Changing the main opener on a UPVC French door

[Joannep13]

We are building an extension and plan to re use our UPVC French doors. currently the door opens on the left hand side first however it would now be better if we could have it opening on the right. Is this something That can be changed?

 

[DHFrames]

I can't see why it can't be done, there are a few service engineers on here who will confirm if its possible. I've never seen it done and have never been asked the question. The mullion would have to be moved, leaving holes, trickles vents may need to be added, labour costs to remove and refit, other parts may also be required.
Personally for the extra ££££ I'd go for a new door, new guarantee etc

 

[shawwwn]

you will need to swap the mullion from one door to the other
You will also need to swap the door gears( locking mechanisms)

Reason being one will have slave lock and the other will have a master

to remove mullion

First take photo of keeper plate arrangement
then take measurements as to where they fit in relation to top or bottom

Remove all keeper plates
then you may see some caps that are covering screws
remove these they should come off with some persuasion
undo all screws if after all screws are off mullion does not budge then it will be snap on type with the door open push a long screwdriver down between mullion and door sash and pull towards you it will come away and you will see an aluminum mullion holder plate behind
once off transfer door gears to opposite doors and refit mullion on other door
Good luck .

 

[hayleydeeee]

Hi OP - I need to do this too and wondered if you had it done and how much of a faff it was in the end? Thanks in advance!

 

[crank39]

It can be done and it's really a job for a service engineer unless you are very methodical and experienced but here are a few pointers you may over look, the main issues will be with the locking mechanism

1, The flying mullion MAY be a offset type so has to be flipped over rather than just moved left to right or right to left? Mark with a pencil line before removing as this NEEDS to go back at the right height, it could also potentially be screwed on from the glazing side so the slave door will need deglazing to access the 5 fixing screws, you will then need to re toe and heel the door afterwards

2, If you have separate hook keeps they will certainly need to be repositioned and the pvc will need re routering out to accept the hook boxes. See 3 for the centre latch plate

However if you have a one piece locking strip on the slave door which matches the locking mechanism on the master door then it can't be just moved from left to right because the latch will be facing the wrong way, if you invert the locking strip then the latch whilst will be facing the right way it will be upside down and below the deadbolt which now won't match the locking mechanism on the master door so you will need a complete new mechanism and matching locking strip

3, If you have a separate centre latch plate it will need replacing as these are handed and can't be flipped over otherwise it'll be upside down

4, The spring latch in the master door will need reversing

5, Split the shoot bolt extensions from the slave door mechanism and remove the mechanism and transfer to the master door and reattach the shootbolt extensions, the top and bottom shootbolt keeps may potentially need repositioning afterwards

So unless you are really brave then I'd leave this to a service engineer and even then it's going to be a good half a day's work but at £80 + vat per hour minimum and £100ish + vat for a new mechanism your getting close to being it being cost prohibitive

If there's any other service engineers or fitters here then let me know if I've missed something