The plastic door is quite popular. And it is used not only as a balcony, but can also be an entrance or interior. So a lock is needed. But before you buy a locking mechanism, you need to know what types of locks are and whether they should be mounted on a particular PVC door.
Features of locks for plastic doors
First of all, it is worth noting that the lock for the entrance plastic door is different from the lock installed on the PVC balcony or interior door. And these differences are quite significant. In addition, a lock that is cut into metal or wooden doors will not work in any way for a PVC sheet.
The whole nuance lies in the design of the plastic sheet. The basis of such a door is a double-glazed window and a sandwich panel. In fact, the structure is similar to the usual plastic windows, only less glazed (although this option is also present) and more massive.
The lock on the plastic door has certain dimensions that correspond to the width of the profile. Usuallymortise locking mechanisms are used. But if necessary, you can install invoices.
Classification of locks
As mentioned earlier, locks can be:
- overhead, that is, mounted on the surface of the door;
- mortise, respectively, installed inside the door leaf.
According to the material, there are mechanisms:
- partly plastic;
- metal.
According to the number of locking points, a door lock for a plastic door can be:
- Single stop. It has only one locking point in the middle. As a result, the door does not fit snugly and does not provide reliable protection.
- Multipoint lock on a plastic door has two or more points of contact with the box. This mechanism is more reliable.
Also locks are divided into the following types:
- lever;
- cylinder;
- electronic;
- electromagnetic;
- electromechanical.
Let's consider the types of locking mechanisms in more detail.
Level lock
This type of lock is rarely installed on a plastic door. It is more suitable for wooden or metal doors. The locking mechanism itself is opened with a key.
Lever type lock is a plate with rectangular teeth. They allow the plates to line up in an order that is unique to each item.
The main advantages of such a lock are its low price and prevalence. The main disadvantage is low resistance to hacking. It is also worth noting that if the key is lost, only part of the lock cannot be replaced. That is, the whole mechanism will have to be completely changed.
Cylindrical lock
This type of plastic door mortise lock is also used infrequently. First of all, it is designed for installation on metal and wooden doors.
The basis is a lock cylinder for a plastic door and cylindrical pins. You can open such a lock using a key with slots on the working part. When the key is turned, the pins are in the correct combination and the lock is released.
If the key to such a lock is lost, then the whole mechanism does not need to be changed. Only the larva changes.
Electronic lock type
A new type of lock that has appeared on the market relatively recently. To open such a lock, use a remote control, key fob, electronic card or chip.
They usually install such a lock on a plastic door when designing a private house.
The main advantage of such a mechanism is ease of use. It is believed that such locking devices are quite reliable. But at the moment of a power outage, the door will become an insurmountable obstacle.
A distinctive point is the ability to transfer information to a computer about the number of visits. Such systems are still used in large companies and factories, which allows you to find out which employee came and left what time.
Electromechanical lock
This type of lock has several types of protection. Most often it is electronic protection and a latch. The lock device provides for the presence of crossbars. But you can open it both with a key and using an electronic device (key fob, card, etc.).
An electromechanical lock on a plastic door is quite expensive. And, nevertheless, it is much more reliable than conventional electronic or mechanical locks. Such locks are often used in banks and various vaults.
Electromagnetic lock
The difference between electromagnetic and electromechanical locks is not great. Instead of crossbars, the mechanism is equipped with special magnets. This lock will only work when there is power.
The mechanism tightly fixes the door in the closed state, the holding force can be up to 1 ton. An important advantage should be called the fact that, having no mechanical parts, the lock almost does not wear out. It is most convenient to open the locking device using a key fob.
Lock on balcony door
The balcony door is different in design from other plastic sheets. Such a door is multifunctional: ventilation mode, opening, fixing the position. Accordingly, the lock on the plastic balcony door must be equipped with a handle.
In fact, the balcony door does not perform a security function. Therefore, the latch handle is most often used. The price of a lock on a plastic door with a handle is not high, but the degree of reliability is also low.
Latch handles can also be equipped with optional electronic or magnetic devices.
How to choose a lock, what to look for when buying?
The choice of a lock for a plastic door depends on several factors. The first is the size of the castle. It depends on the type of door, and where it will be installed. The next factor is a single-latch or multi-latch mechanism is needed.
The first is installed when the doors are placed indoors. That is, there are no temperature differences and no need for protection against hacking. If the closer is not installed, then it is better to give preference to a door with a latch with an additional pressure device.
If there is a closer, a latch with a roller mechanism is selected. In this case, the push handle is not needed, the usual one is enough. That is, the door is fixed thanks to the closer, not the roller.
If a plastic door is located between a warm room and a cold street (that is, it performs the functions of an outdoor one), then it is better to use a multi-point lock. It will press the door leaf at several points, which will avoid drafts and ice build-up in winter.
In general, when buying locks, you need to pay attention not only to the appearance, but also to other qualities. When choosing lever locks, you need to take into account the material, the number of levers and the burglary resistance class. In cylindrical movements, protection, material and resistance to breaking, as well as functionality are also important.
When choosing an electromechanical lock, its features are taken into account. For example, are there hiddenelements and their location. They help to protect the device from hacking. Appearance, reliability and material of manufacture are also important. When buying electromagnetic locks, you need to pay attention to the assembly quality of the mechanism and its materials.
If the choice fell on a multi-point lock, pay attention to the number of elements, quality and material. For latch handles, appearance and the absence of any inconvenience when pressing the handle are important.
Installing a lock on a plastic door
It is worth noting that the installation of a conventional lock or latch is not difficult. In addition to multi-point locks. It is better to entrust their installation to a specialist, otherwise there is a risk of simply ruining the door.
The installation process will be described using an electromagnetic lock as an example.
- Markup. Careful marking of all positions of the mechanism and the necessary holes is carried out.
- Holes. Holes need to be drilled depending on the type of lock. Their depth depends on the selected mounting screws.
- Installing parts of the castle. The electromagnetic lock has two parts. One of them is mounted in the opening, and the other - directly on the door leaf itself. It is at this step that both parts are mounted in place.
- Electronics. It is not possible to describe the connection in more detail, since each electromagnetic mechanism is connected in its own way. That is, in each specific situation, you need to follow the instructions that came with the device.
- Connect to power. According to the instructions, the lock is connected to the power supply.
- Checking the functionality. This is the final step, but it is extremely important. When properly installed and connected, the door should be securely locked in the closed position, and opening should be easy, without any hitch.
Be that as it may, if there are doubts about the possibility of self-installation, it is better to contact a specialist. Of course, the service of installing a lock on a plastic door costs money. But on the other hand, a damaged door leaf can be much more expensive.
In conclusion
Plastic doors are used not only on balconies, but also as interior and entrance doors. Therefore, choosing a castle is a responsible task. It is worth considering not only the type of mechanism, but also a number of other nuances, such as the installation location, material, quality, and so on. The process of installing a lock on a plastic door is not complicated, but it is still better to entrust the installation of some types of locking devices to specialists.
