Hi all,

We have a UPVC front door that has a jammed lower hook
lock preventing us opening the door. I think the handle mechanism is faulty and something has broken off and presumably fallen into the lower locking point. I think i need to take door off to start to solve problem.

Door has 3 capped hinges (top, middle and lower). I have prised off a small cap at end of hinge cover facing door handle which has revealed a hex type screw. I have inserted the right sized hex key but am not sure which way to turn it as I can't tell whether i'm tightening rather than loosening, either way doesn't seem to make much difference.

Also , is it better to unscrew the hinges from the door
(assuming I can uncover the screws) and lift door away from hinge mechanism or better to keep hinges screwed into door and find a way to lift door off the vertical hingle bolts?

Any advice would be most welcome, traipsing round the back garden to the back door is starting to get a bit of a drag!

thanks

karlo, November 2010

If you deglaze door you may get enough movement to spring door open. The screws you see on hinge are for adjustment only, the only way to remove frame from brick with door closed is to put hacksaw blade between frame & brick & cut fixing screws.

Len, March 2011