How to install a mortise latch and handle on a door. Types of latches on the balcony and their installation Install the latch on the interior door

To prevent drafts and changes in temperature inside the room, a balcony latch is placed on the balcony door, which helps prevent outside air from entering the living space. After all, outside, most often, it is much colder or hotter than the optimal room temperature. There are several types of latches, differing both in the principle of operation and in the materials from which they are made. Installation does not require special knowledge and skills, but the easiest way is to install a magnetic latch.

Varieties

There are two types of door latches - mechanical and magnetic, and various modifications have not yet been invented. The most common and successful executions will now be discussed.

• Magnetic latches

An excellent option, since a balcony latch of this type has all possible advantages: the highest possible noiselessness in operation, ease of installation and operation, and a much longer service life compared to other types of this hardware. A magnetic latch works by sticking a metal plate attached to the door to a strong magnet attached to the door frame.

When the parts of the mechanism come together, the door itself is attracted and closes tightly, without the need to create additional force, as with mechanical types of locks. True, there is a small drawback in that it is impossible to regulate the strength of the magnetic door coupling; sometimes it is not enough, which can be easily corrected by installing another magnetic latch.

Magnetic latch is very easy to install

• Mechanical latches

There are different types, first of all, this is divided into plastic and metal, as well as roller, ball, halyard and so on.

Plastic ones are the cheapest, but they also perform the worst in operation, they have a short service life, jamming is possible or, conversely, which is most often, weak coupling.

Roller, metal, is a more reliable option; they consist of the same two parts, a fixing plate and a movable roller, which rotates on its axis and is fixed in the plate. Of the mechanical options, it is optimal; it has the ability to slightly adjust the rigidity of the coupling, while being more durable than other types of mechanical locks. Ball ones differ from roller ones in that the ball is often less securely secured in its grooves and therefore its service life is shorter.

Hazel latches are distinguished by the most reliable fixation; no wind will open such a latch; it is advisable to use it in wooden balcony doors. When used on plastic doors, it is worth considering that you will also have to make a through handle.

Mechanical latch is the most reliable option

Installation

It is advisable to install any latches in close proximity to the height of the door handle, since then you will not have to resort to additional pressure on the door at the location where the holder is installed.

Plastic doors usually already come complete with a latch, and therefore, when installing/purchasing a door, immediately select the desired balcony latch.

If the door already exists, installation will also not be difficult:

1. Remove the screw closest to the door handle on the end of the door.
2. Screw an additional part of the lock there (a roller or a holder bar); in this case, it is worth choosing a longer screw than the one that was unscrewed earlier in order to securely fasten the fittings.
3. Close the door, mark with a pencil on the door jamb the place for the second part of the locking mechanism
4. Screw the second part (holder or magnet) into the grooves of the jamb, exactly along the mark.

If the old fittings fail, you will have to dismantle them and install new ones according to plan.

Installation of magnetic locks is simpler; they do not require special precision as for mechanical locks, since the plate will be attracted to the magnet in any case, however, with a completely ugly installation, the magnet will attract much worse.

The mechanical principle of the balcony latch requires an exact match between the locking plate and the coupling mechanism itself. It is also worth noting that the reliability of a mechanical latch is much greater than that of a magnetic latch. When installing such a latch on a plastic door, certain difficulties may arise. Also, when fastening, you should pay attention to the screws used - they should not protrude from their sockets, as this will lead to jamming and the inability to use the door in normal mode.

There are some differences when installing fittings on wooden bases:

1. Often old wooden doors with outdated non-functional fittings are used, so the old parts of the locking mechanisms will have to be removed.
2. Ball and roller latches will have to be recessed into the door leaf also closer to the door handle. To do this, a hole is made in the wood for the latch (its main part) and securely screwed to the door.
3. Precisely marking the place for the additional part on the doorway jamb, if necessary, make a hole in the jamb for the fixing plate and screw it in with screws.

When installing magnetic locks on wooden doors, it makes no difference what will be on the door, a magnet or a plate, it all depends on the desire of the master and the specific situation.

