Selection and installation of the best balcony latch for a plastic door

The need to install a balcony latch appears when replacing old balcony doors with new ones, breaking the old locking mechanism, or when moving to a new building. You can also come across the phenomenon that the lock is not included when purchasing a new balcony door.

Don’t rush to call a specialist, because installing the latch does not require any extra skills and there is an opportunity to save on it .

About which latch to choose, the installation and adjustment steps are given in this article.

Types of latches - what to choose

At the moment, the market offers three main types of latches - halyard, mechanical and magnetic.

If we rank latches for balcony doors by popularity, then the first place is occupied by the magnetic latch, the second by the mechanical latch, and the third by the latch.

It is worth noting that the halyard latch takes third place due to the difficulty of installation and price, but in terms of functionality this latch is ahead of magnetic and mechanical ones.

Below is a description of each of the latches.

Magnetic

This latch is the simplest, most affordable and reliable of all presented. The mechanism consists of a magnet that is attached to the balcony frame and a metal plate mounted to the door.

Advantages:

• Easy to install;
• If the door is slightly deformed or sagging, there is no need for adjustment, the mechanism will continue to function;
• Easy and silent closing. There will still be some sounds when closing, but in comparison with other mechanisms this is the quietest option;
• There is virtually no wear. Stable fixation and clamping force are guaranteed for the entire period of operation.

We advise you to give preference to this particular lock.

Prices for magnetic clips vary from 50 to 500 rubles, depending on the brand. The most popular brand is Roto.

Useful tips

• When choosing a magnetic latch, it is a good idea to inquire about the amount of force applied to open the door. If this value is minimal, there may be a leaky fit of the door leaf to the base of the frame; the door can open when there is a gust of wind or from a light accidental touch of a person or pets. Maximum values ​​have their drawbacks - contact of the latch plates will be accompanied by a noisy bang; When the door is closed more tightly, its rubber seal wears out faster.
• The latches produced are universal, they are compatible with most used profiles. But when purchasing, do not be lazy to ask about the compatibility of the purchased mechanism with the profile of your balcony.

• A plastic petal handle will last longer if, when pulling the balcony door, you touch it with your hand not at one point, but along the maximum possible plane.
• The following advice takes real life situations into account. What should a person on a balcony (loggia) do if the door gets jammed due to various technical reasons or human factor? You should definitely not try to open it with strong blows or pushes. The possible result may be disappointing - deformation of frame and door profiles, deformation or breakage of fittings and door lock. After this, you may need to completely replace the balcony block. If you can’t wait for help, knock out the double-glazed window. Replacing it will cost less and will be done much faster. An opaque sandwich panel installed at the bottom of the door leaf is very convenient in such a situation. It is cheaper and breaks without the formation of numerous sharp fragments, like glass.
• If one latch with a magnetic strip does not hold the door in a draft, install another one.
• Sometimes, in order to securely hold the door leaf, it is necessary to adjust the distance between the magnetic latch bars when the door is closed. Washers placed under the bar help reduce the gap. Their number is determined by the quality of the latch.
• When installing a double-sided handle on a door, it is advisable to purchase a multi-point version. In addition to its standard function, it can be locked with a button or key from the room side. This design will protect the home from unauthorized entry through the balcony in the absence of the owners.

• When replacing an old mechanism, it is not necessary to drill new holes. It is enough to install it in the old places with screws of larger diameter.

When installing yourself or replacing latches, it is advisable to use screws: no shorter than 30-35 mm - for fastening the roller cylinder with a safety margin; no longer than 19 mm – when installing an external handle (this ensures that the screw will not reach and damage the glass unit during installation or further operation of the handle).

Installing a Mechanical Latch

The method of installing a mechanical lock is almost identical to installing a magnetic lock.

1. In a specially designated place, unscrew the self-tapping screw, attach the cylinder (dac) and carry out installation. It is important to take a self-tapping screw longer than the one you unscrewed earlier, since the cylinder has its own thickness and the old self-tapping screw may not be enough.

2. Next, opposite the auxiliary part (cylinder), we install the mating part. If there may be a slight error in the installation of the magnetic plate, then when installing the mechanical latch it is necessary that the cylinder fits perfectly into the groove. You can use the method described in the instructions for the magnetic latch, or alternatively, you can take a tape measure and measure the exact distance to the cylinder (dac) from the bottom of the door leaf and transfer this distance to the frame profile, marking it with a pencil.

3. We close the balcony door and check for functionality.

In addition to the text instructions, we recommend that you read the instructions in video format; it shows the installation in more detail, covering all the nuances.

What is a plastic door latch used for?

