Problem with front door lock

Red_Cat

Dear all,

last night when I got home from work, my front door would not open. It is a wooden door with a double glazing type locking mechanism with three bolts into the frame and is operated with a euro lock.

Basically, I could lock and unlock the euro lock in the usual way, but the bolts would not move leaving the door locked.

I realise that I will have to take the door off to fix the mechanism, but I am not able to do that yet.

Any ideas on how I might tackle this ? or is it best left to a professional? Any ideas on what this might cost to fix too?

Thanks

Red Cat

SatanicHare

If you can see the bolts then, remove the door handles, then get a thin bladed but strong tool, wallpaper scraper may work, and a mallet or hammer, now dependedant on the type of lock the bolts will either need to be chapped up or down, (if you're really unlucky they may come straight out horizontally, fingers crossed they don't) to get them to release. It would help if you had access to another door with the same lock to check, either your back door or a neighbours. Once you chap the bolts out of the way the door will open. Try spraying oil into the thehousing for the bolts and also into the lock main centre case. One word of caution, it is possible that once you open the door the fault may mean that the lock may need replaced and you can't lock the door again, so you may want to call a locksmith or double glazing repair company and leave it to them.

bookduck

Idea 1:
I'd get a rubber mallet hand start in a controlled action 'bashing' the obvious places. Depending where it is stuck and how it is stuck...

Idea2:
If you know where the bolts are, able to get to them a bit even without seeing them - like the gap between the door and door frame? I'd unlock the door (as you have done). Then I'd make a pair of 'scissors' using hacksaw blades so that the teeth grip the bars and then I'd try and wiggle the bolts hoping they are trapped and when wiggled will loosen and will fall in to place.

Idea no 3:
Depending if I could not get to the bars and the cost of a locksmith etc. was too ££££. I'd find the position of the bars. its your doors, so you know how deep they are in and how thick they are. I'd drill in two holes, at 45 degree angles - one hole is one side of the bar and the other hole is the other side of the bar. the idea is that where the two 45 degree angle holes meet (form the bottom point of a v) is somewhere behind the bar and along the line where the frame and door join. Take piece of string or shoe lace and push it in one hole and pull it out the other hole. now attach a flexible round saw to the string and pull that through and start cutting.

If you can see the bolts, you obviously don't want to drill

To secure your wooden door in place, just put a long thin screw through the door into the frame

Red_Cat

Satanic Hare and bookduck, thanks for your replies.

I am going to start with the least intrusive method, so that will be chapping and wiggling the bolts, as I can see them and have slight access. I know that one bolt, the main one is straight out, but the other two hook up and down, so hopefully will be able to get those to move. I will attempt to sort this on Saturday morning, as if I get stuck, I can stay at home or seek help etc. as opposed to doing it tonight and then going to work tomorrow.

One other way I might also try is to try to remove the hinge pins and then try to get the door out ajar a little and then sliding it out of position.

Cheers

Red Cat

thebaldwindowfitter

has the door dropped on the closing side take a look at the gap on the head of the door against the frame if so then it may be possible that this has jammed the mechanism if so you can try wedging up the bottom of the door on the lock side .kncoking the bolts on the mechanism will mean a replacement .