For the comfort of using any kind and type of mechanism, it is necessary to install a so-called smoker’s handle on the outside of the door, so that it is convenient to close the door behind you and open it. A very convenient thing! Just a piece of plastic and a couple of screws, but there are so many advantages.

It is important to choose and install the latch on the balcony correctly

Malfunctions and how to deal with them

This paragraph mainly refers to mechanical types of latches. So often you have to tighten the spring on roller or ball mechanisms. If the door is beveled or sagging on mechanical devices, you will have to re-screw the fixing plate, otherwise the ball or roller will not be able to fit into its groove.

In order to enhance the action of the mechanical mechanism, you will have to pull it out of the door and unscrew the spring securing nut on the back side. Then either pull out the spring and stretch it slightly, or place a nut or washer of a suitable size under it. Then screw the plug into place. Often you come across mechanisms without a fastening nut, but with slots on the sides of the spring. In this case, you will have to use a screwdriver to compress the spring and place a nut or washer under its base.

Magnetic latches do not require repair; the only damage may be damage to the magnet or its demagnetization, but in these cases the latch will have to be replaced.

A door handle with a latch fits well into any interior: you just need to choose the appropriate model. Typically, locking mechanisms of this type are used for private premises. Installing such a handle yourself is not difficult if you have the most ordinary set of tools and skills to work with them.

There are the following types of latches:

• fall;
• with magnetic elements;
• roller;
• latches.

Here is a brief description of these locking mechanisms.

1. Door handles with a halyard latch are the simplest and most reliable. The locking element is a tongue with an oblique cut. The tongue is pressed by a spring, the door closes freely and opens by turning the double-sided handle. The locking mechanism is secured by a rotary button mounted on the handle.
2. A stationary interior door handle with a roller-type latch is used for installation in interior doors. Convenient if there are children in the house. The door can open and close freely, since the design does not provide a locking mechanism.
3. The door handle with magnetic latch has a simple design, assembled from permanent magnets and metal strips. The simplest modifications resemble furniture latches. The action of more complex ones is based on the work of permanent magnets: the lock bolt installed on the door is retracted by the core of the lock mate.

The door handle device with a latch can be of two types:

• push action: the locking mechanism is activated after pressing the lever of the L-shaped handle;
• rotary action: the handle is a ball, turning it counterclockwise retracts the lock tongue.

When choosing a handle with a latch, in addition to color, material and design, you should consider the following.

1. Direction of door leaf opening: it is recommended to install a handle with a convenient turning design. There are modifications with both right and left turns.
2. Thickness of the door leaf: after inserting the lock mechanism, there should be a sufficiently thick layer of wood on both sides of it.
3. For children's rooms, a door latch handle with a lock should not be used: access for adults should not be limited.
4. For installation in the bedroom, you should choose a latch with a silent mechanism. For such modifications, the tongue is completely hidden in the lock body.

Latch handle design

Before figuring out how to install a door handle with a latch, you should learn what it consists of. Regardless of the modification, the main parts of the latch handle are:

• mechanism (internal part);
• a pair of handles;
• retainer;
• decorative metal plates.

The locking mechanism is based on an oblique-shaped tongue held by a spring. The latch locking device is opened by turning the latch handle. Thanks to the feature of the halyard latch, the door can be closed without the use of a lock handle.

Installing a door handle with a latch: step-by-step description

The entire process consists of three operations performed one after another.

1. Marking the position of the internal locking part on the door leaf and the counter part.
2. Drilling technological holes in the door frame and in the door.
3. Installation of lock parts and their fastening.

It is necessary to study the manufacturer's instructions and assemble the handle in accordance with it. You should have a set of tools and accessories at your disposal:

• set of wood drills: spiral – Ø 6 mm, feather – Ø 22-24 mm;
• crown Ø 50 mm;
• electric drill;
• hammer;
• chisel;
• a set of screwdrivers or a screwdriver;
• carpenter's square;
• roulette;
• simple pencil.