The main function performed by a balcony latch for plastic doors is to keep the sash from opening spontaneously. At the same time, you need to understand that such an element of fittings is not capable of protecting against burglary. That is, the latch is installed in order to go out onto the balcony, close the door and calmly go about your business. An additional locking system allows a person to open the sash without any effort, but reliably holds it in place in the event of a draft or slight misalignment of the structure, does not allow the hinges to sag under the weight of the door leaf and simplifies the process of closing the sash.

Using a latch in most cases makes it possible to avoid installing an external handle, since it is no longer necessary. Thanks to this element, less cold enters the interior in winter, and heated air enters the interior in summer. There is also no need to ask household members to temporarily close the door from the inside using a handle, hoping that they will not forget about it.

Installation of the petal handle (smoker)

To close the door from the balcony side, install a petal handle (smoker's handle). For a magnetic latch, the absence of this handle is not so critical, but if the choice fell on a mechanical latch, then this handle is necessary.

1. We take the petal and place it in a convenient place on the balcony door. The best option would be a level with a handle on the side of the room.

2. We fasten the handle with 10 mm self-tapping screws.

Note!

When installing the petal handle, you should use screws no larger than 10 mm to avoid damage to the glass unit inside the sash.

We also recommend watching the video instructions.

External handle of balcony door

Sometimes equipping a door with a latch is not enough, since the door needs to be closed from the reverse side. After all, it is almost impossible to pull and press tightly a canvas assembled from smooth plastic profiles. To properly use the balcony door, you need an outside handle. There are several types of them, and the choice of a specific model primarily depends on the type of latch.

Shell

These handles have the simplest design and allow you to quickly press the sash. These models are installed with magnetic, ball or roller latches. They perform the function of a compact grip that allows you to pull and press the door leaf. In case of a strong draft, shells allow you to fix the sash in the closed position by holding it with your hand by the handle. For the manufacture of this front fittings the following is used:

• plastic;
• metal (painted aluminum or alloys made from it).

When choosing a plastic model, you need to take into account that manufacturers often save on stabilizers and modifiers for the PVC mixture when making window components. As a result, the handle can quickly turn yellow, become brittle and break after 3-5 years. Replacing it is not difficult - just unscrew and screw in a couple of screws, but it is better to immediately buy and install a metal model. The maximum that can happen to it is that after 5-7 years of intensive use, the enamel will peel off in fragments.

Double-sided handle for balcony door

This model is most often installed by smokers, since the latches are not able to ensure 100% tightness of the balcony door. If the pressure is not strong enough, large quantities of tobacco smoke are drawn into the room. The problem can only be solved by traditionally closing the sash, when the eccentrics extend behind the strikers and tightly press the sealing contours between the sash and the frame. To implement this method, it is enough to install a double-sided handle. It will allow you to lock the door both from the room and from the balcony.

When such a handle is installed for a plastic balcony door, the outer part may turn out to be incompatible with the profile that was used to assemble the door leaf. To prevent this from happening, the outer grip and socket are designed with a small width. The reduced dimensions allow you to screw a narrow handle on the outside of the profile. Correctly installed fittings will ensure convenient control of the plastic door from the outside. Thanks to the installation of such a handle, there is virtually no need to install latches and the risk of being accidentally locked from the side of the room is eliminated.

When deciding whether to install an exterior handle, safety issues must be taken into account. If your balcony or loggia is not glazed and is located on the first or second floor, there is a high risk that intruders will get into your territory.

The door is blocked and will not open

If, when you try to open the balcony, the handle does not rotate at all (rotates no more than 30 degrees), then you must perform the following steps:

1. Grab the balcony handle with one hand and the sash at the top hinge with the other.
   Read also:  Using a starting profile for slopes of plastic windows
2. We pull the sash at the top hinge towards ourselves while turning the handle. The door opened, but in the tilt-and-turn position.
3. Next, you need to press and place the sash lock vertically down and turn the balcony handle up 90 degrees.

4. The next step is to press the sash as tightly as possible against the hinge and return the handle to the horizontal position. The door is fixed.

Replacing a broken handle

If the balcony handle is faulty or requires replacement, then the procedure for performing the work is as follows:

1. It is necessary to rotate the decorative plastic cover. To do this, slightly pull the cover towards you and turn it to the right or left and install it in a horizontal position.

2. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the two screws.

3. We take out the screws and remove the handle.

4. We install the new handle in place of the old one. It is worth noting that when we removed the old handle it was in a horizontal position, therefore, we install the new handle in the same horizontal position. We turn the handle to a horizontal position, move the decorative cover, insert it into the hole and tighten it with screws.
5. We put the decorative cover in place. Installation completed.

