This is a great merit of innovative technologies, thanks to which high-quality materials and multifunctional systems have been created to “protect” interior spaces from cold, noise and dust.
PVC balcony blocks do not require periodic painting and do not dry out, unlike their wooden counterparts. Their device helps to establish comfortable air exchange in the living room.
In order for a metal-plastic balcony door to flawlessly fulfill its “responsibilities,” it is necessary to provide the structure with high-quality fittings. When selecting balcony fittings, you should not save money if you want the balcony unit to function for a long time and without problems.
How to choose a balcony latch?
The balcony latch is a kind of latch that securely holds the door in the closed position. There are a huge variety of similar products on the market, as well as other types of accessories.
Most often, manufacturers make such fittings interchangeable, that is, different balcony latches for plastic doors can fit many types of balcony doors and windows. Therefore, experts advise choosing just such options so that, if necessary, they can be easily replaced.
In order not to make a mistake when choosing, it is advisable to know some nuances, such as: the model and name of the fittings installed on your door, and the name of the door profile system.
Important! You should also understand that a high-quality part cannot be too cheap, but buying the most expensive option is not always advisable.
Algorithm of operation of Roto DoorSafe 600 locks
Closing (drive) of the lock can be done in two ways - with a handle or with a key, the client chooses the option that is convenient for him.
Key driven
Roto DoorSafe C locks with a key drive are locked when the key is turned - at this moment, locking occurs at all points at once.
Until the key is turned in the lock, the door is kept closed only by the central latch. It can be opened by pressing the handle both from inside and outside.
Photo: Roto door lock drive from a cylinder *In this version of the lock, a door that is not locked with a key will not fit tightly to the frame and there may be air blowing in the corners of the door.
The cost of a lock without a cylinder and a handle for a door 2 meters high with extensions and 4 mushroom-shaped pins made in Turkey starts from 3,000 rubles; multi-point locks driven by a cylinder of European brands cost from 5,000 rubles.
Handle drive
Locks of the Roto DoorSafe H modification have a two-stage operating principle:
The lock and all additional locks are locked when the handle is lifted up 45° from the inside or outside.
Photo: Roto door lock drive from the handle* Complete locking of the lock and handle occurs after turning the key.
The handle-driven door is always pressed tightly against the frame and ensures complete tightness and high thermal insulation.
The cost of a multi-point lock driven by a handle without a cylinder and a handle for a door 2 meters high with extensions and 4 mushroom-shaped pins starts from 800 rubles, while locks of European brands in the retail network have a price from 3000 rubles.
Latch Features
A high-quality lock for a plastic balcony door, as well as handles and latches, guarantee long and comfortable operation of the door structure. Reliable fittings should last a long time.
Some manufacturers guarantee that on average such parts are designed for more than 25 thousand cyclic openings and closings of the door.
The latch is installed on a plastic balcony door so that it can be fixed in one position, and also so that it can be easily held when the lock is closed.
Also read on our website: Blowing from a plastic balcony door: how to adjust
Another such lock for a balcony door is popularly called the “smoker’s latch.” Its convenience lies in the fact that when going out to the balcony there is no need to tightly lock the door, that is, with a padlock. It is enough just to slam it on the latch and smoke and draft will not penetrate into the room. Moreover, even a strong gust of wind will not be able to open the door, since the latch holds it well.
The latching mechanisms for the balcony differ in the following parameters: roller latch, magnetic and halyard.
The roller lock accordingly consists of a roller installed in a small metal box and a special spring, which serves as its lock. On the balcony frame itself there is a special recess (groove) into which the roller fits when the door is closed.
This latch for plastic doors performs its function quite reliably, and to open it requires very little effort, which makes it also very convenient. Magnetic clasp is also a fairly common option.
A magnetic lock for a balcony door is made of special strips, one of which is metal and the other magnetic. The metal part is attached to the door itself, and the magnetic strip to the frame (on the same level).
Often such an element has a fairly long service life, but only if it is handled with care.
The lock for the balcony door is made according to a similar principle to the roller lock. It is equipped with a spring and a special latch. When the balcony door closes, the latch falls into the groove. Sometimes it needs to be adjusted to operate smoothly.
As a rule, these elements come as a set (plus a false handle), and if only one part fails, then it is advisable to replace the rest as well. The elements are fastened at the end of the profile, that is, they are not visible from the street, thereby preserving the aesthetic appearance of the structure.
External handle
For ease of use, a handle is installed on the outside of the door. Most often it is made in the shape of a shell from high-quality plastic. It is usually placed on the same level as the main handle.
Many people claim that a plastic handle is more comfortable than a metal handle. In cold weather, it is more pleasant to the touch, but its service life is shorter.
Also read on our website: Plastic balcony doors, types, opening methods, operation
External handle
The handle is a plastic petal.