Carrying out markings

Important: marking should be done at a height of 0.8 - 1.2 m. On factory-made door leaves, this place is marked with a special icon in the form of a key. If small children live in the house, you can install the handle a little lower.

All holes are marked in the following order.

1. The door leaf is removed from the hinges.
2. The required distance is set aside from the bottom edge of the canvas and a level mark is placed for the center of the handle.
3. Using a square, draw a line crossing the level mark perpendicular to the door jamb.
4. The line marks the distance to the center of the handle (indicated in the instructions for the lock). Usually it is 60 mm. A clear mark is placed.
5. The place for the locking mechanism tongue is marked: a horizontal line is drawn on the end side at the level of the mark for the handle.
6. The latch mechanism is applied at the installation site. The tongue should extend completely beyond the outer edge. The contour of the tongue is outlined on both sides of the door leaf.
7. The outline of the latch is projected onto the end face. The center is marked. In this place there will be a hole for installing the mechanism.

Please note: the marking of the mating part of the latch handle on the box is done after installing the mechanism.

Drilling holes

1. The door leaf is securely fixed.
2. Using a wood crown using an electric drill, holes for the handle-latch mechanism are drilled in two stages. Holes are made on both sides approximately to the middle of the door leaf to avoid the crown moving to the side. The electric drill must be oriented strictly perpendicular to the plane of the door.
3. The hole for installing the tongue is first drilled with a spiral guide, and then drilled out with a feather drill. The drill should not be allowed to deviate to the side: the thickness of the wood at the edges may not exceed 6-7 mm.
4. The recess for the plate near the tongue is selected with a chisel after marking.

Latch handle installation

Important: access to hidden places for screwing in bolts is provided by removing the cover plate. Using a special key, press the stopper located on the handle body, pull the handle and remove the plate. After installing the handle, everything is assembled in the reverse order: the handle is fixed after pressing the stopper again.

Installation of the counter part on the box

1. To mark the space for the strike plate, a layer of pencil lead is applied to the front of the latch tongue.
2. In the closed door position, the handle is pressed and released several times. In this case, marks remain on the wood of the box, which are outlined with a pencil.
3. Using a feather drill, a hole is drilled in the center of the outlined contour into which the tongue will go. The depth of the hole should be slightly greater than the length of the tongue.
4. The outline for the decorative plate is marked.
5. A plastic insert is inserted into the hole.
6. The decorative plate is installed and secured with screws.
7. The operation of the latch handle is checked: the movement of the tongue should be easy, jamming of the handles is not allowed.

In conclusion, how to install a door handle with a latch: a video with expert comments will help you understand all the intricacies of the work.

Reading time: 8 minutes.

The latch is a mandatory element of the fittings for a balcony door made of PVC profile. For a home craftsman, information about its purpose, classification and operating principle of each type will be useful. Tips from the practice of using balcony latches will also be useful.

Purpose of the latch

The plastic door latch is a very useful, convenient and functional part of modern door hardware. The simple principle of operation, similar to the operation of the latches on the doors of kitchen cabinets, allows you not to be distracted by monitoring the position of the door. The latch mechanism is designed for the door to be opened freely by a person (if necessary) without applying any serious effort. But at the same time, the closed position of the door leaf is not disturbed by strong gusts of wind. Keeping the plastic door from swinging open while the door lock mechanism is in the unlocked position is the main task of the installed latch.

Another, household name for the mechanism is the smoker’s latch. The explanation for this is simple: just slam the door shut and the smoke will no longer be drawn into the living space; Tightly closing the balcony door with a lock is not required for a short visit to the balcony or loggia. If you use a one-way lock (its handle is located on the side of the room) and there is no latch, the door cannot be closed when exiting to the balcony. So, the usefulness and necessity of installing a latch on the balcony door is obvious.

