Sliding Glass Door Locks

Sliding glass door locks come in two basic categories. There are surface mount handles and locks which mount on the face of the patio door frame. There are many different models but fortunately many of them share the same mounting dimensions. So if yours breaks theres a good chance that you will be able to find a slightly different model that will bolt or screw on without the need for any new holes.

The other mayor variety of sliding glass door locks are the mortise variety. These are usually built right in to the door. They are used on aluminum, vinyl and wooden patio doors. The mortised locks are a bit more difficult to find but there are some common models used by many manufacturers. The important thing with mortised locks, and any lock really, is getting the right description by taking dimensions or, even better by taking a digital photograph to use in finding the right lock.

Surface Mount Locks

The surface mount locks bolt or screw right onto the frame of the door. They also have a lock hasp which usually gets screwed into the door jamb. The trim moulding around the patio door often has to be notched around the hasp. A lot of these locks are mounted with just 2 screws, spaced 4-15/16" apart. If you measure the dimension between the two mounting screws and get that number, you should have an easy time finding a replacement lock. The new lock might require shorter or longer screws but apart from that, it should bolt right on.

If you find a dimension other than 4-15/16", you still might be able to find a replacement lock but your search is going to be longer. If no one stocks the lock with the mounting dimensions you have, you might want to consider drilling new holes and going with a more easily available 4-15/16" lock. This is easy enough with a wooden patio door but you may need to find ways to hide the old mounting holes if you have an aluminum or vinyl patio door.

Steel Mortise Locks

If the lock you have is built right into the frame of the door, you most likely have a mortised lock. Some of the simplest or the aluminum door varieties where two parts of the lock go together like a sandwich on both sides of the patio door frame. Other wooden patio doors have steel locks mortised into a pocket. The door handles have long screws that go right through the steel mortised lock and there is usually a actuating lever that slides into a rectangular hole in the lock. Usually you buy just the mortised steel lock assembly that fits within the door and reuse the old handles and actuating lever. There are small parts with these locks so do not lose any while taking it apart!

There are many different kinds of steel mortised locks but there are a few common types. Heres information you need to have to source a new mortise lock

4. Name of the Manufacturer of the door to which a particular lock is unique.

If you do not 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.





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