Category Archives: Front Doors

How to Change Locks on uPVC Doors

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uPVC Door LockChanging the lock of upvc doors can be very complicated, if you do not have a clear idea on how the system works.  So, the first step that you have to take in order for you to know how to handle the situation is to know the concept behind upvc doors. For starters, a upvc door lock is considered to be a rigid kind of lock which is popular because of its tough and long lasting durability. You might be surprised to know that these locks are actually very popular in many homes. They are also done in different shapes, sizes, and finishes. Having a broken upvc door could mean that you have to upgrade it or replace it entirely for security purposes. Compared to other upvc installations, replacing your doors does not need the assistance of professionals and can be done on your own.

The first thing that you should do is to buy another lock that is the same model as the old lock for the sake of consistency.

The second thing that you have to remember in replacing upvc doors is that you will have to remove the previous lock. You can do it by unscrewing the large and retaining bolt that actually holds the lock to the door. You can do so by using a flat head screwdriver. Make sure that the door  is actually aligned with the cylinder. This is because the multi-point locking mechanism, which you are actually taking off right now, runs up the edge of your door and may have its own combination of rollers and hooks.

Third, place the key inside the lock. Afterwards, turn the lock a little bit to the side. At this point, you will feel that the key is actually firmly supporting the lock. You will have to gently move the key around a little bit in order to pull out the entire lock and bolt in the best position to open it.

After taking the entire lock, you will have to put the new lock inside the hole in order to be able to tighten the lock from the outside. At this point, the journey in replacing your upvc doors is actually nearing its end. Place both the bolt as well as the lock inside the hole and make sure that you put them in the right places. You have to make sure that you tightly screw the entirety of the bolt as well as the new lock with a screwdriver.

Knowing the specific operation method of the lock will be able to save you a lot of time as you will not be required to understand the lever operation anymore. This means that you will not engage the same troubles that you’ve had to face just because you did not have adequate knowledge in dealing with upvc doors in the past. Remember all these techniques and replacing the door will not be as intimidating as it once was.

 

How To Fix uPVC Doors That Let In Rain At The Bottom?

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uPVC doors sweepUnplasticized polyvinyl chloride, or UPVC, does not contain the chemicals that soften standard PVC. UPVC doors are very popular with homeowners because of the advantages they offer over traditional wooden doors. They can be caste, which eliminates the need for hand tooling. They are not attacked by termites and do not require painting. They come in many different styles and door types, such as bi-folding doors, patio doors, and decorative entrance doors. UPVC provides much higher insulation value than wood; it does not split from sun damage, nor does it warp from exposure to ambient moisture.

A properly installed UPVC door requires very little maintenance. However, an improperly installed door can leak and allow rainwater to enter along the bottom of the door. There are several ways to address this problem.

For UPVC doors with adjustable sills:

(1) Open the door and look down at the bottom of the doorframe. That bottom piece is the sill. It may have a piece of metal covering it, known as the sill plate. If the sill plate has a series of inset screws running longitudinally across the middle, then it is adjustable.

(2) These screws pass through the sill and contact the floor support beneath the doorframe. Loosening the screws will retract them up into the sill, allowing it to sag downward rest flush against the floor support. Tightening a screw causes it to extend further through the sill plate and push against the floor support. This will cause the sill to bow upwards slightly as the screw pushes it away from the floor. Slightly tightening all of the screws will raise the sill in a level manner.

(3) If rainwater is seeping under the door, you may be able to tighten the screws to lift the sill plate. If the sill lifts enough to contact the rubber gasket attached to the bottom of the door, then it creates a weatherproof seal.

For UPVC doors without adjustable sills:

(1) Remove the hinge pins and lift the door from the frame.

(2) Look along the bottom edge of the door. You should see a rubber gasket. It usually fits into a groove along the bottom edge of the door. This gasket is the door sweep. When the door closes, the door sweep creates a seal against the sill plate.

(3) Purchase a replacement door sweep at your local hardware store.

(4) Slide the new door sweep into the slot. It may need trimmed to the width of the door.

(5) Carefully place the door into the hinges and replace the hinge pins.

(6) Close the door and check the fit. The sweep must contact the sill plate as the door closes to create a weather tight seal.

For UPVC doors without sweeps:

(1) All doors must have a sweep in order to seal against the weather. If the door sweep is missing, purchase a replacement sweep at the local hardware store and install it. Each type of door sweep will have specific installation instructions.

