Repair Of Plastic Doors: How And What Malfunctions You Can Fix Yourself

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to repair a plastic door with your own hands

A plastic door is valued for its tightness, heat and sound insulation. But during operation, structural violations are possible, which lead to distortions, and hence the absence of all these qualities. You can repair a plastic door yourself.

Content

• 1 Features of repair work for plastic doors

  • 1.1 Required tool

  • 1.2 How to repair a handle on a plastic door

    1.2.1 Video: Replacing the door handle

  • 1.3 Repair of the plastic door lock

    1.3.1 Video: multi-point lock repair

  • 1.4 Do-it-yourself plastic door lock replacement
  • 1.5 How to remove the glazing bead from a plastic door

  • 1.6 How to remove the film from a plastic door

    1.6.1 Video: how to remove the film from a plastic structure

• 2 Adjustment of plastic doors

  2.1 Video: adjusting the upper hinge of a plastic door

Features of repair work for plastic doors

Repair work depends on the existing problem. And the first step is to determine the cause of the violation.

The plastic door is inexpensive but reliable

Required tool

Having installed a plastic door in the apartment, it is recommended to immediately purchase the tool that will be needed for repair work:

• screwdriver with a set of nozzles;

  

  To repair a plastic door, you need different attachments for screwdrivers

• screwdriver or drill with a set of drills for metal;
• building level;

• plumb line (you can make it yourself);

  

  A plumb line will help adjust the door

• hex keys;

  

  Repair will not work without a hex key

• pliers;
• saw for metal with fine teeth;

• a mallet with a rubber tip (it is better if it is white rubber);

  

  The mallet will help replace the glass unit

• spatula (it is also desirable that it be made of white rubber);
• casters (they can be plastic or wood).

Some materials are also required:

• specialized glue for working with PVC products;
• adhesive sealant;
• putty for the restoration of PVC products;
• rubber compressor;
• handles, latches, locks (depending on the breakdown);
• plastic overlay.

How to repair a handle on a plastic door

There are several reasons that can provoke a handle breakage on a plastic door:

• wear and tear, failure due to the end of the service life;
• mechanical damage;
• misuse.

You also need to solve problems that arise for various reasons in different ways:

1. Cracks in the handle body due to improper use. They cannot be repaired, so the handle will need to be replaced. To do this, turn the handle plate at the base by 90 degrees, unscrew the screws and, together with them, the fittings themselves. Next, install a new element in the same place.

   

   If the handle is cracked, then it must be replaced.

2. The handle is turned, but the door does not close. It is impossible to return such a handle to its original position, which means that the door can also be closed. The problem lies in the abnormal operation of the blocker. This can be corrected by pressing down the metal tab at the end of the door and at the same time turning the handle to its original state. If that doesn't work, then the problem is the deformation. To eliminate it, you need to put a rubber backing under the plate.
3. It is difficult to turn the handle. Usually, you can open the door only if you make a lot of effort. Drying of the lubricant may become the reason, which means that it is necessary to treat all moving mechanisms with oil. It is better to take a special vehicle for this. If the problem persists, it means that the structure is sagging. For repairs, you need to remove the hinge caps of the door itself and adjust these elements using a hex wrench. The key must be turned clockwise, having previously inserted it into the desired loop.

Video: replacing the door handle

Plastic door lock repair

A plastic door is considered reliable, but various troubles can happen with its lock, for example, the locking mechanism may break and the door does not close.

You need to prepare all the necessary tools and materials in advance:

• new fittings, identical to the one that will be repaired;
• plastic gaskets;
• silicone or plastic sealant;
• insulation for doors in the event that the system was installed a long time ago, regardless of its condition.

You can do it yourself to repair the lock of a plastic door. This must be done in the following sequence:

1. Remove the door handle by first turning the plate and then unscrewing the screws.

   

   To repair the lock, you need to remove the handle of the plastic door

2. In the event that the problem lies in the sunken latching element, it is worth disassembling the lock itself, unscrewing all the fixing bolts, and reinstalling the part. During this, you need to check the functionality of the spring and replace it if necessary.
3. Similar actions should be done when the latch is jammed. The reason for this may be abrasion and deformation of elements that require mandatory replacement.

4. To replace the lock cylinder, you need to unscrew all the fixing bolts of the armor plate and the end. Pull out the cylinder, install a new part there and return the fixing bolts to their place.

