Plastic door to the balcony
Balcony doors made of plastic are among the most widespread and demanded. They have a number of advantages that today's consumers value them for. Plastic doors make rooms more comfortable and soundproof, but there are some nuances in them that the owners of such structures should be aware of.
Peculiarities
Such doors are traditional types of fencing that separate living rooms between themselves and the balcony (or loggia). Today, in the latter case, such structures are most often mounted together with a window. The type of glazing can be absolutely any.
It is worth noting the excellent heat and sound insulation characteristics of plastic doors. It is for these properties that they are loved by the owners who have cold-type balcony glazing, which does not keep heat in the room and does not protect the living area from street noise.
Such balcony elements are composed of several functional parts. These include:
- strong frames made of PVC profiles. They connect special fasteners to each other;
- hinges, without which the entire structure will not open and close correctly;
- sashes, which are assembled according to the same principle as the door frame;
- handles and latches. They are necessary for convenient opening and closing of plastic doors.
- high quality sealant. Such a component is needed to provide additional tightness of the closed sash.
- double-glazed window, which is built into the door itself.
Often, plastic door models are equipped with additional elements that make them more functional and easy to use. These can be stoppers, hydraulic or mechanical sensors, etc.
Unfortunately, plastic balcony doors often require additional adjustments and repairs. Any of the mechanisms can fail. To fix them, you can contact a specialist or try to fix the problem yourself.
It should be noted that high-quality plastic doors have a neat and attractive appearance. They look neutral in the room and do not stand out from the general style, having a capricious white color that is in harmony with almost all shades in the interior.
Plastic doors do not require any special maintenance. You just need to monitor the health of all mechanisms and treat them carefully. They are easily cleaned of dirt and dust, for this you do not need to stock up on special compounds - ordinary detergents are quite suitable. Even stubborn stains can be easily removed from the surface of the plastic.
It is recommended to treat these products carefully. Do not make sudden movements and jerks when you open the door, do not slam it in a big way. Such operation can lead to deformations of the door and frame, as well as to malfunction in the operation of various mechanisms. Problems may not arise immediately, but after a while.
Types of pens
In high-quality plastic balcony doors, various handles may be present. Each type has its own opening / closing mechanism.
Separate stationary and mobile, as well as one-sided or double-sided options. Convenient shell handles have been in great demand lately. Let's consider all the above options in more detail.
Traditional stationary handles are not equipped with functional parts such as a lock or latch. Such options can only be used to open the door or open it slightly.
There are three types of stationary balcony door handles:
- One of the most common are staple handles. They are large in size, which makes them very easy to use. But such details are more often equipped with plastic options in hospitals or office buildings. For this use, they were called office pens. In a cozy interior, such little things will not look very harmonious.
- Another option for a stationary handle is a model called a shell. Otherwise, it is also called the smoker's handle. Such a part is installed on the outside of the plastic door. This option is ideal for a family with children: kids can easily get out of the balcony on their own by opening the door from the inside.
- The handle-petal (otherwise - false-handle) has the same characteristics as the shell, but has a slightly different shape. Similar elements are made of durable plastic.
- Single sided push handles are ideal for complementing balcony doors. They lock the room with a small latch that is present on one side only.
There are instances in which there are built-in handles with special latches and locks with keys. Anti-burglary models are very popular. Such parts have excellent performance characteristics. For example, they are ventilated and micro-ventilated. Similar properties are found in plastic window handles.
Comfortable double-sided handles are very popular today. They can be installed in both balcony and terrace door models. The outer side of these handles is narrow.
If your apartment is located on the ground floor, then another type of door handle is ideal for you - a model with a latch lock. Such an element is one of the most effective in protecting the premises from intruders.
How to choose?
When choosing the right balcony door, consider some simple tips that will allow you to get the perfect one for your home.
