Hi,
I installed these timber construction, triple glazed, sliding doors a couple of years ago, made by a company called Russell Timber. They have always been very difficult to open, but when I called the company after fitting them, they were not very helpful and just said they would ease off over time. I didn't really buy that then, and they haven't eased off and I would like to try and improve this as a lot of people really struggle to open the door.
They are of the type that when you close, then turn the handle 90 degrees, the door pulls inwards to seal. The door slides freely once opened, its just that first few mm as it comes off the seal. The issue seems to be a lack of leverage when pulling the door off the seal due to the handle design which pushes down to a vertical position to open. When you pull the door handle to open the handle naturally wants to turn up back into the closing position which makes it difficult to get any leverage to open the door. If you change the position of the handle so that its horizontal when opening, its much easier to open the door, but the handle being horizontal would mean it would hit against the middle jamb preventing it from fully opening, and denting the wood, which doesn't seem right either.
Alternatively its not the handle and its the door that's closing too tightly. It does seem that when you turn the handle to open its pushing back on the jamb where the handle is, but it remains tight against the fixed jamb.
Any ideas or advice?
Thanks.
I installed these timber construction, triple glazed, sliding doors a couple of years ago, made by a company called Russell Timber. They have always been very difficult to open, but when I called the company after fitting them, they were not very helpful and just said they would ease off over time. I didn't really buy that then, and they haven't eased off and I would like to try and improve this as a lot of people really struggle to open the door.
They are of the type that when you close, then turn the handle 90 degrees, the door pulls inwards to seal. The door slides freely once opened, its just that first few mm as it comes off the seal. The issue seems to be a lack of leverage when pulling the door off the seal due to the handle design which pushes down to a vertical position to open. When you pull the door handle to open the handle naturally wants to turn up back into the closing position which makes it difficult to get any leverage to open the door. If you change the position of the handle so that its horizontal when opening, its much easier to open the door, but the handle being horizontal would mean it would hit against the middle jamb preventing it from fully opening, and denting the wood, which doesn't seem right either.
Alternatively its not the handle and its the door that's closing too tightly. It does seem that when you turn the handle to open its pushing back on the jamb where the handle is, but it remains tight against the fixed jamb.
Any ideas or advice?
Thanks.