   

   It is not always possible to fix the lock, sometimes it is easier to replace it

Video: multi-point lock repair

DIY plastic door lock replacement

If the breakdown is significant and the repair is not able to solve the problem that has appeared, a complete replacement of the locking mechanism may be required. It must be performed in the following sequence:

1. Open the sash, then unscrew all the screws.

   

   All screws at the end of the door must be unscrewed

2. If there is a decorative plug, it should be turned horizontally, and then unscrew all the bolts that hold the handle.

3. Remove both the lock and the handle itself.

   

   To replace the lock, the handle must also be removed

4. Measure all parameters, in particular, it concerns the length according to the old drive.
5. Check if the knob shift holes align.

6. Install the prepared lock into the groove. If necessary, it can be hammered in with light tapping, using only a hammer with a rubber nozzle.

   

   Before fixing the lock, you need to check whether it fits into the prepared groove

7. Install the handle in its place and fix it with bolts.

How to remove the glazing bead from a plastic door

This procedure may be required if you need to replace the glass unit. This is quite easy to do. First, prepare the necessary tools and materials:

• gloves, as there is a risk of injuring your hands;
• screwdriver;
• putty knife;
• knife, the sharper the better;

• suction cups, preferably rubber.

  

  Rubber suction cups help prevent glass from breaking

Next, you need to do the following:

1. Remove the sash, for which you need to pull out the retaining rod, which is located in the upper hinge.

2. Now, with a knife or spatula, you need to pick up the glazing bead itself, installing the tool between the frame and the glazing bead. Repeat a similar procedure along its entire length. This should be done as carefully as possible, since there is a high risk of scratching the glass unit.

   

   You need to remove glazing beads carefully

3. Get the glazing bead, while moving parallel to the glass.
4. Remove the horizontal glazing bead in the same way. When removing the last element, hold the glass.
5. Now the glass unit can be removed, for which you can use rubber suction cups. Be sure to wear protective gloves.

It is also quite easy to insert a glass unit:

1. Remove dust and dirt from the seam frame.
2. Insert a double-glazed window into the opening.
3. Install glazing beads. The horizontal ones are installed first, and then the vertical ones. If necessary, they can be driven in with a rubber-tipped hammer.
4. Now the glass unit needs to be wiped off and checked for scratches. If they are found, then it is worth treating the surface with sandpaper.

How to remove the film from a plastic door

When installing a door with your own hands, be sure to remove the film from it. This is easy to do, for which it is necessary:

1. Using a building hair dryer. To remove the film, the air stream must be directed to the frame and make sure that it does not hit directly on the glass unit. As a result of exposure to hot air, the film dissolves and is removed almost independently. But a regular hair dryer won't help.

   

   The best way to remove the film is to warm it up with a construction hairdryer.

2. The use of a professional scraper, which is designed to work with a ceramic plate.

3. Removing the film with a knife or blade, but you need to move very carefully and remove a small piece of the film at a time. You should pry off the film with a tip and tear it off little by little. Remaining glue can be removed with a damp sponge. Additionally, you should use a bath detergent.

   

   If you remove the film with a knife, then there is a risk of damaging the plastic

4. The use of a solvent. The use of a weak solution is allowed, and this must be done with the utmost care. It is best to take "White Spirit" for this purpose. The agent must be poured onto the treated area, wait a little and remove the film.

   

   Use any plastic solvent with care

5. Removing film residues with an eraser. Relevant only if there is not much of it left.
6. Use of special products for cleaning plastic surfaces.

Video: how to remove the film from a plastic structure

Adjustment of plastic doors

Adjustment of a plastic door may be required for various reasons. This is most often needed in the case of sagging. Adjustment can be done as follows:

1. Remove the plugs from the hinges.

2. Depending on whether you will be adjusting vertically or horizontally, insert the hex wrench into the top or socket screw. The top one is responsible for vertical adjustment, the end one - for horizontal adjustment. You need to turn the key clockwise.

   

   The hinges can be adjusted vertically and horizontally

3. Adjust the second hinge if the situation requires it.

   

   You need a hex wrench to adjust the door

Video: adjusting the upper hinge of a plastic door

A nuisance with a plastic door can happen at any time of operation, even if the installation was carried out in compliance with the technology and no violations were found during use. Therefore, it is so important to know how to repair the most common complications with your own hands.