Door stay help

We had a couple of uPVC doors fitted about 9 months ago. There was an option of a door stay unit that fits to the top of the door and has an adjustment screw fitted to create friction in the door stays operation which we have found quite useful as the door can be left part open and resisting wind gusts.

I have now found that the friction adjustment is all taken up and no more friction adjustment! All worn out in 9 months.

Removing the unit from the door it is of a very poor design so I dug out a lump of brass in the hope I can make something longer lasting but before I attempt a redesign I thought I would ask has anyone had experience of uPVC door stays that work and more importantly - keep working!

Alan

Is it something like moulded nylon - a bit flexible? Brass might be too hard to get adjusted unless there is room for a spring. Maybe tufnot.

Door furniture for plastics were never meant to be a "Partial" thing, Door is either closed or fully open, design was to stop door opening greater than 90deg. saving tears if you inadvertently let go while opening it in a wind. French doors??

Regards Ian

Edited By Circlip on 10/08/2020 12:28:43

Many and various designs on eBay for between £5 and £10. Can you just replace the friction pad perhaps?

Thanks for replies! Yes the assembly uses a moulded nylon section for applying friction and it works well but it slides inside the extruded aluminium section that fits the door channel.

Unfortunately the friction wears out the nylon piece. I have seen the same design from various outlets from less than £4 but I know they won't last!

Even found a review of door stays where this design came up trump's although it's obviously not been tested over a longer period as it would wear itself out.

Think I need to re design the idea.

Alan

it's also intended to prevent the door and mechanism from damage by slamming shut. The stay will slow it down.

Not quite what you have described but we have two quite wide French type doors and we use two simple brass hook and loop arrangements. The hook is attached to the wall and the loops on the bottom of the door frames. They hold the doors wide open and there is no problem with the wind.

I have the same arrangement on my UPVC patio doors..totally useless in any breeze. My solution was to add hooks and eyes from outside wall to door at the bottom... simple and guaranteed.

pgk

I just use a rubber wedge under the door. Open door, kick the wedge in place.

Our conservatory door suffers from the wind when left open in hot weather. A friction stay was no help. An outside step made a door stop diificult to devise. Solution this year has been a short length of rope, loop in each end to connect the door handle to the nearby garden bench. Takes seconds to deploy. Success!

Nine months old? get the crew back that fitted it. Do not alter anything until they have sorted it as they will simply accuse you of tampering.

stay

Sam has it - we have two fitted to our french windows and they JUST WORK, - and have done untended for 6 years so far. Have just ordered another for the scullery door. Available in 8" and 12". We use the 12" to cope with the outside step.

rgds

Bill

Yes, only 9 months usage! Disgusting, and I am sure they would be replaced but I would only get another 9 months use because they just wear out!

As you say I could fit one of the 'door holder open' type stays but the beauty of the original (albeit short term!) is the ability to leave the doors anywhere between ajar and fully open.

Alan

My Granny used to use a spare brick to hold the backdoor open, but I suppose that would be out of fashion these days ?

Would replacing the nylon with a stiff felt pad (the type used for putting under chair legs) be a potentially more long-lasting option?

We would fit 'restrictor stays' as a safety option, mainly on tilt&turn windows on upper floors to avoid people falling through. They are a simple toothed bar that clips onto a stud.
They can be fitted to doors and would give some adjustment to how wide it opens.

Or, how about a damper style restrictor as used on caravans, boats, etc ?

Edited By john carruthers on 11/08/2020 08:56:27

The felt idea sounds like it would offer better long term operation, I will certainly look that idea. The only real restriction is that any of the friction components need to operate in the extruded aluminium channel fitted into the door edge shape, and it is just over 1/2 in wide!

Our old wooden doors had a friction device incorporating a max opening position. This was screwed to door and frame with the 'hinge' between both parts having the friction components fitted a bit like the old suspension dampers used on old Bentley's etc. Worked a treat and as the cork components wore they could be re adjusted with a wing nut.

Not the sort of thing that is suitable for a plastic door/frame though.

John, you refer to a damper/restrictor - got anymore info?

Alan

Well I woke up with the bit between my teeth this morning determined to improve the stays!

Found myself a piece of self adhesive felt which when compressed was about .035 thou thick, a lump of steel to machine into a 'T' shape to fit the alloy channel. Had to pop round local screw supplier for some grub screw's and csk jobbies.

Basically spent all day developing them but am really pleased with the results. I have two grub screws which expand the T section with the felt attached to adjust the friction within the channel.

The original design, while obviously cheap is of very poor design and of very limited lifespan, how can they sell such a poor product?

Alan

Well you bought one for a start

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 12/08/2020 06:51:43