Handles for plastic doors - 4 installation options, plus choices and methods for self-repair

Balcony and interior doors are made from modern PVC material. They can withstand increased loads and many openings. But often the weak point is door hardware, especially handles, which break when pressed sharply.

Therefore, the problem of how to screw a handle to a plastic door becomes relevant for residents of new buildings and old housing stock. In order not to buy low-quality fittings, you should take into account the features of choosing door handles.

• Types of handles: how not to make a mistake when choosing
• Difference in design
• Features of the material
• How to install a handle on a plastic door
• Installation of handle-bracket
• Installation of the shell handle
• Installation of lever handles
• Installation of double-sided handle
• Installing a handle with a lock
• Latch Installation

Types of handles: how not to make a mistake when choosing

Unscrupulous manufacturers may resort to a marketing trick: hiding fragile and cheap materials behind an attractive design. They do this with the aim of artificially increasing the cost due to external design.

Such models will harmoniously fit into any interior style, but their service life is significantly reduced.

When choosing a locking product for a balcony door, you should not evaluate the quality by the price of the model. Expensive products are not always made of durable materials, and the price is inflated due to the brand.

Therefore, when choosing, do not be lazy to pay attention to the following nuances:

• Product passport. It must be written in understandable Russian, without errors and inaccuracies in terms that are found in Chinese counterfeits.
• Material of manufacture. Manufacturers can reduce production costs by using low-cost alloys. Therefore, if there are previously unknown names of alloys, such goods should be discarded. If the material is not specified, this is most likely a fake.
• Request a certificate. Quality products are sure to have it. It is issued per batch or individually for each product, which depends on the cost.

Reliable manufacturers almost always indicate in the documentation the state standard or technical conditions, taking into account which the product was developed.

Causes of breakdowns

The most common malfunctions of handles on plastic doors can be classified into three types:

• The first case is simple wear and failure due to the end of the element’s service life.
• The second case is the occurrence of any mechanical damage or it could be purely technical breakdowns.
• The third case is improper use of the product.

Examples can be seen in the photo.

So, let's understand the reasons and the necessary actions to eliminate them.

Difference in design

The following types of door handles are distinguished, which differ in design features:

• Stationary. They are not connected to the closing mechanism, they are used for the convenience of mechanical closing by pushing. This type of handles comes in the shape of a shell - they are mounted on the inside of balcony doors, while brackets are mainly installed on interior doors.
• Push. They are located on one side of the canvas; to open it, it is enough to press the locking product from top to bottom. They form a single mechanism with the lock, so they are often mounted in balcony blocks.
• Double sided. Pressure models that are mounted on different sides of the canvas. They are also part of the lock and work the same way: when you press one, the second one also changes position.

If the balcony doors have a winter ventilation function, install a one-sided window-type handle. They can change position, which affects the degree of opening of the canvas.

Shell pens are often called "petal" or "smoker's" pens. The petals have a similar principle of action, but differ in shape. The second term is due to the convenience of short-term closure from the inside.

Types of accessories and materials for handles

Before installing a handle on a plastic door, you still need to select this handle. The market is now overflowing with goods; it is difficult for an ordinary person to choose a specific model; moreover, beautiful does not mean high quality.

Types of PVC structures

All plastic structures are divided into 3 main directions, so first let’s say a few words about the types of doors.

• Entrance doors. Typically installed in shops, offices and administrative buildings. The handle for plastic entrance doors must be durable, and most importantly, quickly replaceable.
• Balcony blocks. As the name suggests, they are installed on balconies and terraces. Handles for plastic balcony doors are often associated with internal mechanics that provide ventilation, locking, etc. modes. They are easy to install, but it is important to choose the right model.
• Interior doors. Lightweight designs designed for equally lightweight locking mechanisms. Massive handles for plastic doors with a lock are not used here; the emphasis is on the beauty of the installed fittings.

Door handles for plastic doors are selected depending on the type of metal-plastic structure

Types of handles for plastic doors

Handles for metal-plastic doors are also divided into several directions, but there is no such clear gradation; theoretically, most models can be installed on any door, the only question is expediency.