Sealing small cracks

To repair cracks and scratches you will need a cleaner, filler and liquid plastic.

Instructions:

1. Defects, cracks and the area around should be washed with soapy water and wiped dry.
2. Next, the defect is treated with a cleaner. You don't need much of it since it acts as soil.
3. We fill the defect with liquid plastic and level the surface with a rubber spatula if the crack is large or polish it with a paper napkin if it is small.

Do not use colored fabric or synthetic napkins with Cosmofen liquid! Only paper ones, since Cosmofen dissolves paint and synthetic fabric.

Mandatory door hardware

If we consider the mandatory door fittings, then we can distinguish several components:

• Loops. These are special devices on which the door “sits”. They are movable because they provide opportunities for opening/closing doors. Also, they are subjected to a serious load every time, which leads to premature wear;

• Door handles. They can be supplemented with a locking mechanism to fix the position of the door and close it (for example, so that small children do not accidentally go out onto the balcony). But they always have a latch, which is a special clamp. It is installed at the factory regardless of whether the kit will be supplemented with a locking mechanism;

• Seal. It performs the same functional load as the seal on the windows. It is thanks to it that the surfaces adhere tightly to each other. Also, the seal wears out from time to time, so it must be changed periodically;

• Fittings. This is the general name for all the essential components that are used in the production and manufacture of the door. As a rule, such products are characterized by a high degree of reliability, so they almost never need to be replaced. Exceptions include individual structural components.

Construction of a plastic window assembly: glass, profile system, fittings

Loops

The key and fairly simple mechanism of all doors is the hinges. They perform the main function of this structure - they provide opportunities to open or close doors. The hinges take on the entire load. When the gate opens, serious pressure is exerted on them (its entire mass). Therefore, they must be of the highest quality possible, as well as periodically checked for functionality and serviceability.

The loop includes 3 key components. The first is the connecting sleeve. This device is a component that connects the door and the profile. The second component is the pin. This is the basis of the structure, which is level and motionless. And the hinges themselves can rotate. And the last elements are fastenings. They serve only one purpose - to secure the device.

Very often, hinges are not used in the form in which they are produced by the manufacturer. As a rule, they are also supplied with special decorative overlays so as not to spoil the appearance. Old doors were installed without such linings; the hinges looked rather ugly. Now they are covered with decorative elements. By the way, these elements also perform protective functions. The hinges are lubricated and the attachments protect them from the penetration of small debris and dust into the lubricant, which significantly increases durability.

Despite the fact that the doors themselves are plastic, the hinge components are made of durable metal alloys. They can withstand loads of up to 120 kg. Plastic hinges will not withstand such a load.

Typically, only 2 hinges are used when installing a standard door. However, if a massive structure is installed, then 3-loop fittings are used. But in apartments and even private houses, massive structures are usually not installed, so manufacturers produce devices with a 2-loop base.

Decorative overlays for hinges

Fastening must be carried out in accordance with established technology. If you do not adhere to technology, the door will tilt or deform. Therefore, it is not recommended to install the appropriate structure yourself; it is better to entrust the process to specialists. Some individual fittings classified as additional can be installed by yourself, but the main parts must be installed by professionals.

Mikhail Voronov

Ask a Question

Another important point is that the structure needs to be serviced from time to time. It is necessary to remove the decorative trims, clean the surface, remove old grease from it, then add more oil. This will make the loop last longer. It is better to carry out maintenance of all hinges at the same time 1-2 times a year.

Fittings

The fittings are a set of components that are located along the entire perimeter of the structure from the handle. It provides transmission to the trunnions, which are then returned to the handle to close and secure the shutter. If there is a locking mechanism, then it also refers to the fittings. In modern doors, the fittings are made with an additional option - the ability to leave the door in the ventilation position so that fresh air can get inside.

The fittings are made mainly from reliable metal alloys using modern technologies. That is why it rarely fails. But if this happens, then it is recommended to contact special specialized companies that provide relevant services. It should also be noted that the fittings are present not only in doors, but also in window structures. Many consumers are often confused about this issue and buy the wrong kit that is required. Especially if the windows and doors are installed from the same manufacturer and from the same series.

When choosing fittings, consumers will need to pay attention to several key points:

• Products must be reliable and durable. It is advisable to give preference to the same manufacturer who made the door.
• The product must have documentary support. These products are mandatory, therefore characteristic GOSTs are present. And the presence of documents, such as certificates, prove compliance with specified state standards.
• Products must be compatible with the profile. For example, European manufacturers use standard 16-centimeter kits. Therefore, it is very convenient to buy replacement fittings, since all sets will be compatible. However, if you cooperate with dubious manufacturers, then if repairs are necessary, you will need to search for a long time for compatible replacement kits.

