Repair Of Entrance Metal Doors, What To Do In Case Of Breakdown And How To Fix The Malfunction Yourself

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

Do-it-yourself repair of entrance metal doors

Metal doors should not only reliably protect the house from penetration of thieves, cold and extraneous sound, they should also have a beautiful appearance and work properly. Although metal structures are highly durable and reliable, nothing is eternal, and after a certain time of operation, some of their elements may fail. Such doors are heavy, so the load on the hinges is high, which can cause them to break. In addition, the lock, handle, or other damage may occur. Most of these malfunctions can be eliminated by hand, and we will consider how to do this correctly further.

Content

• 1 What malfunctions of entrance metal doors can you fix yourself and how to do it

  • 1.1 Required tool

  • 1.2 Replacing the lock and cylinder in the entrance metal door

    • 1.2.1 Cylinder lock
    • 1.2.2 Lever lock
  • 1.3 The entrance metal door sank
  • 1.4 The entrance metal door does not close properly
  • 1.5 Repair and replacement of metal door handle

  • 1.6 How to lubricate a metal door

    1.6.1 Video: repair of a metal entrance door

• 2 Restoration of metal entrance doors

  2.1 Video: replacing decorative MDF panels

• 3 How to dismantle an entrance metal door

  3.1 Video: dismantling a metal front door

What malfunctions of entrance metal doors can you fix yourself and how to do it

Such a concept as the repair of a metal door is collective and includes not only the repair of hinges, locks or handles, but also the restoration of the surface of the door leaf, platbands. If the doors were installed 10-15 years ago, then during their operation, some elements may wear out and stop performing their work correctly, so they need to be repaired or replaced. Fashion is constantly moving forward and even if the door is tightly in good condition, it may no longer fit into the modern interior. In order not to completely change the doors, you can make decorative repairs and radically change the appearance of the old metal sheet.

Although the structure of metal doors is much more complicated than wooden ones, their reliability will be much higher. Most of the breakdowns that may occur can be eliminated by hand, for this you need to have the necessary tools, determine the cause of the breakdown and eliminate it.

Even high-quality metal doors after a certain time may require their repair.

The main reasons for metal door breakage:

• long service life, so some parts have a lot of wear, which prevents them from working normally;
• at the time of purchase, a cheap option was chosen, therefore, the service life of such doors will be small;
• the installation of doors was incorrectly performed, due to which their normal operation is impossible;
• the door was tried or opened without a key, this may be in the case of the owners losing the keys or when unauthorized people entered the house;
• the appearance of the door does not match the interior, and the owner decided to transform it.

In a metal door, the following elements can fail:

• lock;
• fittings;
• door frame, it can change its geometry or be poorly fixed;
• platbands;
• door leaf, it may lose its original appearance or have a violation of the integrity of the surface.

Required tool

To repair a metal door with your own hands, you will need the following tools:

• a set of screwdrivers or a screwdriver for unscrewing and tightening the fasteners;
• a set of hex and ring wrenches;
• electric drill, for drilling the fasteners of the lock or creating new holes for its installation;
• a hammer;
• marker, it is necessary to mark places for new holes;
• sandpaper and a metal brush, if the restoration of the paintwork will be carried out.

Every home craftsman has tools for repairing metal doors.

Replacing the lock and cylinder in the entrance metal door

Depending on the model of the metal door, locks of different designs can be used. Before proceeding with the repair, you need to decide on the lock system. Now the following lock mechanisms are used in metal entrance doors:

• cylinder, here you can simply and quickly replace the larva, such locks have a flat key on which there are notches or notches, this is the most common type;
• lever mechanisms have a more complex design, but they also have the highest reliability, here the key is in the form of a rod with notches and cutouts;
• disc, cruciform or rack and pinion mechanisms can be used much less often.

The main types of locks that can be used on metal entrance doors

The need to replace the lock or cylinder may arise in the following cases:

• loss of a key, even if you have spare keys, in such cases it is recommended to replace the lock or cylinder, since there is a possibility that the lost key will be found by a not very honest person, and he will be able to freely enter your house;
• breakdown of the mechanism, improper operation can cause breakdown of the mechanism or this is due to the use of low-quality locks;
• replacement of the lock with a more modern and reliable model;
• after a break-in, this can happen when thieves entered the apartment or you lost the keys and opened the doors yourself;
• buying an apartment, for security reasons, when buying an apartment, it is best to immediately change the locks or larvae.