• Static models. Such handles for PVC doors are also called stationary. The main difference is that they are not connected to a lock. The handle is installed directly on the canvas and is intended only to be pulled or pushed.
• Single-sided push models. One-way push handles on plastic doors are usually mounted in balcony blocks.
• Double-sided design. The double-sided handle for a plastic door is an improved version of the one-sided model. The installation and fastening elements are the same, plus the handles are connected to each other by a central square rod and are pressed synchronously.
• Smoker's pen or shell. The handle is designed for a plastic balcony door and is installed from the outside. By and large, it is a type of stationary model, but many experts distinguish it as a separate direction.

Nowadays the market is dominated by universal push handles for PVC doors; staples and shells belong to highly specialized areas

Materials and selection of handles

Door handles for plastic doors are mainly made of metal; plastic is sometimes found among shells and fittings for interior models. A quality product is made of aluminum, steel or brass.

In order for the fittings to harmonize with the plastic construction, most models are painted or covered with a polymer film, so visually high-quality and low-quality goods can look the same.

When choosing, you need to be careful. So, durable steel and brass handles will be significantly heavier than alloy products, plus the price of such models is higher. Light aluminum fittings are more difficult; low-quality alloys are often passed off as aluminum.

Most often, it is the double-sided handle for a plastic door that breaks, so you need to be careful when choosing these models

Focusing on the cost of such a product is risky; the price may be artificially inflated. Here you need to look at the documents; there is a simple list of requirements.

• The product passport and instructions must be in Russian.
• The documents must clearly state that the handle is made of aluminum. To protect themselves from troubles, scammers indicate some fantastic alloys or do not write down the material of manufacture at all.
• There is such a useful thing as a certificate of conformity, sometimes called a certificate of quality. In the budget sector, a certificate is issued for a batch of goods; in the middle and upper price categories, each product is certified.

Important! A reputable manufacturer in the documents for the product always indicates the standard according to which the product was made. In the CIS, there are several domestic GOSTs that can be referenced. GOST 5087-80 regulates handles for doors and windows, but it is old, GOST 538-2014 refers to a newer version. There is also GOST 30970-2002 - this is a document that describes the requirements for all PVC structures.

In addition to information about the manufacturer and the inspection authority, the certificate must be certified with a “wet” seal; a photocopy of the document has no legal force

And finally, a win-win option is to buy a handle for a plastic door from a proven, reputable manufacturer, and it is desirable that this manufacturer be domestic, because our enterprising Chinese friends have been successfully counterfeiting global brands for a long time.

Features of the material

When we see plastic doors, we are used to thinking that locking products are made of a similar material. In fact, only a few varieties of shells are made from PVC.

Manufacturers mainly use the following materials:

• For inexpensive products, light alloys - silumin - are used. They are based on aluminum - a material that is not durable. Therefore, such accessories are cheap, but they also break quickly.
• An intermediate option is steel. They are durable but heavy. In the rough version they are susceptible to corrosion and look unattractive, so they are additionally chrome and nickel plated.
• The most practical models are made from an alloy of copper and bronze, but their price is much higher.

Be careful when choosing! Most products are additionally coated with polymer substances. Therefore, it is externally difficult to distinguish between a fake and a quality product.

When attaching handles on both sides to a plastic door, it is not necessary to choose them from the same material. The most attractive and functional products can be mounted on the visible side, and ordinary ones on the inside.

Selection principles

A handle that meets certain characteristics is mounted on the balcony door. You need to know them.

1. Resistance to temperature fluctuations. This is extremely important. For example, a locking device made of metal can burn your hand due to the influence of temperature in the summer, and freeze it in the winter. Handles made of wood and plastic (PVC) do not have this drawback. Aluminum products are expensive, but their service life is longer.
2. Resistant to moisture. When the temperature changes, condensation forms on the shut-off device. A high-quality product does not corrode and remains operational for a long time.
3. Safety. Unglazed (open) balconies on the lower floors require protection from unauthorized entry into the home. The double-sided locking device poses a threat. For security, the external part must be equipped with a lock.
4. Thermal protection. The handle and its location must guarantee good impermeability, which means complete protection against the penetration of cold air. There are locking devices with protection devices.
5. Easy to use. There is no one willing to fiddle with the locking mechanism for a long time to get onto the balcony. There are simple shell-shaped devices that can be opened by hand without any problems.
6. Features of the door. It’s better to make sure at the time of purchase that the model will fit your door sample. Be sure to check the performance and functionality of the product directly in the store, with the seller. It should have a smooth and free move.

