Lubricant for external door latch - only closes with force.

jasdev

The outside entrance door to my flat usually closes to with a gentle pull, but now takes some force to slam the door shut from outside, starting roughly when the cold spell began this week.


I think the door latch needs lubricating as I find it's moving in fine when I press it in a bit with my finger.


My local DIY shop recommends a graphite lubricant which they sell for £7 but I can see it sells much cheaper online and elsewhere. What should I spring for please?

EssexExile

If it's just the bolt of the latch not sliding on the striker plate then a small dab of any old oil will do. If the internal mechanism is what needs lubricating then graphite lubricant is the right stuff.

dunroving

It may also be that the door is misaligned (temperature extremes can cause this - though a properly aligned PVC door can usually cope with he expansion/contraction of hot/cold weather).

Is it sticky when you close the latch with the door open? If not, it might not be the latch that's the problem.

martinthebandit

dunroving wrote: »

It may also be that the door is misaligned (temperature extremes can cause this - though a properly aligned PVC door can usually cope with he expansion/contraction of hot/cold weather).
.

This is almost certainly the right answer.

jasdev

dunroving wrote: »

It may also be that the door is misaligned (temperature extremes can cause this - though a properly aligned PVC door can usually cope with he expansion/contraction of hot/cold weather).

Is it sticky when you close the latch with the door open? If not, it might not be the latch that's the problem.

Hi dunroving, I think the door opens and closes just fine with the latch depressed from the inside; it seems like pressing on the edge-end of the latch does little but pressing on the latch in its middle pushes it into the lock.