Cylinder lock

Most budget entrance doors use this type of lock. The design of such a device allows, in the event of a key loss, to change not the entire mechanism, but only the lock cylinder. Since the larvae are of standard sizes, finding the one that fits your castle should not be difficult.

The sequence of replacing the cylinder lock:

1. First, the armor plate is removed.

   

   Use a screwdriver or screwdriver to remove the cover

2. The key opens the lock.

3. From the end of the door, using a screwdriver, unscrew the plate.

   

   There are screws on the side that secure the plate and fix the lock core

4. To release the crossbars, the lock is closed.

5. In the center at the end there is a screw that fixes the larva, it must be unscrewed and slightly turned to pull out the larva.

   

   Turning slightly, you can easily reach the lock cylinder

6. A new "secret" is inserted and all operations are performed in reverse order.

Suvald castle

Such a device has a higher reliability, but its design is also more complicated. Depending on the manufacturer, if the lever lock fails, in cheaper models you will have to change the lock completely. In expensive versions, it is possible to recode the levers, for this a new core is purchased complete with keys and inserted into the lock. Spare parts must be purchased from the same manufacturer as the doors.

The procedure for replacing the lever lock:

1. The door opens and the deadbolt is removed.

2. Removable cover plate and armor plate.

   

   Armor plate reliably protects the lock from illegal opening

3. To make it easier to work, the handle and the bolt are removed.
4. Using a screwdriver, the screws located at the end are unscrewed.
5. The lock is removed.

6. The lock is disassembled and the cylinder is changed or a new lock is inserted.

   

   You can completely replace the lock or recode the levers

7. Assembly is carried out upside-down.

If you have doubts that you can independently cope with replacing the lock or larva, then it is better to invite specialists to perform the work

The entrance metal door sank

When a metal door crouches, it is impossible not to notice such a malfunction. It begins to hook the threshold, close poorly and its thermal insulation characteristics are violated.

A feature of metal doors is that they are heavy, so even high-quality hinges can change their original position over time. During the operation of the doors, there is a gradual subsidence of the canvas and the moment comes when such a malfunction must be eliminated.

Usually, hinges in metal doors are not welded, but screwed on. If so, they can be replaced simply and quickly. The main thing is to purchase the same hinges so that the mounting holes on them coincide with the holes on the door frame and door leaf.

If the hinges are welded, then they can be cut off and new ones can be adopted in this place, but there is no guarantee that in this case the need for repair may arise again after a while. If possible, the doors can be raised using washers that are put on the rod of the lower canopy, but before that they are lubricated with grease or a similar lubricant.

The door can be lifted with washers installed in the hinges

If the house shrinks, then the door is warped due to deformation of the door leaf, so the way out is to replace the entire door block. If possible, you can try to drive wooden wedges under the base of the door frame and use them to align it.

Before proceeding with the elimination of door subsidence, you must first determine the reasons that caused this and eliminate them

The entrance metal door does not close properly

Often a situation arises when the front door begins to close poorly, this happens very tightly or vice versa weakly. A new door may close tightly. This is due to the fact that the seal is still tight and in order to get rid of such a deficiency, it is enough to wait 1-2 weeks until it becomes more elastic.

The door may not close properly due to the fact that the lock does not work properly. It is necessary to see if the deadbolt fits into the groove correctly. If there is an offset, then the door must be correctly aligned, for which the hinges are adjusted.

To adjust the closeness of the lock, on most metal doors there is a false plate, with which you can adjust the density of the door leaf. In cheap models, the jamming of the bolt can be eliminated by sawing the place in the door frame into which it enters, or you can slightly bend the metal with pliers.

Door closing tightness is regulated by a false bar

In the case when the door closes very easily, you need to pay attention to the condition of the seals. If they are worn out, they cannot provide the required tightness, and the leaf does not fit tightly to the door frame. It is enough to replace the seal and this problem will disappear.