Installation of handle-bracket

Office handles in the form of an arc are usually sold in the following configuration:

• two handles for different sides of the canvas;
• two bolts for fastening;
• a special key for tightening them in the shape of the letter “L”;
• installation instructions.

To install them on a plastic door, you need to make holes for fastening using a drill. The drill should be one diameter larger than the mounting bolts. The height distance between the holes should be equal to the center-to-center distance of the handle, which can be found in the installation instructions.

Please note that the double-glazed window on a plastic balcony door extends 20-30 mm inside the profile. Therefore, before planning the location of the holes, step back a few centimeters from the glass unit.

How to properly secure an office-type product

1. From the bolt included in the kit, you need to remove two nuts and one of the washers for fastening: it has holes on the side.

2. Insert the bolt into the drilled hole from the outside, leaving one washer on it.

3. Place a second washer on the other end of the bolt and tighten the nuts. You don't need to tighten it all the way.

4. Using 13mm wrenches, we lock the nuts together.

5. Install the handle from the outside: attach it to the fastener and screw the washers into both parts by hand.

6. In the same way, you need to screw the washers to the inner handle.

7. After attaching the handles, you need to tighten the washers on each side. First with your hands, then with the L-shaped key that comes with the kit. You need to tighten it alternately to prevent the arc from skewing.

If, after installing the locking product, the blade is warped, it is enough to loosen the fastening and re-tighten the washers, but evenly.

Nuances of operation and common breakdowns

Handles on plastic doors are no more difficult to use than their sisters, which are installed on metal and wooden doors. Rotary mechanisms must be lubricated with machine oil at least once a year, and fasteners must be tightened on stationary models.

But the question of how to repair a handle on a plastic door requires a separate story, because a screwdriver alone is often not enough for repairs. The video in this article shows one of the options for such a repair; in addition, you will find detailed information on how to repair the handle and the balcony door in general “HERE” .

Installation of the shell handle

The smoker's handles are small in size and have a simple design. Therefore they are easy to install.

1. Attach the fittings to the canvas and mark the distance for the screws. It is better to mark the plastic with a marker - it is clearly visible and easily erased.
2. Using a drill, make holes at the marked points. In this case, the diameter of the drill should be 1-2 mm less than the diameter of the screws.
3. All that remains is to secure the petal handle with self-tapping screws.

If you have a self-tapping screw for metal, you can not pre-drill the holes, but immediately screw them in using a screwdriver.

Possible malfunctions and methods for eliminating them

Sometimes, when installing balcony handles, certain malfunctions occur. This may be due to a manufacturing defect, poor quality of the product as a whole, careless installation, and much more. The most common reasons are:

• Jamming. If the handle is stuck in one position and it does not close completely, then you should not try to forcefully turn it - this may lead to breakage. The point here is that the lock has been triggered, and until it is turned off, it will not be possible to open or close the door completely. This is a metal tongue located at the end of the window. You need to gently press on it while turning the handle. If this does not help and the handle still does not turn, try contacting the manufacturer - they will provide you with the information you need.
• Pressing force. If there are no problems, the handle turns quite easily. If you need to exert a lot of force to turn or press, then something has gone wrong. The reason for this may be an insufficient amount of lubricant (in which case you need to remove the lock, clean it with WD-40 and lubricate it with oil).
• Displacement of mechanism elements. It is for this reason that the plastic door to the balcony often does not close. They can be returned to their place using a hexagon - they need to tighten or loosen the eccentrics.
• Loosening. If the handle dangles or wobbles, then you have not tightened the bolts or screws enough. To fix this, you need to remove the decorative panel and tighten everything well. You can easily do this yourself in literally 5 minutes.

If you are faced with some other problem and cannot cope on your own, it is better to call a specialist. He will understand the situation, explain it to you and fix the problem.

Installation of lever handles

This type of locking products is installed when assembling the plastic sheet, since they are directly connected to the locking mechanism. Therefore, it will not be possible to independently install such a handle in another place on the door without changing the design, but you can replace a broken one.

1. Lower the old product to the “open” position so that it does not interfere with unscrewing the fasteners.
2. To access the screws, remove the decorative cap located at the top of the base. To do this, take it by the edges, pull it slightly towards you and turn it to the left side.
3. When the fasteners become visible, unscrew them using a Phillips screwdriver, and then remove the old balcony handle.
4. Clean the door leaf from accumulated dirt.
5. In order not to disturb the manual adjustment of the opening, turn the new product to the position in which the old one was: “open” with the plug turned to the left side, and install it on the canvas.
6. If you have determined the position correctly, the mounting holes of the fittings will replace the old ones. All you have to do is tighten the screws with a screwdriver. Otherwise, try to align the new handle evenly.
7. Flip the trim cap into place and press it into place to hide the screws.