Some experts recommend considering assembly technology. If you buy a kit that is easier to install, then the services of specialized organizations will cost much less. And the repair process will take less time.

Purpose of the magnetic latch

Installing a high-quality magnetic latch on a plastic balcony door will help securely fix the door without letting cold outside air into the room. If this is not done, then it will penetrate uncontrollably, as a result of which the microclimate in the room will regularly change.

A plastic door that is not equipped with a latch will only close from the inside, and if you forget to do this, the door will constantly swing open. But if you install a magnetic latch, you can be sure that the canvas, firmly pressed to the frame, does not allow cold air and unpleasant odors, such as tobacco, to pass through.

How to install correctly?

A problem with all mechanical systems is rapid wear. The weight of the structure causes the sash to sag. In this case, the protruding part cannot fully fit into the groove, as a result of which the door cannot be fixed. Therefore, many experts consider magnetic latches to be a more practical solution.

Such devices make it easy to open and lock the door, even if the structure is slightly skewed. The magnet can be located in a housing made of plastic or metal. The canvas will be attracted to the frame due to the steel plate mounted in it in the shape of the letter G. In addition, the magnetic system operates without any noise and lasts a long time. The service life is limited only by the gradual loss of its magnetic properties by the working mechanism.

You can even install a latch on the balcony door yourself.

• measurements are taken using a ruler;
• marks are made with a pencil or marker;
• Screws are screwed into the designated places using a screwdriver or screwdriver.

But first you should check whether the sash is adjusted correctly and whether there are any distortions in it. Sometimes you even have to reinstall the door.

When starting to install the latch, you need to immediately choose the place where it is best placed. This is not of fundamental importance - you can choose any point that seems optimal. But still, professionals generally place the latch as close to the handle as possible. A screw is removed from the profile near the handle itself. Instead, there will be a part of the magnetic retainer.

It is important to know that when installing the latch, you must use the supplied self-tapping screw. If it is missing, then a screw 3-3.5 cm long is taken to replace it. A mark for placing the part is first made on the sash and only then transferred to the frame. When installing using self-tapping screws, there is no need to drill a hole - the plastic allows you to screw in the screw without unnecessary difficulty, and using a drill can destroy the double-glazed window.

The striker must be fastened in such a way that the groove is strictly opposite the roller element or fungus. The advantage when installing a magnetic lock is the minimum required precision. The large length of the element and the strip allows us to guarantee full clamping even with a rather serious error. To install the handle, which ensures convenient opening of the sash, small self-tapping screws are used.

How to choose?

If the magnetic latch is installed correctly, but is chosen incorrectly, you can run into big problems. A common mistake is to ignore design considerations. The appearance of the latch must be harmoniously combined with the image created by the door structure as a whole. At the same time, it is also undesirable to diverge from the design concept that was used when arranging the room.

The next important point is the method of attaching the latch.

There are mortise, overhead and partially mortise products. The installation approach for each version differs in a number of features. More detailed information can always be obtained from the instructions. But with any installation method, it is necessary to select only a product that can withstand the load created by the door leaf. Please note: if the door is very heavy, sometimes you even have to buy an additional door closer.

Having dealt with all these points, you need to decide which coating is better. Most professionals consider zinc or nickel shells to be the best options. These two metals withstand mechanical loads and changes in air temperature better than others.

Another nuance is the brand. Almost all qualified repairmen prefer magnetic latches of the Palladium and Mediana Polaris AGB brands.

Most balcony doors are equipped with built-in locks. In such products, the magnet is triggered by a handle attached to both sides of the canvas. In another, passive version, there is a small steel bar that is attracted to a magnet. The two structures are held together well, but they are also quite easy to separate.

It makes sense to choose an electromagnetic latch only if you have available funds - the high cost of such a device is justified only by the fact that it replaces a full-fledged lock.

As for the size of the latch, professionals recommend paying attention to such parameters as:

• mechanism length;
• width of overlays;
• the size of the magnetic tabs used as a locking mechanism.

How to install a magnetic latch on a balcony door, watch the video.

The shutter opened in two positions and does not close

One of the most common problems with plastic structures is the opening of the sash in two positions simultaneously (rotary and inclined). This happens when the handle is moved to a vertical position when the door is already open, which entails the upper opposite corner of the door falling out of the hook and sagging occurs, while the handle is blocked and the door cannot be closed.

To avoid such situations, blockers are used that prevent the handle from being rotated when the sash is open.

The solution to this problem is very simple - just press down the upper corner located near the hinge of the door frame and move the handle to a horizontal position.