I’m installing several Anderson patio doors for a customer and have a problem with the door latching mechanism.
On three of the four doors we’ve installed, the bottom latch drops partially out of it’s slot when the door is open and bangs against the jamb when trying to close the door. The latch retracts completely when the door is opened, but will swing out of the slot if the door handle is jiggled or bumped. One of the jambs is already dinged up pretty badly and – with eight more doors to go – I’m concerned about how the rest will work.
Yesterday, we removed the latching hardware but couldn’t see any way to adjust the bottom latch. The homeowner is talking to Anderson, and they’re sending a rep out sooner or later, but I’m hoping to get a solution sooner.
Has anyone seen this problem? I’ll get some pictures today.
Edited 10/26/2005 9:47 am by Dave45
Replies
Bump
Maybe you just need to stop purchasing those cheap knock-offs, just because you get a really good price on them.
Andersen doors have no such problem!
; )
Sorry...couldn`t resist.....perhaps my funnin` will keep this thread up top and someone with ideas will stop in. Good luck.
Lemme get this straight....
YOU BANNED REZ?!?!
Holy bagels and lox Batman!
JDRHI -
Well, excuuuuuuuse me!!! These AndersEn doors really do this. LMAO!!!
Pictures would be good.
I had a Frenchwood hinged door in my own home, and lived with it for half a dozen years.
From what I recall about the latch mechanism, the top and bottom hook bolts have a friction spring that keeps them up and in their housings. Turning the latch up to drive them, they positively drive home (down), but when pulled up again, there is no positive keeper action, only the friction springs.
An Andersen tech mechanic should be able to fix your problem, but it is annoying, and also a shame that it has happened and scarred the frames.
Stinger -
These are the Frenchwood doors and there are 12 of them going in. Three of the four we've installed have the problem and we're expecting the same from most of the rest. An Andersen rep told the homeowner that this is a recent change and that they're getting lots of complaints.
That "change" really sucks. Ask him to tell you the full story about how a proven design underwent a design "change" that damages a finished and installed product, and report back his response, please.
I used to think that the Andersen Frenchwood hinged door was one of the greatest pieces of fenestration millwork ever introduced, and now I am disappointed.
Andersen did make a change, a year or so ago, in the latches for their FWH doors. The new ones are SS and the hooks swing down instead of up into a friction fit keeper, like their old latches. It sounds like the latch is defective, but 3 out of 4 doesn't make sense. I see a lot of these doors and have found them to be quite reliable. With the old, and new latches, if you happen to pull up on the handles while closing the door the hooks will damage the interior. Proper closing is to close the panel, pull up on the handle and turn the deadbolt.
I remembered my camera today and took these pictures. Any advice welcome.
If it's any consolation, Pella's must be going through the same sort of "drooping bolt" as the andersons. On their 3pt locking system I have recently seen 3 at about the same age (5-10yrs) where the center deadbolt which should only be activated by pulling up on the handle, creeping out. On occasion the same with the top/bottom pins. Their solution if within that 10 yrs, supply the whole full ht. mechanism. Under 5 yrs, includes the labor to install. Very funny that one of the doors is in their "new swanky" showroom. Not good planning there using that older display.
Yours comes like there's with just the handle needing installed, no?A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Yours comes like there's with just the handle needing installed, no?
Yep. They come out of the box with the latching mechanism installed and there's a square "allen wrench" in the parts bag to work the latch until the actual handles are installed.
We've also had a problem with one of the deadbolts. When I was closing up last night, one of the deadbolts wouldn't close and we had to reinstall the deadbolt knob. It finally worked but not smoothly. It feels like it wants to bind up.
I also have to say that I'm not very impressed with the factory caulking. Apparently, they run beads of caulk at the joints of the head and side jambs and at the threshhold. The caulk squeezes out during assembly but isn't smoothed out. Most people probably wouldn't notice, but it looks pretty tacky for a top-of-the-line (i.e. $$$) door.
The homeowner told us today that Andersen was shipping 12 new latch mechanisms and they want the old ones returned.
My hat's off to Andersen on this one. I installed a Jeldwen patio door for a customer a few months ago and had a helluva time getting the sliding panel in and out of the frame. If that sucker had been 1/8" longer, it wouldn't have come out!! When I told the Home Depot folks about it, their response was "Yeah, we've had a lot of problems with those." I think I could learn to like dealing with a vendor who cares about their product - lol.
I have exact same problem.
Yes, lifting the handle causes the latch to come out, as expected. But the slightest jiggle makes the bottom hook protrude just enough to trash the trim when closing the door. Mine started when the door was about 3 weeks old, days after the trim was stained and varnished and rubbed out. AARGH.
Now, almost a year later the handle droops, no longer stays horizontal.
for such an expensive door, this is tuning out to be real JUNK.
My local Andersen dealer/doorshop/tech is a real jerk, haven't wanted to deal with him.
anyone see any real resolution? If so, I'll take on the local jerk, otherwise I'll just take pleasure dissing andersen every chance I get.
Have you talked to andersen directly? They used to be very accomodating and had regional/traveling reps that would visit and attempt to take care of problems.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Andersen products have a 20 year warranty on the glass and 10 year on everything else. If you have a problem, call them up directly, and give them the chance to resolve your complaints. It's 1-888-888-7020. Have Glass code and unit size before calling.Edited 10/28/2005 7:37 am ET by jocobe
Edited 10/28/2005 8:58 am ET by jocobe
Authorized Anderson serviceman just left the house. He installed a new locking mechanism in our Anderson sliding door. The new key locks and unlocks the door from the outside. However, when the door is locked from the outside with the key, it cannot be unlocked from the inside. The serviceman said there is nothing he can do to fix this. My concern is, what if the door is locked from the outside with the key and there is a fire or other emergency inside and someone can't get out. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
What you describe is a code violation.