uPVC Door Sticking and Locking Problems

Had a uPVC back door fitted a couple of years ago.

Have had to get the installer back around several times over the years due to the issues we have experienced. He's a good guy but I would like to know what might be done to solve the issues we continue to experience.

During hot (warm) days we see intermittent issues with:

• The door lock sometimes jammed (cannot open the door).
• The door won't close (The door bangs against the lower metal locking system).
• The door won't lock (Just had to pick up the kids leaving the door unlocked).

Have included a picture showing the position of the door (not sure if that's a factor).

Plus a pic showing the (very light damage caused by the mechanism to the face of the door).

Has anyone got any ideas for me or the installer to action, to sort this somehow?

Pictures might be useful of the hinges and each of the cams (the little movable locking wheels on the door side) and the cam keeps (the metal bit on the frame with which the cams engage).

The hinges would determine the extent to which door can be adjusted. The cam/keep pics might show wear marks and give a clue where and how the door is binding.

Just taking a bit of a flyer here, but temporarily removing the lowest(?) binding keep might provide some diagnostic info. Take care not to strip any fixing screw threads though. You want it all to go back. It's just an experiment to see if it closes and the locks work in that case.

needs toe and healing

Careful_Bodger said:

Pictures might be useful of the hinges and each of the cams (the little movable locking wheels on the door side) and the cam keeps (the metal bit on the frame with which the cams engage).

The hinges would determine the extent to which door can be adjusted. The cam/keep pics might show wear marks and give a clue where and how the door is binding.

Just taking a bit of a flyer here, but temporarily removing the lowest(?) binding keep might provide some diagnostic info. Take care not to strip any fixing screw threads though. You want it all to go back. It's just an experiment to see if it closes and the locks work in that case.

Click to expand...

Thanks for getting back to me, pics attached of what I believe you want to see (sorry if I have this wrong).

It's caught in different places over time I think. Currently, it seems to be the lower part of the door that's catching.

It seems to be getting worse, he only readjusted the door 4 weeks ago.

During the 4 weeks, it went wrong and righted itself at least somewhat during the hot weather, at this time it wouldn't even close the door. It was bouncing off the lowest part of the mechanism.

So here's what I'd do. Note that I am (just) a DIYer. More experienced DIYers and professional fitters may disagree.

Remove that lower plate (in image 2461). See if the cam keep can be removed from the plate i.e. the part held in place with the two screws in those adjustment slots. Retain the cam keep and the two screws and put them somewhere very very safe so that you can find them.

Then put that plate without the cam keep back on the door frame. Be VERY careful not to overtighten any screws. The uPVC frame material is very soft.

Does this 'fix' the problem? If so this means we have isolated the problem to the the cam keep. If not we need to keep digging.

Note that (depending how you feel about these things) that locking the door at this point is probably reasonably secure as the door hook fits into the keep plate (or it should do). Certainly more secure than what you had previously. Beggars cant be choosers.

I would investigate that cam keep part. What is that muck around that lip in the picture? Is that is where the roller cam is hitting and wearing the cam keep? Possibly a bit of a clue.....

Is there enough space inside the plate to put some packing washers behind those slot screws and the cam keep to push the cam keep away from the door and further into the door frame (if there is room).

Toe and *heel* is indeed a thing.

The hinges look adjustable, although that one pic uploaded looks a bit 'leggy'.

I wonder why the thoroughly 'good guy' wasnt able?

Thanks so much for your help Careful_Bodger,

The provider came out yesterday and 'fixed the door', but the lock was jamming again this morning (something changed but n idea what) and he says he has now ordered a new mechanism.

I can see he's trying but its a pain in the ####.

I do wonder at the door quality, we have had nothing but trouble with it.

Yes, the much seems to be down to jamming, it sticks at the bottom, top and middle, it gets fixed (by the provider) and sticks again in warm weather.

Could the door quality or initial instal be the issue? I only ask as I won't use this guy again when I do my other windows and door.