Types of door latches

The main difference between the latches used is in the locking mechanism. Based on this feature, the following types are distinguished:

Sagging of the door leaf, its skew, or changes in the geometry of the frame structure can disrupt or make it impossible for the roller and latch to function properly. The working latch (in the form of a roller or beveled tongue) must fit exactly into the striker clamp mounted on the frame. Emergency adjustment consists of adjusting the door leaf using the fittings screws. During the setup process, the position of the door relative to the frame opening is adjusted. In this case, the leaf can be raised, lowered, shifted to the right or left from the top or bottom, and adjusted the force of pressing the sash to be opened to the frame. If this adjustment does not help to establish the correct operation of the latch (in general, this is very rare), you will have to dismantle and reinstall one of the parts of the mechanism. Usually they move it in the desired direction and attach the bar with the groove.

The magnetic latch does not create problems in this regard. If the initial installation is correct, its correct and reliable operation will not be affected by a slight misalignment or sagging of the door.

Installing the magnetic latch takes a few minutes

Another characteristic difference between latches. If the halyard and roller ones close with a characteristic click, then the magnetic ones hardly disturb others.

Due to the fact that the functional elements of the latches are attached to the end part of the frame and door profile, they are not visible from any viewing angle. This feature helps to preserve the strict classical aesthetics of not only the door, but also the entire structure installed in the opening.

Caring for all types of latches is very simple. Periodically, their mechanisms are wiped from dust, dirt, debris and lubricated (except for the magnetic latch plates) with a special product for window fittings. Any silicone grease or regular machine oil (spindle) will also work. The main thing is to be sure that the lubricant composition used does not include resins, acids and other aggressive substances.

External handle

Handle - plastic petal

To close, or rather pull, the door from the street side, it is necessary to provide a special external handle. Made of metal, more often of durable plastic, the handle visually resembles a shell or petal in shape. A plastic shell is much more pleasant to the touch, especially in the cold season. But it is easier to break if used carelessly, and the material itself has a tendency to break down under prolonged exposure to sunlight, freezing temperatures and other external factors. The main advantages of a more expensive metal handle are resistance to mechanical loads and a long service life. Typically, the outer door pull handle is located at the same height as the lock's rotary handle. This position for closing the door is very convenient.

You can do without an external shell handle only if the door lock mechanism is double-sided, that is, internal and external rotary handles of the lock are required.

Double-sided handle for a plastic door

The choice of external handles in specialized companies and construction supermarkets allows you to choose a copy with a convenient ergonomic shape and the desired color.

When installing yourself or replacing latches, it is advisable to use screws: no shorter than 30-35 mm– for fastening the roller cylinder with a safety margin; no longer than 19 mm– when installing an external handle (this ensures that the screw will not reach and damage the glass unit during installation or further operation of the handle).

Latch Installation

When starting work, you need to be sure that in the near future its position relative to the frame opening will not change. If necessary, you will have to independently set the position of the door leaf and the pressing force against the frame when closing it with the rotary handle. The door hinge screws will help with this. Now let's move on to the main installation. A screwdriver or a more convenient screwdriver will be enough; for marking, take a pencil.

The easiest way is to install a magnetic latch. No special setup or precise installation is required. Both strips are simply attached at the same level - to the end of the door and the frame profile. A slight shift in relative position will not in any way interfere with the correct operation of the latch.

Opposite the latch, make a mark with a pencil and attach the striker in the center of the groove.

Another thing is with the roller and halyard latch mechanism. In both cases, the exact position of the bar with the groove relative to the latch is required. Without any doubts or measurements, we attach the latch itself to the seat of the balcony sash. Opposite its center, we draw a line with a pencil and draw this line outward so that it is noticeable when the door is closed. Having closed the door, we mark a similar mark at the same level, but on the frame. At this height the center of the grip of the strike plate should be located. Now we fix the bar with the lock along the mark with one screw and check the correct operation of the mating elements. If the result is negative, the bar is shifted and the performance is checked again. If further adjustment is not required, the bar is secured with a second screw.

At the long-awaited final stage of renovation, interior doors are installed in the apartment. In most cases, there is simply no need to use locking locks for such doors. That's why the latches cut into the door leaf. The article will talk about the design and installation features of door latches with a lock.