Reasons to Choose Composite Doors

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Composite DoorsWe can all agree that the two main functions of the front doors are  to prevent intruders from entering our homes and at the same time they must also provide excellent insulation and prevent the outside weather conditions affecting the inside temperature. uPVC front doors do an excellent job in these two areas, but in my opinion, a composite door is even better, especially in the security department.

People often get confused about what a composite door is and what makes it different from uPVC doors, considering both types of doors look quite similar. But as much as they look alike on the outside, they are actually very much different on the inside. Composite doors usually have a solid wood interior that gives them excellent insulation properties and on the other hand it makes them extremely safe and secure. uPVC doors are usually hollow inside and filled with a polystyrenes product for insulation. The insulation might be great, but we can all agree that the solid composite doors are better as far as safety goes.

Not only are composite doors very safe, they look great as well. They have a grained finish that is designed to make them look very much like the attractive wooden doors. The selection of different colours and styles is also quite wide, so you can pick the doors that look exactly like you had always pictured your front would look like one day. You can also choose whether you want your composite doors to be solid or glazed.

Composite doors tend to be a bit more expensive than the ordinary uPVC doors, but if you shop around and look for doors on sale, you can find high quality items for an excellent price. Just plan ahead, don’t be an impulsive shopper and you will have no problems finding great looking and secure doors, that will also be quite affordable at the same time.

uPVC Patio Doors

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When it comes to uPVC windows and doors, picking the right ones for your home is essential. A patio door is definitely one of the finest choices when it comes to picking an external door. There are many front doors and back doors to choose from out there, but patio doors actually work incredibly well for both. They look great, and work well in just about any modern, contemporary home.

All uPVC doors, including uPVC patio doors, are easy enough to maintain. The uPVC frame is easily cleaned with soapy water or detergent (mixed with water). Patio doors tend to have a lot of glass, which can be easily cleaned on the inside and out using a standard off-the-shelf window cleaner, whether it be a spray or a soap. It’s definitely worth it, because you’ll be left with a nice and clean shine to your patio doors.

Front doors are important to most homes because it’s the first thing someone sees as they approach your home. uPVC doors look as good as they are functional, so there’s certainly not an issue if you use uPVC patio doors at the front of your house. It can actually add value to your home, not to mention they work perfectly well for keeping in heat and letting in natural light. We all want to save money on our energy bills, right?

uPVC windows and doors are also known for their strong security. A burglar will have one heck of a job prying open any uPVC doors, due to their enhanced lock mechanisms and the strength of the material. Even with open windows, they often cannot be opened wide enough to fit through without flicking an inner latch.

In a nutshell, if you’re looking at front doors, definitely go for patio doors. They are as functional as any uPVC doors but certainly look the best.

5 Reasons Why uPVC Doors are the Best Choice

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uPVC doors are no doubt the best choice when it comes to picking something that is not only a great material, but also looks fantastic. When it comes down to it, we all want something that is going to be practical for our homes, i.e. being able to keep heat and/or cool air in, and generally just functioning well (no sticking, creaking or jamming). Wooden doors have all kinds of issues regarding these things, so let’s take a look at the great benefits of uPVC. Both uPVC windows and doors are counted for with these benefits:
Effective weather proofing – Not only will you not suffer from rain leaks, but also you won’t hear too much of the rain either due to decent noise proofing.

Insulation – This is an important one. We can keep more heat and/or cool air in our homes by using uPVC doors. This is reason enough for a lot of people nowadays to be using uPVC windows and doors. We all want to keep our energy bills to a minimum.

No corrosion – Yep, that’s right, your uPVC windows and doors will not face any corrosion whatsoever. Not even salt water will cause corrosion.

Minimal and repairable – uPVC doors, or any uPVC structures for that matter, rarely suffer any truly noticeable scratches, which is great news. Even when it does, it is easily polished out of the surface. You’re looking at a very sturdy material here.

Looks great – Practicality is not the only thing that this material is good for. The clean white finish makes for fantastic looking doors and windows.

As you can see, the pros seriously outweigh the pros of wooden materials. Even if you prefer the look of wood, you can give uPVC a wooden-looking finish. You simply cannot go wrong with this material for either uPVC front doors or internal ones.