Latches for balcony doors: functions, types and installation features

There is a balcony in almost every apartment today. If we talk about a room in a multi-storey building, then this probability is almost one hundred percent. Recently, everyone has been trying to save on space heating, so a high-quality balcony door should be installed unconditionally. And, of course, it should be equipped with such an element as a latch for the door leaf on the balcony.

A latch for a door made of plastic is a rather functional and convenient element of door hardware, which also performs another important function - it protects a home from illegal entry or burglary. The principle of operation of such a latch is extremely simple and similar to the operation of latches located on the doors of kitchen cabinets. This makes it possible not to be distracted by controlling the position of the door.

The design of such a device is designed so that a person can freely open the door., while he did not have to put any great effort. At the same time, even serious wind gusts cannot disrupt the closedness of the door. This is precisely the main purpose of the mounted door latch for the balcony door - keeping it from swinging open.

Another name of the mechanism, which should be said a little, is the smoker's latch. To explain this name is quite simple - you just need to slam the door on the latch and cigarette smoke will not start entering the room. And the use of such a latch is simply convenient, since for a short-term exit to the balcony there is no need to close the door with a lock. At the same time, when using a 1-way lock and there is no latch on one side, the door cannot be closed when leaving the room. As you can see, the need to install the latch mechanism on the balcony door cannot be disputed.

A latch for the type of door in question is an excellent solution that will not only prevent the door from slamming, but also protect the glass from breaking or deforming. There are three options for such solutions. Each category has both advantages and disadvantages.

If we talk about a magnetic solution, then a similar mechanism is usually used in kitchen cabinets. Its convenience lies in the fact that such a latch can be mounted in the place of the pin, which is usually equipped with such solutions, and a magnetic-type tongue can be installed on the frame, which will hold the sash when closing. You can find several categories of such latches on the market, but, as a rule, there is usually a bar in the shape of the letter G. It has holes through which it is easy to screw it to the door. Many models have holes in the same place as regular fittings, which makes it quite easy to attach the bar. If the latches do not have fasteners, then they can be made using the simplest drill.

In order for the bar to be fixed firmly with one hundred percent coincidence of the holes with those on the fittings, you can simply use slightly large self-tapping screws. A body is attached to the door frame, inside of which there are magnets. It is usually made of plastic and needs to be attached using self-tapping screws. Such a latch is very simple in terms of design, which ensures its high reliability. The latch prevents the magnets from rubbing against each other, which allows them to extend their life.

Another interesting option is the roller type mechanism. He will be in the special corps. Its back will be supported by a spring. This device is placed at the end of the balcony door. It should be noted that the roller has the ability to rotate. There is a special recess in the bar, when the roller is in it, then it seems to go deeper into the structure and cannot return itself to its original position, which allows the door to be fixed. At the same time, opening the door is simple - you just need to push it a little.

It is the sash that cannot open due to the restraint of the spring. Rotary structures do not participate in opening, which makes the structure more durable. To install such a latch, you need a screwdriver, drill and self-tapping screws. The highlight of such a mechanism will be the need to accurately select the location of the groove and the roller against each other. If this is not done, then the mechanism will be inoperative. If the video is mounted crookedly or incorrectly, then the door will not close at all. This type of retainer can break if handled incorrectly, which requires proper installation. In addition, it should be checked periodically for damage or distortion.

Snap latches are another fairly common category that a mechanical latch has. This option is considered traditional. It works in approximately the same way as the video. The part enters the recess, and a special spring does not allow it to come out without using a mechanical force on the part of a person. To open the door normally in such a situation, you should install a special handle equipped with a pivot-type mechanism. And the strip must be mounted on a double-glazed frame, after which the latch is placed on the door.

It is worth talking about how exactly you can choose a locking mechanism for a plastic door. The selection of the fixing mechanism should be taken responsibly, because the functionality of the door will depend on it. For selection, the following criteria are usually important:

• how often tenants from the premises go to the balcony or loggia;
• how much they have;
• whether aesthetic appearance is important or not;
• complexity of installation.

If the door leaf does not open often, there are no people who smoke in the house, then it will be enough to install a simple mechanical latch. Then the subsidence of the structure will be extremely slow, which is why the roller or any other latch will last as long as possible. If the need to go to a balcony or loggia occurs often, then it would be better to install a magnetic solution for a balcony door made of polyvinyl chloride.

It will be much easier to close and open the sash, it will work even if there is a bias. The advantages of this particular option will be that the product is small and after installation it will be completely invisible. Mounting the magnetic latch is also pretty straightforward. The only drawback that does not allow us to call this option ideal is the high price.

It should be said that the installation of roller and magnetic type solutions on the door in question is very similar, but there is a slight difference between them, for which reason it is necessary to disassemble how to install various options for latches. If we talk about the installation of the roller version on the door leaf, then regardless of the type of construction - a roller or a hard tongue, the installation procedure will be the same. It is worth noting that there are two categories of PVC door latches - nine and thirteen millimeters in size. The selection of the model will vary from the category of the profile that was previously installed. That is, when buying, it is enough to tell the seller about it, and he will select the necessary solution.

Before starting the described process, you should unscrew the self-tapping screw located at the end of the door leaf at the main handle. A door made of plastic tends to bend slightly, and if a person decides to put a latch on the lower side or at the top of the canvas, then there is a possibility that the canvas will still need to be pressed so that the roller is completely in the counterpart. Now a roller is screwed into the end of the door.

It should be understood that the roller protrudes beyond the canvas, for which reason it is immediately better to choose a longer self-tapping screw, so that thanks to it the difference in distance is compensated. Do not take too long a solution in order not to damage the glass unit, which is located exactly opposite it. At the same time, it must be longer than the previously established solution.

To mount the counterpart on the frame, mark the place where the roller will be located as clearly as possible. Then it is necessary in a horizontal position to attach a ruler to the roller center and mark the location on the front side of the canvas, and then the door is closed, and the markings are already transferred to the frame itself. The line on the frame end must be located directly in the center of the inlet-type hole on the latch. It is necessary to apply the latch and then screw it from above with a self-tapping screw. It is best to use a 19 mm screw.

It is necessary to check the accuracy of the entry of the roller. You need to close and open the door several times. If everything fits exactly, then you can screw in the self-tapping screw from below. If a mistake is made and the counterpart does not converge, then you should look where and how far it has moved. After that, you should unscrew the upper self-tapping screw and attach the bar using the lower self-tapping screw. And after the check, the screw should be screwed into another place and the self-tapping screw at the top. But the complete fixation of the counter-type bar is carried out only after the check.

It is worth considering the installation of a magnetic type mechanism. In general, the installation will be carried out in the same way as described above. First you need to start by unscrewing the closest self-tapping screw to the handle, and also dismantle the fasteners of the steel bar. In this situation, the self-tapping screw can not be changed to another, because the thickness of this bar does not exceed one millimeter. Now you should close the door a little and mark the lower and upper borders of the steel strip on the frame, and screw the counterpart of the latch with a magnet to the frame.

In the next video, you will find the installation of a balcony latch.