How To Adjust A uPVC Door

Do you have a uPVC door that catches on the floor, or a door that rattles in it's frame and let's in draughts?

From constant use, being opened and closed, it's quite normal for a uPVC door to drop or become loose in the hinges over time. It's good practice to check the hinges on a regular basis to make any minor adjustments to keep your door fitting snugly in the frame.

The diagrams below explain the difference between a Butt hinge, T Hinge and a Flag hinge and the videos demonstrate how to make adjustments to your uPVC door.

Before you try to adjust your uPVC door, check if you have a manufacturer's or installer's warranty or guarantee.

Is the door out of alignment or warped?

Cheap uPVC doors can warp. If your door meets at the top and bottom of the frame but not in the middle, your door is most likely to be warped and needs replacing.

If your door meets at the top but there is a gap at the bottom then it could just need an adjustment to the hinge to pull it back into shape.

What type of hinge does my uPVC door have?

After you've looked at the alignment of the door, the next step is to identify what style of hinges you have on the door.

Flag hinges

Usually found on modern uPVC doors, this style of hinge allows you the most control over making adjustments to the door. Laterally, vertically and compression (moving the door closer and further to the door jamb).

Butt hinges

These are the oldest style of hinge found on older uPVC doors but still common today. Depending on the age of the hinge it might have just a lateral adjustment, lateral and vertical or no adjustment at all.

T-hinges

This style of hinge is similar to a flag hinge and can usually be adjusted laterally and vertically.

What tools do I need to adjust a uPVC door?

• A flat head screwdriver
• A Philips head screwdriver
• Allen keys (also known as a hex key) - usually a 5mm

How to adjust a dropped uPVC door that drags on the floor

This adjustment works best for a door that has dropped towards the handle side and not the hinge side.

• Use an Allen key on the screw at the door side of the hinge.
• Start by adjusting with the door closed.
• Turn 1-2 rotations clockwise and then test to see if it still drags.
• Tweak the hinges until you get a smooth open and close.

Test and fine-tune to get a perfect fit by tweaking the screws and shutting the door to try the fit.

The other way is to adjust the compression screw as shown above.

How to adjust the compression

If the door is set away from the frame in the top or bottom corner you can tighten the fit by turning the compression adjustment screw.

Select the compression adjustment screw, usually the bottom screw, and use an Allen key to make adjustments.

Use an Allen key and start with a 1-2 full rotation and then tweak from there.

I adjusted the hinges but the door is still not aligned

If you have tweaked the hinges but can't get the door to fit then it there might be a problem with the hinges. In this case, you can either try to replace the hinges or contact your original supplier to see if the door is still under warranty.

We would recommend only using the original supplier to replace your hinges to get a perfect fit.

It's worth noting that a badly aligned or badly fitted door will reduce the life of the door through additional wear.

Aside from that, a badly fitted door will have draughts and reduce the energy efficiency of your home.

Checking the front door and all external doors in your home on a regular basis will help keep your doors in tip-top condition and you can do minor adjustments as needed before they turn into a much bigger job. If you can learn how to adjust a uPVC door, you can prolong the life of your uPVC door.