- Popular classic doors (glazed top and plastic bottom) are suitable for any balcony and interior. In such models, there is most often a threshold, which is needed for a more convenient exit to the balcony, but you can easily refuse this part if it bothers you in some way.
- If you want to turn to a more original and creative option, then you should take a closer look at the balcony door, in which the lower part is also made of glass. Such elements look very interesting and decorate interiors in many styles, but it should be borne in mind that such models only outwardly seem light - in fact, due to the large glass unit, they are heavy.
- It is not recommended to purchase blind plastic doors that do not have glass inserts. Such options look harmonious only in public spaces. For an ordinary balcony in an apartment, only a door with full glazing or with glazing of one half is suitable.
- Take grip selection seriously. They must be not only serviceable and functional, but also easy to use. Such parts are made not only of plastic, but also of metal. The choice of the ideal option depends on the personal preferences of the owners.
- After installation work, you must make sure that all structures are in good working order. The door should open effortlessly. Extraneous noise (crackling, rattling or rattling) should be absent.
- It is recommended to contact only trusted companies that have a good reputation in the city of your residence. Plastic doors are inexpensive, so it is not worth saving and choosing an overly cheap option, as it may turn out to be of low quality and short-lived.
Frequent problems
Plastic balcony doors are prone to various types of faults. Many of them can be resolved on their own, but there are situations when you cannot do without the help of specialists.
- Often, balcony doors sag some time after installation. They begin to cling to the plastic threshold, making an unpleasant noise. As a rule, such a defect occurs due to the heavy weight of the structure and its displacement to the side.
- Sometimes the handles start to dangle. This problem can occur if the door is opened and closed too often.
- Over time, you may notice that the door closes poorly and tightly. At such moments, the sashes are weakly pressed against the frame, which leads to the penetration of drafts into the room. Such a defect can occur due to a skewed door or malfunctions in the handle.
- Often, in plastic doors, the sashes are shifted to the side. The part starts to touch the center of the frame. Such consequences occur when the loops are loosened. They just need to be adjusted and tightened.
- There are times when the sashes are displaced due to temperature extremes, which can damage the structure if the balcony is not insulated.
Required tools
Many problems associated with improper operation of balcony doors can be resolved on your own.
Very often balcony doors sag due to poorly adjusted hinges. For work related to such a defect, you do not need to be a professional in repair matters. Let's look at the repair process using a similar example.
To begin with, you should stock up on the following necessary devices:
- hexagon;
- Phillips screwdriver
- flat screwdriver.
Repair
The door can be adjusted horizontally or vertically.
For the first method, you should follow the following step-by-step instructions:
- It is necessary to open the door wider in the pivot position.
- A screw is screwed in near the upper hinge in the end part of the sash. It must be turned clockwise 2-3 times using a hexagon.
- Next, you need to remove the plugs that cover the holes leading to the upper screws.
- Finally, turn all screws clockwise.
- Now you need to check if the balcony door closes and opens freely. You should tighten the screws again if you are not satisfied with the result.
Consider the process of vertical adjustment of a plastic door:
- The door must first be lifted to a level position. At its bottom, you will find a screw. It is located along the door axis.
- The screws are often covered with plugs. If there is one in your door, then it should be removed. This must be done very carefully and carefully.
- If you turn the screw clockwise, then the door needs to be slightly raised. If you do it counterclockwise, then it should be omitted.
You can also independently adjust the pressure of the plastic door and handle.
If you want to tighten the handle, then you need to do the following:
- The plastic cover must be turned at right angles. But be very careful not to damage the structure.
- Under the cover, you will find the mounting screws. They need to be tightened.
If the handle turns badly and squeaks, then you can simply lubricate the lock. This is done using special tools and materials that do not contain resins and various acids.
If the handle is broken completely, then it is worth purchasing a new part for a plastic balcony door. First you need to remove the damaged handle by unscrewing the bolts. After that, in place of the old element, you can tightly install a new one.
See the following video for adjusting the door to the balcony.
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