Doors move over time. Daily use, temperature changes and the slight settling of a building can all nudge a door out of alignment, leaving it catching on the frame or the lock hard to turn. Most uPVC and composite doors are built to be adjusted, and many problems can be put right in a few minutes.
Spot the symptoms first
- The door rubs on the frame at the bottom or on the lock side.
- You have to lift the handle, or slam the door, to get it to lock.
- You can see an uneven gap between the door and frame.
- The door feels loose, draughty or lets in daylight around the edge.
What you can adjust
Most modern hinges can be adjusted in three directions using an Allen (hex) key, usually 4mm or 5mm:
- Side to side: moves the door towards or away from the lock side.
- Up and down: raises a dropped door so it clears the threshold.
- In and out (compression): pulls the door tighter against the seals, or eases it off if it is too tight.
Make small adjustments, quarter of a turn at a time, and test the door after each one. Adjusting the top hinge mainly affects the lock side, and the bottom hinge mainly affects the threshold.
Check the keeps and the lock
If the door is aligned but the lock is still stiff, the keeps (the plates on the frame that the lock bolts slot into) may need adjusting too. Never force a stiff multipoint lock, and avoid spraying heavy oil into it. A little graphite or specialist lock lubricant is better.
When to call a professional
If the door has dropped badly, the frame is damaged, the glazing is cracked or the lock mechanism has failed, adjustment will not be enough. We repair and service all types of door, so get in touch and we will tell you honestly what it needs.