Garage Door Locked Out Disaster

[Scrapironmike]

All started with locking my only garage key inside the garage. It’s a Horman up and over and I’d gone in to get something must have put the keys down and I often lock it by flicking a little catch on the rear of the lock and closing it.

No access from inside the house and my keys are now locked inside and I have no spare.

Managed to drill the lock out today and get in. Then needed to get the cylinder out ready for a new one which involved removal of the lock mechanism and to stop them getting in the way I removed the two solid arms that go from the handle to the latches at each bottom corner. I then closed the door!

The latches must self engage and I now have a door that is latched securely in two corners and no way to release them.

Any ideas that don’t involve destroying the door?

Will also need some tools too as all mine are in the garage

 

[big-all]

drill a hole at the latch point big enough for whatever is needed to grip/push for access
thinking stiff wire /pliers or even a hand hole

 

[Scrapironmike]

Reckon that’s my only option. There is a strip of metal trim either side of the door to the brickwork but not sure what I would be able to see if I removed it.

 

[big-all]

Reckon that’s my only option. There is a strip of metal trim either side of the door to the brickwork but not sure what I would be able to see if I removed it.

from memory off my dads up and over from around 12 years ago the only way to free up the shoot bolts was by pulling towards the central handle as the bolts passed through a bracket then the door side then the frame now from my understanding accessing the frame or a panel to the side off it would require you to push the bolt through against spring pressure to clear the frame keeping in mind it wont be a flat end as it will be tapered at perhaps 45% on the bolt end to the back edge that you wont easily see
so unless its an actual infill panel rather than the door frame you will need to push the bolt perhaps 25-50mm to clear the frame so keep that in mind

 

[robinbanks]

Time to hire a cut-off saw (stihl saw) and cut that internal access door you've always been thinking about..

Rather than making a hole in the door I think it would be better to remove the trim at the door top that hides the latches and either press them down with a screwdriver (if you can get enough purchase) or cut them off (with a large grinder/a cutoff saw inserted horizontally into the gap between door and joist) and fashion new ones..

 

[jj4091]

If they are normal spring loaded latches perhaps you can release them by pushing a thin very flexible wall paper scraper. Do one side at a time and wedge it open before doing the other side, if that method works,

 

[Scrapironmike]

Thanks everyone. They are rotary latches and after a good nights sleep I’m planning to drill a small hole just above it and try to release it through the hole.

 

[cdbe]

You can go through the roof - depending on the roof.