In order to close, or rather pull, the door from the street side, it is necessary to provide a special external handle. Made of metal, more often of durable plastic, the handle visually resembles a shell or petal in shape. A plastic shell is much more pleasant to the touch, especially in the cold season. But it is easier to break if used carelessly, and the material itself has a tendency to break down under prolonged exposure to sunlight, freezing temperatures and other external factors. The main advantages of a more expensive metal handle are resistance to mechanical loads and a long service life. Typically, the outer door pull handle is located at the same height as the lock's rotary handle. This position for closing the door is very convenient.
You can do without an external shell handle only if the door lock mechanism is double-sided, that is, internal and external rotary handles of the lock are required.
Double-sided handle for a plastic door
The choice of external handles in specialized companies and construction supermarkets allows you to choose a copy with a convenient ergonomic shape and the desired color.
What problems might there be with the operation of the lock?
If used for a long time, such fittings sooner or later begin to do their job poorly. Sometimes adjustments or even complete replacement are required.
If the handle does not turn well or you hear a squeaking sound, you must use a special lubricant.
Remember that it is not recommended to use other mixtures, since they may contain various aggressive resins and other substances that can damage these parts.
The main reasons for the breakdown of the handle and latch lock include:
- Poor care of products;
- Not careful operation;
- Wear of some fittings;
- Damage to the mechanism;
- Incorrect position of the door itself (misalignment);
- Poor quality materials.
Often, when such parts begin to do their job poorly, many resort to replacing them, but there is no need to rush into this. First check the elements for the presence of lubricant.
Sometimes just cleaning them and applying lubricant is all you need to avoid replacing them and save money at the same time. But when you notice wear and tear on some elements or a breakdown of one of them, it is advisable to replace them, since such repairs may be impractical.
Balcony latches must be given special attention, because they determine whether the door structure can cope with the load. Otherwise, this may lead to damage to both the latch and other elements of the door structure.
Important points: what to pay attention to
To increase rigidity in double-leaf doors, blind transoms are used. Using a bracket made from a sheet strip, the transoms are connected.
In order for the door to maintain its original presentable appearance and functionality during operation, it is important to pay special attention to the arrangement of the threshold. In the classic version of the frame, the lower bars of the doors are similar to the window ones. In this case, it is necessary to embed the flooring into the inner frame
In this case, it is necessary to embed the flooring into the inner frame.
For ease of use of a threshold with a separate box, you need to use a concrete tray.
In order for the threshold to last as long as possible, the open part of the block near the door frame should be reinforced with an iron strip and painted. When installing a concrete tray is inappropriate, you can use a solid board to create a threshold with a minimum height. This is considered to be 10mm from the bottom of the door to the floor.
DIY installation and latches
The first step is to choose the right product. Further work does not require any knowledge, which makes it easy to install or replace it yourself. But the presence of some tools is mandatory.
You need to take several screwdrivers, usually a Phillips and a flathead one. You will also need simple pliers. It is advisable to have a screwdriver with different types of attachments.
One of the most important steps is selecting a suitable screw. In such a case, it should not exceed 19 millimeters. If the size is larger, the glass unit can be damaged, and sometimes even completely ruined.
Also read on our website: Balcony handle, types, differences, requirements, replacement, repair
Replacing the handle is not at all difficult, so there is no need to stop there. After attaching it, we move on to the next stage.
To do this you will need several screws, the length of which is 30-35 millimeters. We put a metal cylinder on the screw and screw it at the same level as the handle.
Why do the screws have to be this particular length? Here's the thing. If the cylinder takes a certain distance, it is necessary to provide it with a safety margin, just in case. The role of this cylinder is that it holds the door in the closed position and takes on a fairly large load.
Next, when you have installed the cylinder, you need to attach the latch to the door. For convenience, take a marker or pencil. Lean the door against it and determine the approximate location where the cylinder will fit and mark it.
Next you need to do the work step by step:
- It is necessary to screw the top screw and check whether the cylinder fits correctly into the latch. If the measurements were taken correctly, the cylinder should fit into the latch without any obstruction;
- Next, screw in the bottom screw;
- After the work is done, check whether the latch holds the door tightly.
If the latch does not hold the door structure well, then try placing a washer under it and check the result again. If one washer is not enough, you can install several.
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).
Adjusting the plastic door
Any mechanism requires repair or adjustment of its operation from time to time, and fittings for opening and closing a plastic door - even the highest quality ones - are no exception.
A door installation company is not always ready to provide this service, and if it does this, you will have to wait several days for the specialists to arrive. It will take much less time to adjust the door yourself - it requires minimal skills that anyone can master.
Application cases
Door stoppers are small and inexpensive, but very useful accessories. They are used in everyday life, public institutions and industrial premises. Main advantages and reasons for using a retainer:
- ensures safe swinging of the sash, which prevents the doors, furniture and walls themselves from accidental damage;
- fixes the door in a given position in rooms with high traffic or, if necessary, to carry large objects;
- prevents sudden closing of the sash and its possible damage from a gust of wind or draft;
- allows pets to move freely throughout the entire area of the apartment or house;
- allows you to leave children unattended in the room for some time.