To install locking hardware of other sizes or configurations, the door structure will have to be changed. Therefore, when choosing a pen, take your old one with you to compare sizes.

On the market you can find Euro handles with an English-type locking device - another type of push handle. The difference in installation is that there is no need to make holes. The new product is attached to the old place with a screwdriver.

Installation of handle with locking mechanism

It is especially recommended to install a handle with a locking mechanism if there is a small child in the family. Parents must be sure that the child will not be able to open the balcony door on his own. You will need to purchase the appropriate handle and install it in the same sequence as when replacing a conventional broken analogue.

The installed lock will be a guarantee against a small child accidentally entering the balcony in case of distraction due to household chores.

Installation of double-sided handle

The manufacturer usually installs one push model on balcony doors, but this is not always convenient. Therefore, owners have to independently install a pair for it from inside the balcony or install a double-sided handle. To do this, you need a drill with 5 and 10 mm drills and the product itself of a similar design.

• As when installing a regular push handle, you need to put the product in the “open” position, and the decorative trim to the side, and unscrew the fasteners.
• The core of the handle fits into the central hole of the blade, which has a square shape and a diameter of 10 mm. To avoid damaging the lock, use a 5 mm drill to make a through hole in the central part.
• We set the drill to 10 mm and from the inside of the balcony, where the new handle will be installed, in the place of the resulting hole we make another one, but with a different diameter. In this case, we only drill through the plastic sheet; the metal lock cannot be damaged.
• We insert the core of the double-sided handle into the hole in place of the old push handle. Their design is the same, so the new handle should fit into place.
• We mark points for self-tapping screws on the inside and drill small holes in the plastic with a 10 mm drill.
• We insert the core again, screw the handles to the canvas, and cover it with a decorative cover.

The core of the double-sided handle can be longer than the width of the door leaf, since they are made universal for any door. If you need to shorten it, measure the width of the blade and cut off the excess with a hacksaw or grinder.

How to replace the handle on a balcony door yourself?

If the handle on the balcony door breaks, becomes loose, or simply no longer satisfies its functionality, you can replace it yourself. It is permissible to install the mechanism on a balcony door without the help of a specialist, even if this is the first time. The main thing is to study the instructions and follow them step by step without haste or sudden actions.

To replace the handle you will need a simple set of tools:

• screwdriver;
• hacksaw for metal;
• drill.

The handle is installed according to the following algorithm:

1. It is necessary to remove the handle from the balcony door if it needs to be repaired or replaced with a new one. When the door is initially without a handle, you should start by preparing the markings of the holes in the profile for installation of the product.
2. To install a twist lock or latch, the metal plate from the end of the door leaf must be removed.
3. Prepare the hole using a drill for the connecting pieces.
4. Assemble the mechanism by measuring the length of the rod and “adjusting” it, if necessary, to the required dimensions.
5. Assemble the handle and secure it to the door using self-tapping screws.
6. Use decorative overlays to mask the holes for fastenings on the surface of the canvas.
7. Test the finished product by closing and opening the lock. If everything was done correctly, the handle will work easily and freely, without scrolling, squeaking, or dangling.

The “petal” and “shell” models, mounted on the outside of the door, are attached using self-tapping screws with preliminary marking of the attachment points.

Installing a handle with a lock

If you are worried that your child will go out onto the balcony without permission, install fittings with a locking mechanism. It is equipped with a special lock that prevents normal pressure.

Some owners of apartments and private houses install double-sided handles on the balcony with an anti-burglary function for additional protection against intrusion from the outside.

The procedure for installing them is no different from installing a regular handle. The lock is included in the handle design, so no adjustment is required.

Types of balcony handles

Depending on the purpose, there are several categories of handles for PVC balcony doors:

• Single-sided rotary with locking mechanism. This model is identical to the window handle and is the most common option for the inside of a balcony door. The locking mechanism is activated by turning the handle to a horizontal position. The design also has ventilation and micro-ventilation modes.
• Double-sided handle. It has handles on both the outside and inside. The locking mechanism is driven by any of the handles. This is very convenient when there are small children at home who may accidentally lock one of the parents on the balcony. Due to the fact that the balcony door overlaps the doorway, there is little space left outside for a standard handle, so the outer handle of the double-sided handle is narrower than the usual one or has a non-standard shape.

