Overview of handles for a balcony plastic door and their installation

At first glance, the handles for balcony doors are simple, but this is only a superficial impression. In fact, these are full-fledged devices endowed with specific functions, the violation of which can bring a lot of trouble to the owners. Handles must meet a number of criteria for reliability, ergonomics and comfort, and externally - for the style of accessories for windows, balconies or loggias.

All handles for plastic balcony doors are classified according to a number of types:

• one-sided;
• double-sided asymmetric;
• with anti-burglary;
• with locking devices;
• false pens ("shells", "petals").

More generally, they are divided into three categories.

1. Stationary - products that are not mated with locking structures, mounted on doors, made in a style comfortable for the hand, in the shape of a petal made of plastic. The door opens with a moderate movement towards itself. Other performance? shell type made of aluminum alloys. Traditionally, they are mounted from the outside in order to cover the doors going out.
2. Push-fit products with latch, the tongue of which responds to pressing the handle. In this case, the tongue is released from engagement with a special holder, after which the doors are opened. In a different position, the tongue remains in the holder, which prevents the door from opening. Push-on products are available in 2 types of execution: one-sided and double.
3. Swivel. In many ways, they are similar to pressure products. During the rotation of the handle in one direction, the locking element enters the holder, and during the reverse rotation it is released from it. In the designs of some modifications, there is a blocking button or a locking device. Rotary products also function in the room ventilation mode.

According to the type of fastening, the handles are divided into 2 categories.

1. Overhead. This method of fastening is used for the installation of stationary structures and for their various modifications, mounted on the outer (balcony side) side of the door leaf. Installation procedure: a hole is made in the canvas for a metal pin. Then, on both sides, handles are put on it, which are fastened with self-tapping screws.
2. Mortise. The fastening method is highly reliable. The handle device is inserted inside the web into a through hole. In this version, the handles are not loose and are simply removed. The mechanism itself is installed under the conditions of the manufacturer, and therefore it is characterized by a high degree of reliability.

One of the most common balcony handles used with latches. The main disadvantage of these structures is that it is not possible to open the door from the outside. However, this at the same time becomes its advantage, since it is a kind of protective measure against unauthorized entry into the room. The device allows you to use the doors for ventilation and micro-ventilation. To close, the handle is positioned vertically.

Products controlled from the outside and back. They are convenient if there is a risk of being closed in the fresh air. Their design feature is that the handles from the outside look non-standard in shape. Because the doors are closed so that there is simply not enough room for a typical handle design. Both product modifications are complemented by locking devices or locking structures, which expands their functionality.

For apartments located on the lower tiers or with terraces, special handles are produced, equipped with special protective devices against burglaries. Such protection blocks the operation of the device when trying to enter the premises (anti-vandal structures). Products with key locks are also produced.

Paired with handles, locks and latches (latches) can be used, which do not completely close the doors, but hold them in a covered position. They differ in response patterns.

• Roller. The rollers are located on special retaining metal holders with a groove. In the closed position, the rollers are held by a spring located in the groove, so the door is in the closed state. The doors are locked with little effort. The design is reliable, but with some subsidence of the doors, adjustment is necessary.
• Fale. In terms of triggering, the design is similar to roller mechanisms, with the exception of the design features of a slightly beveled tongue. Sticks are used in a stationary form.
• Magnetic catches including two plates - made of metal and a magnet (or 2 magnets), providing silent fixation of the doors.

"Shell" and "petal" (or false handles "for smokers") are stationary devices, differing in that they are not associated with locking structures. They are installed for the comfort of closing and opening doors from the street side, and are made of various alloys or plastic in an ergonomic design.

Door handles function under fairly high loads, but made of plastic or alloys, they successfully cope with their functionality. Plastic elements that fully meet all requirements and conditions have become popular. Fiberglass handles are inexpensive, although they are presented in an extensive range, but their strength qualities are low.

Products made of metal-plastic are more durable than plastic ones. In fact, these are metal products that are covered with high quality plastic.

Balcony products made of alloys (aluminum, steel, brass) have high wear resistance. They are not afraid of temperature shifts and corrosion processes, they are diverse in shape (classic, "shell", etc.), low weight, and are made in various shades. There are also disadvantages: if the product is not painted, then the tactile sensation from it may turn out to be unpleasant (too hot or cold - according to the weather).

