Repair guide
uPVC Front Door Dropped or Catching: What to Do Next
By the Newcastle Window and Door Repairs team
Last updated:
A door that scrapes the frame, sticks at the top corner or needs lifting before the handle will move has almost always dropped. It happens gradually, so people adapt to it long before they call anyone.
The good news is that adjustment usually solves it. The warning is that leaving it eventually destroys the multipoint mechanism, which turns a cheap job into a bigger one. If you would like to try it first, our guide on [how to adjust a uPVC door](/guides/how-to-adjust-a-upvc-door) explains each hinge setting.
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Need it sorted? Book a uPVC door adjustment
We reset the hinges, keeps and compression so the door closes cleanly again.
Why doors drop
Our door repairs page covers every door type, and door hinge repairs explains when a hinge is adjusted and when it is replaced.
uPVC and composite doors are heavy, hung on three or four adjustable hinges and exposed to the weather on one face only. Seasonal expansion, day to day slamming and gradual settlement of the frame all pull the leaf slightly out of square.
Newer doors are just as prone to it as old ones. Composite doors on estates only a few years old are one of the faults we see most often, because they settle within their first few years.
What you can check yourself
- Look at the gap around the closed door: it should be even top to bottom
- Check where the paint or seal is polished or marked, which shows where it is rubbing
- Note whether the handle lifts freely with the door open but not closed
- Listen for the hooks clunking hard into the keeps rather than sliding in
How the repair works
We adjust the hinges to bring the leaf back square, reset the keeps so the locking points meet them cleanly and check the compression on the seals. That is often the whole job, with no parts needed.
Where the strain has already damaged the gearbox, or a hinge has worn beyond adjustment, we replace those parts with quality branded components and leave the door locking with one smooth movement.
If it is a pair of hinged garden doors that has dropped, French door repairs includes the second leaf and its top and bottom shootbolts in the alignment checks.
uPVC door repairs
- Doors that need lifting or shouldering to lock
- Handles that spin, sag or feel spongy
- Snapped or seized multipoint lock mechanisms
Why not just replace the door?
A new door costs many times a realignment, and it will drop in time too if the frame or hinges are the underlying cause. We repair wherever practical and only recommend a replacement when the door genuinely cannot be saved.
Booking an adjustment
Where the hinges are sound and the door has simply moved, a uPVC door adjustment visit resets it.
Door catching on the frame
Where the door catches tells you which way it has moved. A door catching on the frame at the top of the lock side has dropped at the handle end. One catching at the bottom near the hinges has moved the other way. A rub along the whole lock edge usually means the door has moved sideways. Note the spot before anyone adjusts it.
Door sticking in summer
Door sticking that comes and goes with the weather is often expansion rather than a worn part. uPVC grows in warm sun, especially on south facing doors and darker colours. If the door is fine in cool weather, a small adjustment usually cures it. If it sticks all year, the hinges may be worn; see door hinge repairs. To try a simple adjustment first, read how to adjust a uPVC door.
Guidance on cost
Typical price ranges
Guidance only. Size, specification, access and frame condition affect the price; a free inspection confirms it.
| Work and what affects its cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Door realignment and keep resetThe usual fix where the mechanism is still sound | around £70 to £120 |
| Adjustable hinge replacementPriced per set, depending on the hinge type | around £70 to £150 fitted |
| Multipoint mechanism after failureWhat a delayed realignment usually turns into | around £150 to £280 fitted |
| Weather seal renewal on the doorOften worthwhile at the same visit | around £50 to £100 |
Repairs for front door dropped
Local help with front door dropped
Need it sorted? Book a uPVC door adjustment
We reset the hinges, keeps and compression so the door closes cleanly again.
Want a professional to handle it?
Questions
Frequently asked
Can a dropped door be adjusted rather than replaced?
In most cases yes. uPVC and composite doors have adjustable hinges, and resetting the hinges and keeps normally restores smooth locking.
Is a door that needs lifting to lock urgent?
It is worth booking promptly. The locking points are fighting the keeps, and continuing usually snaps the gearbox, which costs considerably more to put right.
My door is only a few years old. Why has it dropped already?
New doors settle in their first few years, which is why recently built estates are among the places we carry out most realignments.
Will you try to sell me a new door instead?
No. Repairs are the heart of our business and we only recommend replacement when a repair is genuinely not possible.
How do I know if my uPVC door has dropped?
Look for a wider gap at the top of the lock side than at the bottom, scraping on the threshold, or a handle that needs lifting harder to lock.
Is a dropped door a security risk?
It can be. The locking points may not engage fully, and forcing the handle can break the mechanism, so it is best dealt with early.
Why does my door only stick in warm weather?
uPVC expands in heat, so the door can grow tight in the frame. A small adjustment normally allows for it.
Ask about front door dropped
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