Cant open UPVC French Patio Doors

fresh_start

Hi guys, am after some advice

I installed some Wickes UPVC French patio doors nearly 2 1/2 years ago. Last week they have become stuck shut. It looks like the bolt which slides into the door frame at the top is stuck. I can prise open the bottom 4/5's of the door but not the very top of it. Also I cant seem to lock it with the key, so seems something is jammed.

Have you any ideas how i can release it?

If i cant myself, which route would be the best, see if a UPVC installer can help or a locksmith?

Thanks!

Chunks

WD40 or similar (let it soak)?

thewilderness

Agreed WD40.

Is it a hinged door?

fresh_start

I dont think that will work, think its more jammed / mechanical rather than stiff mechanism.

Also, the door has a lip on the outside* to protect from drafts etc, might be difficult to get the WD40 in.

Its hinged on the outside, but as the doors fit into the frame, you cant lift the doors off the hinges when the doors are closed.

ormus

http://www.locksnkeys.co.uk/UPVC%20and%20Aluminium%20Locking.html

there a few different designs of patio door multipoint locks.
when something jambs/breaks, you have to remove the door and either fix the problem or replace the locking mech.
sometimes you have to force it (and break a shot bolt/lever) to release the door catch/es.

fresh_start

Thats the problem i have, removing the door when the shoot bolt is in the frame. Finding a way to break the shoot bolt, without having access to it and without damaging the frame

capeverde

you call them french patio doors, they can be one or the other and the solution differs. Are they french doors, ie hinged doors or patio doors ie sliding doors?

fresh_start

They are hinged type

capeverde

Ok, most sets of french doors have a lead door (the one you open first) and a slave door. Usually, the slave door is secured by finger bolts inside the reveal, ie you need to open the lead door to access them. The lead door then closes against the mullion of the slave door and various locks engage. Depending on the product you may have cams that slide into keeps, vertical shoot bolts that go into the head and cill of the frame and or hook bolts that go into the side. The mechanism is attached into the groove on the locking side of the door and is quite simple, it is basically rods which are thrown by way of a grooved bar when the handle is pushed upwards. Theres not a lot that can go wrong, but on the downside, if something does go wrong, theres not a lot that can be done to remedy the situation. A locksmith wont help as he cant get to the part. I would suggest firstly trying to force the handle down, if this doesnt work, as a last resort, take the beads out of the lead door and remove the glass. (Door leafs are always packed off the glass) Then I would try and prise the door leaf downwards whilst pushing the door out to see if you can get enough movement to free the lock from the keep. Failing this, insurance job as you'll have to put some serious weight against it.

martyn05

If you can access any of the locking points above the handle, try putting a heavy screwdriver on one and then hit it downwards with a hammer. Not too hard though or you could really break it. Another method is to pull the door towards you from inside and then sharply lift the handle up then straight back down. This has worked for me before.