Door Won’t Latch Shut
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Kensington’s Local Locksmiths Are Here to Help
If you’re trying to close your door lock, but the door is not shutting all the way or the door latch won’t shut, it prevents you from locking your house up and can cause worry that the home cannot able to be secured.
There are lots of reasons why your front door won’t lock as it should, and it could be that the door latch won’t catch in the strike plate of the door frame, or an issue with the alignment of the door itself.
We can offer our locksmith assistance across the whole of SW1/3. This also includes neighbouring boroughs. We provide door repair in Kensington as well as latch adjustments.
Our team is familiar with a wide variety of doors and latches. When you have a door that isn’t latching properly, call our locksmiths on 07884 675 945. We can be at your property in just 30 minutes from the time of your call.
When you work through the day, you can book us at a time that’s best for you by using our website.
Reasons Why Your Door Won’t Latch Properly
Before you call a locksmith for a door not closing properly, there are some things you can check on the door and latch mechanism first, and then if the problem persists, you can reach out to our emergency locksmiths in Kensington.
Here are the most common causes of a latch not catching in the door frame properly:
The door is too big for the frame
Doors can swell in warm weather, making them too large to sit in the door frame, which also means the latch doesn’t catch. Some places around the door might squeak when you try to close them due to wood rubbing on wood, or there might be gaps where there shouldn’t be.
The door has become warped
Heat and moisture can change the shape of a door, warping it and preventing smooth operation. With the door closed, check around the edges to see if there are any swollen parts, and as you open the door slowly, notice if it sticks anywhere around the latch bolt.
The strike plate is misaligned
A strike plate that is not in the right position will cause issues with the bolt hole alignment as the latch meets it at an awkward angle. Due to this, the latch won’t catch in the bolt hole and click shut. We can perform the necessary repairs, remove the strike plate, and make sure that the new latch and bolt hole are properly aligned.
There’s an issue with the latch assembly
In many cases, it’s not the door or frame that is the issue, so even if you remove the strike plate and reposition it, the problem won’t be solved. We can remove the back plate of the latch mechanism to see what the main issue is that’s preventing it from springing back closed and retracting.
The latch is broken
Latches can deteriorate over time due to regular wear and tear. We will investigate the issue and repair it if we can. However, we might need to replace the whole latch. We will always perform a test on the latch afterwards to make sure it’s working properly.
The hinges are causing the door to sag
This is the first thing you should check if your door latch won’t shut, or the door won’t close properly into the door frame. Old screw holes that don’t hold the screws properly are usually to blame, and loose hinges cause the door to sag on the door jamb. You can add wood filler to old screw holes, then insert longer screws into the door frame hinges with a screwdriver to secure them.
All of these issues can prevent the door latch from hitting the strike plate in the right place, but when you get in touch with our Kensington locksmiths, we will determine the exact cause and replace any parts, including loose hinges, strike plates, screws, door handles, door latches and door locks.
Door frame, strike plate, door latch and door lock repair services
With so many parts that allow a door to open and close seamlessly, there can be a number of things wrong with it.
Our locksmith company based in Kensington can offer assistance with any of the following services for a door latch that won’t close:
- Realigning the strike plate to reposition it
- Filing the strike plate down
- Full door lock, door latch and strike plate replacement
- Latch adjustments
- Door rehanging
- Screw tightening for the hinges
- Trimming the door or door frame, or planing it
- Upgrading to a new lock with a brand new door handle
You can be sure that when you call our locksmith services for latch issues, we work efficiently to diagnose and fix the issue for you.
We can fix a door latch issue, whether it’s an exterior or interior door
Door latches are essential mechanisms for doors of all kinds, and if you can’t push it shut to secure your room or have privacy in a room, then you need to repair it.
Whether it’s a doorknob or a door handle, you need to be able to open the door safely from the other side at all times in case of a fire emergency.
We assist homeowners who can’t close their front or back doors, landlords and tenants in rental properties, estate agents with property management services, and short-term rental properties such as Airbnb homes and flats.
We understand that we need to be available at a time to accommodate you, so when you call Kensington Locksmith on 07884 675 945 or visit our website to make a booking, we’ll aim to attend your property and solve your issue at a convenient time for you.
Types of doors with latch issues we can assist with
Thanks to many years of locksmith experience in London, our team can assist with any kind of lock or latch issues you’re having, including:
Wooden doors
This is the most popular type of door; however, they can swell in damp or hot weather and stick in the frame, causing the latch to not align fully.
uPVC doors
Even though these are more durable than wooden doors, the locking systems are often more complex and can suffer from misalignment issues when they age.
Composite doors
One of the most modern types of doors, composite doors are resistant to warping in the same way as wooden doors are, but they can have latch issues if the hinges are loose.
French patio doors
We work with all kinds of glass garden doors, including sliding doors. The tracks can become misaligned and lead to the latch and lock being kept in the frame also being out of alignment.
Internal doors
We don’t just service exterior doors, but interior doors too, can be fixed as part of our latch repair service, including the installation of a new door handle or knob.
Flat and apartment doors
These doors need to meet strict building regulations to keep the residents safe, especially in case of fires, so we make sure that every aspect of the door latch and strike plate is inspected carefully.
Call Kensington Locksmith today for a rapid response time when door won’t latch shut
We understand that when a latch won’t shut properly that it presents a real security risk for your home or business.
You can’t leave your house to go to work or close up your business properly, so we treat every door latch that won’t close as a high-priority situation.
As we’re local to the Kensington area, we guarantee fast arrival to any home or business in the area, and we have a full team of qualified, DBS-checked technicians available 24/7.
Call our Kensington emergency locksmith service on 07884 675 945, and we can fix any issues with exterior doors or interior doors fast.