Like many homeowners in Bradford, you might have installed patio doors. Or, they might have come as part of your home. Patio doors are awesome, especially in those (rare) periods of awesome weather. Still, as we know, patio doors – while aesthetically stylish – can feel a little more lax from a security perspective compared to traditional doors. Are your patio doors giving you problems?

Most of the time, it comes down to the locks installed in your patio doors. While a locksmith Bradford can easily fix or upgrade your locks for you, it helps to know what you are looking for. While most locksmithing companies can provide you with useful insight, it always pays to self-educate on the matter. So, let us help you get started!

Read on, and we can explain to you why you need to take your patio door locks seriously. With close to five hundred break-ins reported nationwide every single day of the week, home security is not something you should ignore. Let’s get a closer look at patio door locks and how they operate relative to the type of doors you have. 

So, What Kind Of Patio Doors Do You Have?

The challenge with learning about patio door locks is that, first and foremost, you have to know what type of patio doors you have. The type of patio doors installed will determine what kind of locks you have, and what kind of options you have to consider if you want to upgrade. 

Some lock types are not compatible with certain patio door styles. In the UK, there are generally around four main types of patio doors used in homes, and they include:

French Doors

French patio doors are a growing choice across the UK, and it is easy to see why. They come in a wide variety of styles, which makes them easy to match to your home’s aesthetic. If you have wooden or metal doors elsewhere, you can get French doors in that style; the same goes for UPVC. Most French door designs are dual doors, which tend to open out to your garden as opposed to into your home.

Most French doors use a dual locking mechanism: a lock and key system for the main door and then a finger bolt locking system for the leaf door. Most of the time, the finger bolts can only be operated when the main door is ajar. They also usually have bolts at the top and bottom of the door to add a touch of extra protection. Some, though, come with the same lock and key system on both doors.

While generally considered to be highly durable, French doors fitted in the recent past may need an upgrade of their lock systems. Contact a local locksmith, and they can review your locks and suggest improved models that might make your doors more secure in general. 

Single Doors

If you want to get patio doors that are made using UPVC, then you probably want to look at single-fixed patio doors. Many locksmiths highly recommend these as they use multi-point locking systems. Such systems are known for being robust; breaking through MPL systems is harder for a criminal than breaking through a lock with a singular locking system in play. If you had your single doors fitted several years ago, you might wish to consult with a locksmith about more modern locks you could have fitted.

Most single patio doors are highly durable as they use a thicker-than-average double or triple-glazed glass. That makes the doors heavier, which can have wear and tear impacts on the hinges as the years go by. Over time, misalignment due to dropping can make it harder to get your single patio doors to lock as they should. A locksmith, though, can realign your door for smoother locking. 

Bi-Fold Doors

You also get bi-fold patio doors, which are very popular across the UK – and with good reason. They look stylish, they are very effective, and they tend to give you a wider opening space to get through. Some patio doors can feel a little tight, especially single doors. Bi-fold door models also let in a lot more natural light, meaning you can probably get away with fewer/smaller windows than before.

Bi-fold doors all move to the one side, too, which is good from a functionality perspective. Most bi-fold doors use a lock system that has a handle separate from the cylinder. Generally, the doors will be fitted to a track so that they slide effortlessly, reducing friction whilst keeping the doors secure. They also tend to have a shot bolt at the top and bottom of the door, which helps to secure the door from easy entry by criminals. However, many locksmiths would recommend upgrading your locks ASAP.

Many bi-fold door models have quite weak locks, the types of which criminals can easily undo. If you are going to have bi-fold doors installed, it would be wise to have a locksmith review your locks. Also, bi-fold doors come in many price points; the cheaper models are always more prone to warping or issues with opening/closing and locking/unlocking. 

Sliding Doors

Among the most common options on the market, sliding patio doors are what most of us think of when we imagine a patio door. They have been around for about five decades now, and some find them to be a touch outdated. The reason they feel outdated is not just down to aesthetics, but also how they lock.

You see, sliding patio doors use a standard combination of gearboxes and cylinders to lock. As you turn the door handle on your patio doors, the locking systems line up with another one and lock/unlock the door. Generally, they are quite safe, but a growing number of criminals know how to overcome these lock mechanisms. 

A locksmith would likely recommend installing secondary functions to increase security. They also would likely recommend annual maintenance to clean out debris in the lock. Lubricating the various moving parts of your patio doors is an especially important job for prolonging their life.

Maintaining And Improving Your Patio Doors & Locks

With the above, you should now have a greater understanding of the type of patio doors available to you in the UK. These four models are all effective in their own way, but each comes with some limits that you might struggle with. One of the most overlooked parts of having patio doors is maintenance.

If you do not regularly maintain your doors, you could run into problems. They become misaligned, or the locks might begin to wear out. Parts could break over time, from the hinges in the doors to your door handles. All of these problems are the kind of issues that a professional locksmith can fix for you, though. They can also recommend specific maintenance plans for the type of patio doors you have.

Some will require nothing more than some basic lubrication on the most common moving parts. Others will need more specific, attentive maintenance. Given that every patio door’s functions can change based on where it is installed and the conditions it faces, it is always better to consult with a professional locksmith. They can help you to understand exactly what your patio doors need to thrive.

For the most part, though, maintaining and keeping your patio doors in fine condition is quite easy. With regular maintenance schedules and semi-regular lock reviews, you can get all the benefits of having patio doors without any of the risks attached to their name.