uPVC Door Hinge Replacement and Adjustment in London

The hinges carry the whole weight of a uPVC or composite door, and they are the first thing to move. When they settle, the door drops out of line: it rubs the frame, lets a draught in along one edge, and starts needing a hard lift on the handle before it will lock. Most of the time the hinges can simply be adjusted back into position. When they are worn, bent or cracked, Mark replaces them with matching hinges so the door hangs properly again.

Hinges repaired on uPVC, composite and aluminium doors
Adjustment first, replacement only when a hinge is worn out
Door realigned so the multipoint lock is not overworked
Fixed price confirmed before any work starts
Often same-day where the diary allows

Most uPVC doors use one of two hinge types. Flag hinges have a flat 'flag' that fixes into the frame and a barrel the door hangs on; they are common on newer doors and usually have adjustment screws hidden under a cover cap. Butt hinges look more like a traditional door hinge, with two leaves either side of a knuckle. Some butt hinges can be adjusted and some cannot, which is one of the reasons an older door may need new hinges rather than a tweak.

Adjustable hinges move the door in three directions, and each fixes a different symptom. Lateral adjustment moves the door towards or away from the hinge side, which cures a door catching on the lock side of the frame. Height adjustment lifts or lowers the door, which cures scraping on the threshold or a gap at the top. Compression adjustment pulls the door tighter into the seals or eases it off, which cures draughts or a door that is too tight to lock. Getting all three right together is what makes a door close softly and lock with a light lift of the handle.

A hinge is beyond adjustment when the adjustment has run out, the barrel has worn oval, the knuckle is cracked, or the screws have pulled out of the frame. You may also see the door lift slightly when you push it upward at the lock side, or hear a click from the hinge when it swings. In those cases replacing the hinges is the lasting fix, and adjusting again would only buy a few weeks.

Leaving a dropped door alone tends to cost more later. Every time it is forced to lock, the strain goes into the gearbox of the multipoint lock, and a failed gearbox is a bigger job than a hinge adjustment. If the lock itself is already giving trouble, our door and lock repairs page covers that work; for every other door fault, see our main uPVC door repairs page.

How the repair works

1. Describe the symptom Catching, scraping, draughts or a hard lift to lock all point to different adjustments.
2. Check the hinges Mark checks the hinge type and wear, then confirms a fixed price before work starts.
3. Adjust or replace Hinges set in all three directions, or replaced, and the door tested closing and locking.

Frequently asked questions

Can uPVC door hinges be adjusted?

Most flag hinges and many butt hinges can be adjusted sideways, up and down, and for compression against the seals. Some older butt hinges have no adjustment and need replacing if the door has dropped.

When does a door hinge need replacing rather than adjusting?

When the adjustment has run out, the barrel or knuckle is worn or cracked, the screws have lost their grip, or the door moves on the hinge when you lift it. Adjusting a worn hinge only gives a short fix.

Why does my door only lock when I lift the handle hard?

The door has usually dropped, so the hooks and bolts no longer line up with the keeps in the frame. Realigning the hinges normally brings back a light lift, and takes strain off the lock mechanism.