Features and varieties

Devices with a latch for interior doors are either external or mortise based on the type of installation. The first type of latches is much easier to install, assemble and disassemble if necessary. The downside is that they significantly spoil the appearance of the door leaf. Therefore, it is mortise locking mechanisms that are in greatest demand.

There is a wide range of such latches for interior doors on the market. Depending on your wishes and purpose, you can easily choose the optimal type of fixing device. Based on the principle of operation and design features, mortise door latches are divided into several groups.

Magnetic

The door locking device consists of two parts: a metal plate and a magnetic element. The magnet and plate are placed on the side of the door leaf and on the jamb. The principle of operation of such a latch is very simple: when closing, a magnet attracts a metal element, thereby holding the door in a stationary closed position. To open doors with a magnetic locking element, a fixed handle is used.

The second type of latches of this type are models where the magnet is made in the form of a movable tongue. The advantage of such a latch is that it is almost silent. Its characteristics such as smooth operation and long service life are also very popular and convenient.

False

Such a mortise mechanism has a movable retractable tongue with contours beveled at an angle. A plate with a groove is attached to the jamb. When closing, the tongue fits into the groove and fixes the position of the door. Opening occurs when pressing on the movable handle, which leads to the pull-out of the tongue from the groove and the release of the door leaf from fixation.

Roller

Instead of a tongue, these latches use a spring-loaded roller. When closing, it fits into a small recess and prevents the door from opening. These latches can be operated using a fixed handle with some force applied. There are also models that open when you press a lever handle.

Locking latches

Typically, mechanisms of this type are installed on the door to the bathroom or bathroom. Their peculiarity is that they are equipped with a special blocking element. When you turn the key block, the latch stops opening when you press the door movable handle. Thus, the room is protected from unwanted entry for a certain time.

How to choose?

To purchase a high-quality locking device for an interior door, You should pay attention to the following criteria.

• The quality of the latch is indicated by the smooth operation. There should be no jamming or clicking during opening and closing.
• It is best to choose a device with medium-hard springs. Weak springs may eventually stop holding the door leaf, especially if it is quite heavy. And mechanisms with tight springs will require effort to open the door.
• Carefully inspect the product and evaluate its appearance. The body and parts should be free of scratches, cracks, chips, traces of chemical damage, rust, and painting defects.
• Tactile perception is also important. The handle should be pleasant to the touch and fit comfortably in your hand.
• Try to select technical characteristics that best suit the operating conditions. For example, if the door leaf is very heavy and massive, you should choose a latch made from particularly durable materials. Information about the locking mechanism can be found in the product data sheet.
• It is best if the handles and latches in the apartment or house are made in the same style. It is also important that this element matches the design of the doors. Interior designers do not recommend installing latches, handles and hinges of different colors.
• Decide on the function that the locking mechanism will need to perform. For installation on a bathroom or toilet door, it is best to use a lock with a lock. For the bedroom and children's room, a silent magnetic clamp would be a good option.

Self-installation

Installing a latch into a door leaf is almost identical to the process of inserting a conventional door lock. This work can be done with your own hands. The mechanism is placed in the door at a distance of 1 meter from the floor. It is at this height in the door leaf that there is a wooden beam into which the locking mechanism is installed.

To embed the device into an interior door, you will need the following tools and materials:

• drill and set of drills (feather, wood);
• wood crowns;
• electric screwdriver or hand screwdriver;
• chisels, medium and narrow in width; a good alternative for making a cut under the plank is a router, but it is not found in every home tool kit;
• hammer;
• pencil;
• ruler or square;
• a knife for carpentry or a sharp stationery knife.

At the first stage, it is necessary to make markings on both sides of the door leaf. First, the height from the floor is measured, equal to 1 meter. Then the distance corresponding to the size of the embedded latch is set aside. Most often, locking mechanisms have a standardized height of 60 mm or 70 mm. For greater accuracy, it is better to attach the locking device itself to the door and note its extreme values.

Next you need to drill the wooden beam. To do this, select a pen drill that matches the size of the latch mechanism. You need to drill to the depth of the drill blade. The next step is to make a hole for the plank. The procedure is performed using a chisel. The veneer must first be removed from the door leaf with a sharp utility knife.

