, can be an excellent option for intruders to enter the premises. However, manufacturers have thought through this nuance by equipping the double-sided handles with anti-burglary mechanisms.

First of all, the issue of safety should concern people living on the first or last floors, where it is easiest for unwanted individuals to enter. If the balcony is glazed or equipped with a grille through which no one can get in, then you can safely consider the option of a double-sided handle. But you still need to control so that part of the door structure is not open. At a minimum, this will help maintain a normal temperature level in the room.

Shell design and application

“Shell”, “petal”, toffee handle - this is the name for a simple design for convenient control of the door from the outside. It would be appropriate to mount such a handle on a plastic door that is already equipped with a mechanism with a latch on the inside. Full fixation of the canvas is necessary, otherwise the product will not perform its main role - to protect the room from cold, dust, dirt, and may be damaged during gusts of wind.

A regular petal handle resembles a flower petal or a shell flap made of plastic or aluminum. The design is so simple and concise that additional decorative elements are inappropriate here. Rather, on the contrary, one of the design features is invisibility.

Choosing a double-sided handle for a balcony door

The choice of pens today is quite large.

Balcony door handles in various colors

Therefore, a person inexperienced in repair work may simply be confused when he sees the variety of offers on the store shelves. When choosing a handle for a balcony door, you should consider the following nuances:

1. You can opt for a standard universal handle. It will fit into the design of a standard, ordinary door.

2. Experts who install handles in door structures recommend paying attention to double-sided handles from a German or Austrian manufacturer. Such fittings will cost a little more than domestic ones, but they will last much longer.

3. The external material of the product can be very different. The main thing is that it fits into the color scheme and quality of the door structure. But special attention should be paid to the mechanism of the product itself. The internal part of the structure must be made of metal. The service life of the fittings depends on the quality of this material.

   
   Double-sided balcony handle with lock

Considering all the above details, you can choose the perfect handle for your balcony door. In order for the handle to fully perform its functions, it must also be installed correctly. To do this, you should study the installation process in detail.

Comfortable purchasing conditions and favorable prices

aims to create maximum comfort in purchasing and provide customers with favorable conditions for purchasing goods. The convenient interface of the store and a wide range of handles for plastic balcony doors make it possible to significantly simplify the choice of products and place an order in the shortest possible time.

By using our service, you can get many significant advantages:

• high quality products confirmed by relevant certificates;
• competent consultations from specialists on the selection of a suitable headset;
• fast delivery of orders in Moscow or regions of the Russian Federation;
• a wide range of payment options - from cash to electronic payments.

Regardless of whether you need one plastic balcony handle or a wholesale batch of goods, we in any case guarantee mutually beneficial cooperation and quality service for each customer!

Faulty balcony handle: replacement rules

Those who installed plastic windows and balcony doors more than 15 years ago, in the 90s, when the structures were just coming into use, know that a handle for a PVC balcony door was the norm in those days. Manufacturers then did not pay special attention to developing truly practical design solutions for fittings, limiting themselves to ordinary plastic handles for the inside of the balcony door.

More than half of the owners of the first PVC windows and doors have handles that have not survived to this day. Some of the fittings have been preserved, but with major flaws in appearance and an obvious violation of functionality.

The desire of the owners of structures that are still working, but have already lost their presentability, to replace the old handle and install an additional “shell” on the back side of the balcony door is logical and justified.

The operation of replacing an old handle with a new one is simple, and the functionality and appearance of the structure will noticeably improve.

It will be enough to select the appropriate fittings (see recommendations above) and install it in place of the old handle.

Almost any modern handle will fit on a balcony or loggia door, including those with more than 20 years of service. The exception is some products made in the USA, but they are not so often found on the domestic market.

Recommendations for choosing a double-sided balcony handle

There are some nuances that you need to know about when choosing fittings. For example, it is important that the handle for a balcony door is suitable for profiles with a thickness of 50 to 70 mm.

An equally significant point is the manufacturer. By giving preference to products from trusted Austrian or German companies, you can be confident in the quality of the products. The cost of European-made fittings is slightly higher than the cost of domestic and Chinese analogues, however, the difference between the products is so noticeable that the costs will seem more than justified.

It is also worth taking into account the type of material used to make the fittings. As mentioned above, the handle for the balcony door, fixed from the outside, must be resistant to weather conditions. The best option is metal products. They are more practical than their plastic counterparts.

The handle mechanism, like the body, must be reliable and made of practical material. Silumin, actively used by Chinese manufacturers, does not meet the expectations of consumers. Strong and durable at first glance, such a mechanism fails before the body of the product wears out.

A significant point is the choice of a product that matches the general style of the window, balcony door, and the interior of the room as a whole. Correctly selected colors, shape, and material will help avoid disharmony in the design of the structure.

Installing a balcony handle: stages

To make installing a double-sided handle cost nothing, you can try to install it yourself. To do this, you should prepare a minimum set of tools:

• knife;
• screwdriver;
• double-sided handle;
• cutting machine;
• drill.

Installation is carried out in several stages:

1. Prepare holes to fix the handle on both sides, drilling out the existing ones to 8 mm in the center.
2. Markings are applied to the door leaf for fastening screws, after which 2 holes are prepared on both sides (6 mm) from the central one.
3. Secure the handle with mounting screws. If the seal protrudes beyond the fastening zones, it is trimmed.
4. The screws are covered with decorative plugs.

At the final stage, the through handle is tested in operating mode. A properly secured product does not loosen, operates silently, and there are no gaps when the door is closed.