Fiberglass is an inexpensive material, but not entirely durable, inferior to plastic. In retail outlets, you can find handles made in a decorative manner, decorated with glass or ceramic inclusions, treated with wood. Such options are made for the interior.

The white plastic handle is the epitome of classic design. But other solutions are also possible, depending on the shades of painting the balconies. It is not at all difficult to find suitable offers - nowadays in trade there is an abundance of both classical modifications and their decorative types.

Handles made of metal-plastic and metals are often made in black, white, gold, bronze, brown and silver. Fiberglass products are also diverse in design. Among them, you can find fittings of a wide variety of tones, patterned and with patterns that imitate wood. The prices for the products are mostly budgetary.

When purchasing a handle for a PVC door, it is important to consider a number of selection rules.The conditions in which the products are used are characterized by temperature jumps, humidity, and these points should be taken into account during the selection of the product. It is worth remembering brands and materials, since both the service life of the products and their external perception depend on the quality of workmanship. Nowadays, German brands are in authority: Schuring, Roto, Siegenia, Rehau. They have been making fittings for over a century.

Polish brands are famous for their good quality: Maco, Medos, Evras. Only branded products can fully satisfy all the necessary requirements.

As for the materials of manufacture, experts advise purchasing metal and plastic handles. It is these products that are characterized by: endurance and reliability, and resistance to changing weather conditions. Make sure that the mechanism itself is made exclusively of metal. Often, Chinese manufacturers replace metals with silumin, and such handles soon break and cannot be repaired.

Stick to a number of criteria when choosing.

1. By moisture resistance. Temperature shifts lead to the formation of condensed moisture on the handles. The correctly selected product will not deteriorate from corrosive processes and will last a long time.
2. For safety. Uncovered balconies of the first tiers require protective measures against unwanted entry into the house by strangers. In this sense, double handles pose a risk. Therefore, it is better to equip the street part with a locking device.
3. Thermal protection. The handles must be provided with an effective degree of tightness, that is, the greatest protection against the penetration of cold air currents. Such cold protection devices exist.
4. For ease of use. Nobody wants to mess around with a complex locking structure for a long time. On sale there are elementary simple and reliable devices, easily opened by hand - "shells" and "petals".
5. For the convenience of designs. Sticks with a light and smooth stroke, securely locked in the desired position, are of higher priority. Experts estimate that a high quality stick is designed for 20,000 swing cycles.
6. Chinese and domestic handles much cheaper, but in terms of quality they suffer.

Installing the handle is a simple task, it is within the power of any home craftsman. In addition, you have instructions at your fingertips. And you need a simple toolkit: a drill, a screwdriver and screwdrivers. Here is the procedure for installing door handles for their various types.

1. For stationary. In order to put the handle, it is tried on in several places. We pass 2 holes for fasteners. It is necessary to fasten the handle with bolts, and then close the fastening points with special plugs. Handles-petals, in addition to the main purpose, are also used as plugs.
2. For one-sided. Initially, we remove the fasteners of the broken handle or immediately drill the hole in a new way, to match the pin size. Next, we insert the handle into the mechanism and transfer it to the "open" status. It should be fastened to the door with self-tapping screws. Then we carry out the fastening of the decorative strip. It should be remembered that a poorly fixed handle will soon wear out.
3. For double sided. This type of handles somewhat simplifies the procedure for using the doors, but reduces their level of safety. Installation sequence:
   • remove the old handle and transfer the mechanism to the "open" status;
   • we drill through the main hole in the door;
   • we put the handle outside;
   • insert the rotary device into the prepared place and bring it under the outer handle;
   • we select the length of the main pin between the handles, remove its excess;
   • we put the inner handle on the pin, fix it, closing the fastener with a plug;
   • we complete the installation by checking - the handle should move without play, and the door should be easy to walk and cover.

And the last thing, how to eliminate the backlash in the handle, which occurs when the door is incorrectly installed or during prolonged operation. The cause of the backlash is the loosening of the fasteners. To fix the device, put the handle horizontally ("open"). Next, we squeeze and turn the plug covering the fasteners. We tighten the fasteners with a screwdriver - the handle is working properly. We put the plug after checking the serviceability of the handle. After checking, we put the plug back.

In the course of long-term operation, such structures can begin to creak and seize. The reason for this is temperature differences and the duration of operation. Extend product life:

• durable materials;
• correct installation;
• lubrication of mechanisms with special compounds (WD40, MoS-2, 3ton).