Patio Door LocksSurface mount locks are also very common but are easy to replace because the whole lock is usually held on by only two screws. What if your lock is ok and all you need is a new handle? I have that one covered too, read on... Steel Mortise LocksMany wooden doors use steel mortise locks. All of these look basically alike but vary slightly in dimensions and location of the operating lever. If the lock on your patio door has a hasp that looks like its made up of several thin steel plates sandwiched together, you have got a steel mortise lock. These locks are expensive to replace and often hard to find an exact replacement. Usually the spring inside breaks and the hasp wont come out to latch the door shut. When searching for a replacement you need to carefully measure the lock so you get exactly the right one to replace it. Heres some information you need to have to source a new mortise lock If you dont have enough information take a picture of the lock with your digital camera, this can be really helpful when trying to communicate which kind of lock you are looking for.    My sliding glass door locks page has more information and pictures of different types of steel mortise locks. Check it out and see if the lock you need is on this page. Most mortised patio door locks are very easy to replace since only 2 screws have to be removed to disassemble the whole lock. They are often so inexpensive that replacement is the best way to proceed. These locks are typically made from powdered metal which is very brittle and can crack or break easily. These patio door locks offer the least security of all patio door door locks so its wise to find an extra means of locking the door such as an interior pin lock or locking bar such as shown in the link below. Aluminum "clamshell" LocksIf you have an aluminum patio door and live in a condominium, townhouse or apartment you very likely have one of these locks. I call them clamshell locks but whatever you know them by, they are are just about the most commonly used aluminum sliding patio door latch. Surface Mount LocksSome aluminum doors have locks mounted on the sliding door on the inside. These locks usually have the handle combined with the lock. These locks are usually a bit stronger than the mortised kind but still tend to wear out after years of use.
It can often be hard to find the exact replacement for your patio door lock. They usually have special latch plates that mount on the door jamb which cannot be used with other brands of lock. But, it is not always necessary to replace these locks with the exact replacement. Notice how the locks above all have the same 4-15/16 inch hole center dimension. Thats a very common size throughout the patio door industry. You can buy a "universal" type of surface mount with that same dimension and it will very likely work just as well (if not better) than your old lock. Check out the link below to my page with universal surface mount locks and check out the dimensions to see if they might replace your patio door lock. Surface mount locks Most wooden patio doors use surface mount locks as just described. Unlike aluminum doors though, its usually easier to retrofit a "universal" surface mount lock on a wooden door. Most homeowners dont mind drilling new mounting holes into wood but hesitate to drill into their vinyl or aluminum patio doors. It's also easier to fill in the old mounting holes in a wood door with plastic wood . Many locks have the same locating hole dimensions as you can see in the pictures below. So if the screw holes in your door are 4-15/16" apart, for example, any one of the surface mount locks below would work. Patio door handlesPatio door handles are quick and easy to change. Often all you have to do is remove two small screws to replace the handle. Try checking my Patio door handles page to see if you can find what you need there. Ebay is also a good place to look for patio door locks, I have listed some of the latest auctions below for patio door locks. Click the Patio Door Locks link to get back to the home page |
