Fix a dropped or catching uPVC door by adjusting its hinges and keeps with an Allen key, no new parts needed.
UPVCD-01Work out what the door is actually doingOpen and close the door slowly and watch where it rubs, drags or won't latch. A door that drags along the bottom of the frame or lifts to close has dropped. A door that's tight down one side or won't push fully shut is out sideways. A door that latches but feels loose and lets draughts in needs more compression.
UPVCD-02Get your tools togetherMost uPVC door hinges adjust with a 4mm Allen key (hex key), though some use a Torx bit instead — check the hinge cap for a marking. You'll also want a screwdriver for the keeps and a rag for cleaning old grease off before you lubricate.
UPVCD-03Lift a dropped door with the vertical adjustmentFind the vertical adjustment screw on each hinge — usually on the top face of the hinge, accessed through a small cap you flip open. Turning it clockwise lifts the door, anticlockwise lowers it, typically giving about 3mm of travel per hinge. Adjust a small amount at a time and test the door after each turn, starting with the top hinge.
UPVCD-04Pull a tight door away from the frame with the lateral adjustmentThe lateral (in/out) screw is usually on the side face of the hinge, near the door edge. Turning it moves the whole door sideways by up to about 3mm per hinge, away from or towards the frame. Use this if the door is rubbing on the frame down one edge, adjusting top and bottom hinges evenly so the door doesn't tilt.
UPVCD-05Adjust the compression if the door feels loose or draughtyCompression adjustment changes how hard the door presses against the weatherstrip when closed. It's a separate screw on the hinge, often marked with a cam or arrow — turning it increases or decreases the squeeze by roughly 1-2mm. Increase it a little if you can see daylight round the seal or feel a draught; decrease it if the door is very stiff to close.
UPVCD-06Adjust the keeps if the door won't latch cleanlyThe keeps are the metal plates in the frame that the door's hooks or rollers engage with. If the door catches or won't latch, loosen the keep's fixing screws slightly and tap it a millimetre or two up, down or sideways to line up with the hook, then retighten. Some keeps have their own small adjustment screw instead of needing to be moved by hand.
UPVCD-07Lubricate the hinges, locking mechanism and hooksWipe off any old grease or grit with a rag, then spray a light film of silicone-based lubricant into the hinges, keeps, hooks and the key barrel. Avoid oil-based sprays like WD-40 on the lock barrel as they attract grit over time. Work the door and key a few times to spread the lubricant in.
UPVCD-08Test the door and tidy upOpen and close the door several times, checking it swings freely, seals evenly all round and locks without forcing. Re-check every screw you adjusted is tightened, since hinge screws can work loose after adjustment. Wipe away any lubricant marks from the door and frame.
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