Asymmetrical balcony handle with built-in lock

Stationary petal handle made of plastic

Latch Installation

To securely fix the canvas from the outside, you can install a latch if you often go out onto the balcony. It will press the canvas tightly when closing and will not allow cold or odors to enter the room.

They are available in two versions:

• Magnetic. Installed by screwing one magnetic plate to the door frame at the closing point, and the other to the end of the door. Do not tighten the fasteners all the way at first: check the operation of the latch, and only then tighten the fasteners. Such latches have a long service life and do not stop working when the fabric subsides.
• Roller. They are mounted in a similar way: the part with the roller is screwed to the end of the door, the other - to the jamb of the balcony block. The disadvantage of such latches is that if the fabric sag, it will have to be adjusted again.

Please note that when installing any type of latch on the inside of the balcony, it is advisable to install a petal handle.

A few words about self-repair

Not all hardware breakdowns can be repaired with your own hands; most often the unit is simply replaced with a new one, so before you repair the handle on a plastic door, make sure it makes sense. Plus, sometimes it is not the handle that requires repair, but the plastic door itself; for example, the awnings need to be adjusted. How to repair PVC doors is shown in detail “HERE” .

But there are still several breakdowns when you can repair a plastic door handle yourself and not spend money on purchasing a new handle.

• The plastic door handle does not close. If the handle turns, then either the central core has burst or the locking mechanism has failed. You need to remove the handle and look, the core changes quickly, and to replace the lock, you need to remove it and buy the same one, in this case it is better to call a locksmith.
• The lock is open and the handle is turned. You have a problem with the lock, it can be easily solved. At the end of the doors, in the area of ​​the lock, you will find a small metal tongue, you need to press it and put the handle in the correct position.
• The plastic door handle does not close completely. Often such a breakdown is caused by problems with the fittings; in other words, the doors need to be re-adjusted; how to do this is written and shown “HERE” .
• The plastic door handle turns tightly and does not turn completely. The system requires cleaning and new lubrication. First you need to remove the handle and generously fill the lock with WD-40, after half an hour, try to blow out the lock (as much as possible) and fill it with high-quality oil, as in the photo below.

Often, repairing the handle of a plastic balcony door just involves replacing the lubricant

Prevention of breakdowns - how to extend the service life of door hardware

Troubles during the operation of fittings, for example, when a handle falls out of a balcony door, can and should be prevented. This is easy to do by paying attention to the care of the balcony door and fittings from the first days of operation. So that the doors, and at the same time the handle, hinges, locks, last longer without requiring repairs, you need to carefully open and close them. It's simple and yet important.

Relevance of the topic

Replacing a balcony handle is not an idle question and not because of the whim of the consumer. It is the handle that bears the entire force load applied by a person to activate the opening-closing mechanism and tilting the plastic structure. The balcony is certainly not the most visited place in the apartment.

Theoretically, the load on the balcony handle should not be very large. But in life it happens that it is on it that people try to relieve their irritability and it ceases to fulfill its functions - to open the plastic balcony door and can simply break. In this case, it requires either repair or replacement. Two other cases when the question of replacing the handle arises are: a change in the design concept of the room, when instead of the standard one made of white plastic, the consumer wants to see a handle in the style of Louis XIV on the miracle of 21st century technology, or installing an additional handle on the street side of the balcony, which is simply not provided for in the design of most manufacturing companies due to the fact that the balcony door is nothing more than a plastic window enlarged in vertical dimensions. And it is not customary to install handles on windows on the street side.

With the advent of world-exploring children in the home, eager to climb anywhere and twist everything possible, it becomes relevant to replace existing balcony and window handles with handles with locking elements (locks).

These are the main reasons why reading this article may be useful and interesting to you.

Of all the types of repairs that plastic structures may require during operation, this type of repair is the simplest.

It does not require any special knowledge or special tools. In order to remove the balcony handle, an ordinary Phillips screwdriver is enough. When installing an additional handle on the street side of the balcony, you will additionally need a drill (screwdriver) and a pair of drills ∅3 and ∅8 mm.