For the handle you need to make a through hole in the beam. For this, a wood crown is used. A hole is made at the end of the door for a tongue or roller lock. Use a chisel to carefully align the cutouts. The device is installed in the door leaf. This must be done from the end of the door. The entire mechanism is fixed with screws or self-tapping screws.

The door handle is mounted into an installed and secured mechanism. It must first be disassembled. Next, you can install decorative overlays. The final step in installing the door latch is to mount the striker plate onto the jamb. To do this, you need to close the door and mark the position of the locking tongue or roller on the jamb. This mark must be transferred to the box.

You also need to measure the distance from the bottom edge of the hole in the door beam to the center of the latch. Transfer the size to the opening box. Using the measurements obtained, cutouts are made for the tongue and striker plate. The strip is attached to the door frame with self-tapping screws.

In residential premises, latches are installed on interior doors that allow them to be locked in the closed position. Interior latch comes in various types, which makes it difficult for the average consumer to choose. You can learn how to select a device yourself and install it without the help of specialists from this article.

Types of door latches

The main criterion for choosing latches for interior doors is the type of device. Latches are classified according to the following parameters:

• type of locking mechanism;
• installation method;
• presence/absence of additional functions.

Types of latches

Currently in production:

• mechanical latches;
• magnetic latches.

A mechanical latch is a device that operates using a spring mechanism.

A mechanical door latch can be:

1. halve. The latch handle is a device equipped with a locking tongue with an oblique cut. When acted upon, the tongue moves back, and the spring returns it to its original state. To fix the locking tab on the door frame, a special strip is installed. Depending on the method of influencing the locking mechanism, there are:
   • rotary handles, that is, the tongue is activated when the handle is rotated;

• push handles, that is, the locking element responds to pressing on the handle of the device;

1. roller The locking mechanism of the device is a roller, which, when the door is closed, falls into a special groove.

Roller latches are mainly installed on children's room doors, as they open and close easily and cannot be fixed.

The most famous manufacturers of mechanical latches are the following companies:

• Apecs;
• A magnetic latch is a device based on a magnet that attracts a metal strip.

This device is different:

• quiet and smooth operation. When closing the door, you do not hear a click from the locking element falling into the groove;
• durability. The latch can be used for a long time without additional maintenance, as it consists of simple elements.

The most popular manufacturer of magnetic latches is Palladium. What device should be installed on the interior door? It is up to each user to decide for themselves.

Classification of latches by installation method

The latch can be installed:

• inside the door leaf. The mortise latch has a more pleasant appearance, since the main mechanism is located inside the door. However, the installation of such a device is more complex;

• onto the surface of the door leaf. The overhead type latch device is located on the door, which somewhat spoils the design of the room, but installing the latch is quite simple.

Mortise latches of various types are more popular among consumers.

Additional abilities

The standard latch can be supplemented with:

• retainer. A latch with a lock is mainly installed on the door of a bathroom or toilet room, as it allows not only to keep the door in the closed position, but also to protect the room from penetration;

• lock. Latches with key-operated locks are designed for low-security office spaces.

Latch installation process

How to install a latch on an interior door yourself? Overhead latches do not cause problems during installation, as they are attached to the door with mounting bolts. To install the mortise latch, you will need the following tools:

• marker and tape measure for marking;
• a drill, complete with a set of drills and a wood crown;
• chisel;
• hammer;
• screwdriver (set of screwdrivers).

Installation of the interior latch is carried out in the following way:

1. At the first stage, it is necessary to apply markings to the door leaf for installation of the device. When applying markings, the following are noted:
   • area where the locking mechanism is installed;
   • door handle mounting area;
   • area where the bar is located;
   • device mounting locations;

Markings can be applied more accurately if you use a template.

1. at the second stage, holes are drilled for mounting the device elements. The hole for the locking mechanism is drilled with a pen drill of the appropriate diameter, and the hole for the handle is drilled with a crown;

1. a niche is formed at the end of the door for mounting the latch strip;