Door Doesn’t Latch Properly?

If the crucial parts of a door and door lock are not aligned then the latch will not catch no matter how hard you try to close the door.

It might be that the door closes, but doesn’t make the clicking sound. The issue is probably misalignments.

Doors can sit loosely in the frame if they’re out by even a centimetre and can rattle on a windy day.

Our locksmiths can do a full check of the door and find out what’s wrong with it quickly.

We can fix any latch issues on the spot, as well as show you the full range of options you have for latch replacement.

There are various issues that can cause a door or door frame to prevent the latch from locking into the strike plate, and one of the main causes is temperature and humidity.

If a wooden door gets wet, then it will expand, the same for the door frame, so this issue is mostly found in bathroom internal doors and exterior doors without proper weatherproofing.

The other issue is temperature, as in cold weather, the frames can shrink, but in warm weather, they can expand, especially if they are metal or composite.

This can be fixed by sanding or planing the door to trim it down, if it’s timber.

When the internal parts of the latch are broken, many times our locksmiths can diagnose the issue, repair it and solve the problem.

However, if the latch can’t be repaired, then a new high security lock can be installed so that it fits perfectly in the plate without hitting it.

In many cases, the bolt won’t retract into the door fully, so it hits the frame every time it closes, and if you slam shut the door when this is the case, you’ll need a key to open it again.

When the alignment is out, the first thing to check is the latch itself.

The screws in the hinges should be tightened to solve any issues with sagging, and it’s normally the screws in the top hinges that are out of alignment first because they take the weight of the door.

Before you call Knightsbridge Locksmith, you can do a simple test by opening the door wide and using a screwdriver to adjust the screws, pushing them deep into the wood frame so that the screws and hinges are flush with the door.

Latch mechanisms are delicate, and if you have something like wood filler, sand, dust, or dirt inside it or around it, then it’s going to block the way it comes out and retracts.

You can use a toothbrush or a flathead screwdriver to clean the latch and the plate, but we don’t recommend spraying anything other than compressed air into the latch as you might gum it up. You’ll know it’s a dirt or debris issue when you see the bolt not sticking out fully from the lock.

Another telltale sign is when the strike plate has dirt inside it or if you’ve accidentally painted over it when painting the door or door frame.

You can perform some basic diagnostics yourself in order to fix your latch, but we don’t recommend taking apart the lock, handle or latch mechanism. This is because you can do further damage to the door hardware and turn a simple-to-fix problem into a potentially more costly one, requiring a brand new lock or latch.

If you don’t want to DIY your latch issues, you can call the professional locksmiths here at Knightsbridge Locksmith any time of the day on 07309 909989 to have a professional assessment.

It’s often the simple solutions that can get your door working properly again and make it stay closed when you shut it.

We provide a range of locksmith services, including realignment of the door and frame, replacing door jambs, moving the strike plate hole to be in line with the door latch, and tightening the hinges so the door doesn’t swing open when it’s supposed to latch closed.

We can remove the strike plate and reposition it by using something called the ‘lipstick test’, or install a brand new latch if required.

Moreover, we can accommodate any requests related to your latch if it’s not retracting and hitting the door frame, or if it needs adjusting so the strike plate hole can grab it when locked.

Call Knightsbridge Locksmith any time of the day or night on 07309 909989 for our locksmith services.