Many larger homes in Woodbridge and across Vaughan have a pair of front doors. They look impressive, but they lock differently from a single door, and their faults are often misunderstood.
How a pair of doors locks
One door, the active leaf, carries the lock and handle. The other, the inactive leaf, is held by bolts at the top and bottom, called flush bolts, or by a multipoint system. When the flush bolts are not thrown, the pair can be forced apart.
Common faults
- The inactive door has dropped, and the flush bolts no longer meet their holes
- The astragal, the vertical strip between the doors, is loose
- The handle or gearbox of a multipoint lock is worn
- The doors rub each other because the hinges have sagged
- The weatherstripping has failed and lets in draughts
Check the flush bolts
Open the inactive leaf and look at the bolts. Push them fully into the frame and the floor. If they do not line up, the door needs re-hanging, not a new lock.
Consider a multipoint lock
A multipoint lock draws the door to the frame at several points as the handle is lifted. When it is adjusted well, it is strong and quiet. When it is out of adjustment, the handle stiffens and the door will not lock.
Add a keyed or keypad deadbolt
A deadbolt at the active leaf adds a solid throw. A keypad lock is convenient for families with children. Check the door thickness and the stile width before buying.
Look at the frame and hinges
Heavy doors put load on the hinges. Loose hinge screws are the usual cause of a door that will not latch in winter. Replace short screws with three-inch screws that reach the stud. See door hinge repair.
When to replace
If the doors are warped, rotted or seriously out of square, repair may cost as much as new. A locksmith can advise on front entry door installation.
Call us
Apna Locksmith works from Brampton and serves Woodbridge and Vaughan, open 7 AM to 11 PM. Call (289) 406-1500. See residential locksmith in Vaughan.