Repair and replacement of metal door handle

One of the most vulnerable elements of a door is the handle. Metal doors are usually equipped with lever handles, but they can also be stationary.

Lever handles are most often found, with their help, the door lock tongue is controlled, and the canvas also moves, while the stationary handle only serves to open / close the door.

Using the lever handle, the door is opened / closed and the lock tongue is operated

The stationary handle rarely breaks, it usually comes from strong mechanical stress. If it breaks down, the handle is replaced, and when the fastening is loosened, the fasteners are tightened.

The lever handle has a more complex design, so it breaks more often. There may be the following breakdowns:

1. Breakdown of the moving mechanism. The fastening bar and the movable handle are connected to each other by a special movable mechanism. The handle falling out of the seat can occur due to strong mechanical stress, if it is made of poor steel or bad riveting. In such situations, the handle cannot be repaired and must be replaced with a new one.
2. Rod problems. The rod that transfers the force from the movable handle to the lock tongue has a square cross section. If, when you turn the handle, it works fine and the tongue does not move, then there is a problem with the shaft. It can break during operation or, due to the loosening of the handle fastening, jump out of its place. In rare cases, the seat in the handle is worn out and the rod in it begins to turn. It is enough to replace the rod or insert it into place and this problem disappears.
3. The handle does not return to its original position. To return the handle, a spiral spring is used, which is attached to the bar on one side and to the handle on the other. The spring can pop out of the mountings or break. To eliminate such a malfunction, it is enough to insert the spring into place or replace it with a new one.
4. The handle falls out. This is due to the breakage of the retaining ring. It can either unclench or burst; replacement is performed after disassembling the handle.

In order to remove the lever handle on a metal door, perform the following operations:

1. Loosen the screws on the mounting plate. On each side there are several fasteners, they are connected to each other by a coupling. To unscrew the screws, you must hold the screw on one side with a screwdriver and at this time unscrew the screw from the opposite side.

   

   The opposite screws for fastening the handles are interconnected with couplings

2. We remove the handles. The handles together with the strips are removed from the rod.

3. The serviceability of all elements is checked. The condition of the rod and springs is checked, if necessary, they are changed.

   

   The spring may fail or jump out of its place

4. The assembly is carried out upside-down.

If there is a decorative strip, the disassembly procedure will be slightly different:

1. Loosening the handle. In this case, the handle is attached to the rod with a screw, which is screwed into it near the decorative insert. A hex wrench is used to loosen the screw.

   

   The handle is fixed to the rod with a small screw

2. Remove the decorative overlay. To do this, just turn it with your hand.

3. Removing the mounting plate. After the screws open, the mounting plate is removed.

   

   After removing the decorative strip, access to the screws opens

4. Removing the handle. It remains to remove the handle from the rod.

When it is only necessary to replace the failed elements, then they are changed, and if this is not possible, then they acquire the same handle and install it instead of the broken one.

How to lubricate a metal door

Door lubrication is a simple task that any DIYer can do on their own. The creak of the door leaf is not only annoying, but also indicates that the door is not working properly and this negatively affects its performance and service life.

First, you need to determine and eliminate the reason for the creak, and only then proceed to the lubrication process. The reasons why a creak appears:

• lack of lubrication, over time, grease flows out of the hinges and they begin to creak during operation;
• corrosion, this is the most common reason, since the doors are entrance, the hinges constantly succumb to the negative effects of moisture, which can cause rust and metal destruction;
• wear of the hinges, when the hinges are not lubricated on time, their wear occurs and if it is large, then you will have to replace the failed elements;
• debris, dust or debris may enter and clog the hinges;
• skewing of the canvas, while both the hinges and the canvas, which rubs against the box, can creak.

Various materials can be used to lubricate metal doors, but most often these are:

• WD 40, such a lubricant helps to remove corrosion and creates a thin film on the surface, which prevents the development of corrosion and improves sliding;
• lithol - frost-resistant and moisture-resistant material;
• grease;
• Cyatim is a universal agent, which is a thickened oil with the addition of antioxidant additives.

It is better to use thick products to lubricate a metal door.

If the described tools are not at hand, you can use waste oil, sewing machine oil, or graphite shavings, which are obtained from the shaft of a simple pencil.

