Sliding Door Locks, Handles and Latches A door that won’t lock has usually sagged.
Most slider locks are a hook inside the panel that grabs a keeper on the frame. When the panel drops or shifts, the hook misses. Sometimes the lock is broken, but more often the door needs to be brought back in line.
Free estimate. No trip fee. No same-day fee. No after-hours fee. No minimum.
Same-day or next-day service in our core area.
Sound like your door?
Signs the lock or handle needs work
A slider that doesn’t latch can be pushed open from outside. If yours is on this list, don’t leave it for long.
Send us a photo so we come with the right parts.
Email us a photo- You have to lift or shove the door to get it to lock
- The lever moves, but the door still slides open
- The lever is floppy or won’t stay put
- The keeper on the frame is bent or chewed up
- The handle is cracked or has come off
- The key won’t turn, or you can’t lock it from outside
What we do
What we fix
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Line up the latch and keeper
We set the roller height so the hook meets the keeper, then move or shim the keeper if it’s still off. Often that’s the whole fix.
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Replace the keeper
Bent or stripped keepers are replaced and fastened into solid material, not into the old stripped holes.
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Replace the mortise lock
The lock body sits inside the edge of the panel. Sizes and screw spacing vary a lot, so we match yours or fit one that lines up with the existing holes.
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Handles and pulls
New inside and outside handle sets, matched to the lock and the panel.
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Keyed and multi-point locks
Keyed outside handles where you want to lock from the patio, and multi-point locks on impact doors adjusted so every hook engages.
Most “broken” locks aren’t broken
When a slider stops locking, the lock gets the blame. More often, the rollers under the panel have worn down, the panel has dropped a little, and now the hook swings under the keeper instead of into it. The giveaway: the door locks if you lift up on the handle while you throw the lever.
The fix is to raise the panel back to its proper height, and sometimes to move the keeper. If the rollers are too worn to adjust, they get replaced, and the lock you already have starts working again.
Matching a mortise lock
The lock on most sliders is a mortise lock, a small metal case set into the edge of the panel. There are a lot of them, and they differ in size, in the spacing of the mounting screws, in which way the hook swings and in which handle they work with. A lock that’s close but not exact won’t line up with the keeper, or won’t work with your handle.
Send us a photo of the edge of the door with the lock in it, and one of the handle, and we’ll bring what fits.
What we don’t do
We don’t replace glass or install new doors. We fix the one you have.
We work on sliding door and window hardware only. Front-door locks and smart-lock installs are a job for a locksmith.
- Free on-site estimate
- Exact price before any work
- Same-day or next-day in our core area
- Open 7 days, early and late
- Replies within 30 min, 7am–9pm
- Insured
FAQ
Locks, handles & latches: straight answers
How much does it cost to fix a sliding door lock?
Every door is different, so we don’t guess over the phone. A specialist looks at your door and gives you an exact price, free, before any work starts.
No quotes over the phone, by text or by photo. Several doors? Ask about multi-door savings.
Why won’t my sliding door lock?
Most of the time the door has sagged and the latch hook misses the keeper. Try lifting up on the handle as you throw the lever. If it locks then, the lock is fine and the door needs adjusting. If it won’t lock at all, the lock itself may be broken.
Can you replace just the handle?
Usually, as long as the new handle matches the lock and the holes in the panel. Some handles are only sold as a set with the lock. We’ll tell you which kind yours is.
Is a sliding door that doesn’t latch a security problem?
Yes. If the hook doesn’t catch the keeper, the door can be slid open from outside. Until it’s fixed, a bar or a length of wood dowel laid in the track keeps it shut.
Can you add a lock I can use from outside?
On many sliders, yes. A keyed outside handle can often be fitted to work with the existing lock. It depends on the door, so a specialist will confirm it at the estimate.
Do you work on multi-point locks?
Yes. Many impact sliders lock at several points along the edge. If one hook misses its keeper, the door isn’t held the way it should be. We adjust the panel and every keeper so they all engage. More on impact and hurricane doors.
More questions? Read the full FAQ or email us.
Door won’t lock? Let’s fix that first
Send us a photo so we come with the right parts. We reply within 30 minutes, 7am–9pm, 7 days.
Free estimate. No trip fee. No same-day fee. No after-hours fee. No minimum.