It is preferable to lubricate parts with thick agents, as they will provide good sliding over a longer period of time

When lubricating the door, you must adhere to the following rules:

• to apply lubricant, you must use a special oiler or syringe;

  

  The lubricant must be applied directly to the moving parts of the hinges

• if the hinges are disassembled, then the grease can be applied with a brush or sponge;
• the grease that has leaked must be removed with a dry cloth;
• the area where there was increased friction is easy to notice if you disassemble the loop, more lubricant is applied in this place;
• to lubricate the hinges without disassembling them, the door can be lifted with wooden wedges, but this cannot be done with all types of hinges.

In order for a metal door to work for a long time and silently, it is necessary to periodically lubricate it

Video: repair of a metal front door

Restoration of metal entrance doors

Over time, the appearance of a metal entrance door becomes less attractive, it loses its original appearance, and rust may appear. Even if the door is in good condition, after a while, it may become outdated and will not correspond to the interior or exterior design of the house, therefore, it becomes necessary to change its appearance.

The most popular methods for restoring a metal front door are:

1. Painting. For these purposes, acrylic, automotive, hammer paint can be used, with which you can simply and quickly restore a metal sheet.

   

   Painting is the most affordable way to restore

2. Artificial leather upholstery. This method is suitable for door decoration from the room side. This solution allows you to additionally insulate the door leaf, but if there is a cat or dog in the house, then it will not serve you for long.

   

   Faux leather upholstery allows for additional insulation of the door

3. Laminate sheathing. You can create a solution that fits into any interior. It can be used both inside and outside the door. The disadvantage of this method of restoration is the high cost of the material.

   

   Laminate metal doors can be sheathed both inside and outside

4. Powder spraying. The surface turns out to be durable and beautiful, but at home it will not work to apply powder paint, this can be done only in special workshops, but it will still be cheaper than buying a new door.

   

   Powder paint can only be applied in a specialized workshop

5. MDF panels. MDF plates allow you to create a beautiful and high-quality coating, they are easy to care for and such a metal door will serve for many years.

   

   With the help of MDF overlays, you can simply and quickly restore a metal door

6. Natural wood. This method allows you to transform an ordinary metal door and make a real work of art out of it. Such a canvas is decorated with carvings and does not externally differ from what is made of natural wood.

   

   A metal door lined with wood looks like a product made of natural wood

The choice of a method for restoring a metal door depends on the desire and ability of the owner, most of the options can be realized by hand

Video: replacing decorative MDF panels

How to dismantle an entrance metal door

In order to independently dismantle the metal entrance door, you first need to prepare all the necessary tools:

• a hammer;
• crowbar;
• spanners;
• Bulgarian.

Sequentially dismantling the metal door:

1. The door leaf is removed from the hinges. It is necessary to decide on the type of hinges, if they are collapsible, then it is enough to lift the canvas with wooden wedges and remove it from the hinges. This work must be done together, since the weight of the canvas is significant. If the hinges are non-separable, then using a key, the hinges must be unscrewed, and then remove the door leaf.

2. Freeing the place of fastening of the door frame. If the ears for fastening the door frame are hidden under the door slope, then it is necessary to beat off the plaster and find the places of fasteners. Anchors can be twisted through the door frame, in which case they are simply unscrewed. If the fixation was carried out by welding, then it is necessary to cut off the fasteners using a grinder.

   

   Free up the fastening points of the door frame

3. Cut a layer of foam between the door frame and the wall to loosen the fixation of the doors.

4. Carefully remove the door frame.

   

   After releasing the fasteners, carefully dismantle the door frame

It remains to clear the doorway of debris and you can proceed to the installation of a new door.

Video: dismantling a metal front door

If there is a need to repair entrance metal doors, you need to adequately assess your capabilities and decide whether you can cope with such work without the help of specialists. If there is no such confidence, then instead of fixing one breakdown, you can create several more problems. Much depends on the quality of the door, if this is an expensive model, then you should not risk it and it is better to invite a master to repair it. You can handle the repair of a budget metal door yourself, you just need to first determine the breakdown, the cause of its occurrence, and only then start fixing the problem. It is necessary to act in accordance with the developed technologies and adhere to the recommendations of specialists.