French Door Repair in Bristol
French doors catching, dropped, draughty, not meeting in the middle, or won't lock? We repair French doors across Bristol — hinges, alignment, shoot bolts, locks, handles, weather seals, and glass.
Family-run Bristol business · 20 years trade experience · Send a few photos and we'll tell you the likely repair route before booking
Most French door faults are repairable
French doors take more strain than a single door — two leaves, more hinges, and a meeting point that has to line up perfectly. When they catch, drop, draught, or won't lock, it's usually a repair: hinge adjustment, realignment, new shoot bolts or keeps, fresh weather seals, or a lock repair. In most cases the doors and glass stay; only the worn parts change.
What's wrong with your French doors?
Doors scrape the frame, won't meet cleanly in the middle, or won't latch. Usually a hinge or alignment fault.
Won't lock or shoot bolts stuckLock won't engage, shoot bolts on the second leaf won't drop, or the handle is faulty. A parts repair.
Misted or broken glassCloudy sealed unit or smashed glass in a leaf. The toughened glass is replaced; the door stays.
Common French door problems and what they mean
Not sure which fault you've got? Here are the French door problems we see most, what they usually point to, and the best next step. These are general guides — send us a few photos and we'll confirm the likely repair before booking.
| Problem you notice | What it usually means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Doors won't meet cleanly in the middle | One leaf has dropped on its hinges, so the two doors no longer line up. | A hinge adjustment and realignment so both leaves meet and latch. |
| Door catches or scrapes the frame | A dropped leaf or frame movement has taken the door out of square. | Realignment, with the hinge adjusted or replaced where worn — see door adjustment. |
| Won't lock, or the second leaf won't secure | The multipoint mechanism, the keeps, or the shoot bolts on the second leaf have worn or jammed. | We prioritise doors that won't secure — see door lock repair. |
| Draught where the leaves meet | A dropped door or perished weather seals letting air past. | Realignment and new weather seals can usually improve the seal and reduce draughts. |
| Handle loose, stiff, or spinning | A worn handle or the gearbox behind it. | A handle or mechanism repair — see door lock repair. |
| Misted or broken glass in a leaf | A failed sealed unit or impact damage to the pane. | A made-to-measure toughened unit while the door stays — see door glass replacement. |
Still not sure? Send us a few photos and we'll tell you the likely repair route and price before booking.
Hinges, alignment and "doors not meeting"
The classic French door fault is a leaf that's dropped, so the two doors no longer meet squarely in the middle and the lock won't engage. This is a hinge and alignment job — we adjust or replace the hinges and reset both leaves so they meet cleanly and latch properly.
Locks, shoot bolts and handles
French doors lock using a multi-point mechanism on the master door plus shoot bolts (top and bottom) on the second leaf. If the doors won't secure, the fault is usually the mechanism, the keeps, the shoot bolts, or the handle — and in most cases it can be repaired. Doors that won't secure are prioritised where possible. More on our door lock repair page.
Draughts and weather seals
Draughty French doors are usually caused by a dropped door or perished weather seals letting air past where the leaves meet or close to the frame. Realigning the doors and renewing the seals normally helps them close more tightly and reduces draughts, without replacing anything major.
Glass replacement
Misted, cracked, or smashed glass in a French door leaf is replaced as a made-to-measure toughened sealed unit while the door stays in place. See door glass replacement.
What does it cost?
French door repairs usually start from £155 + VAT, depending on the fault and the parts required. Send us a few photos and we'll let you know the likely repair route before booking — we always agree the price before any work starts.
We only suggest new French doors when the frame or doors themselves have failed and repair no longer makes sense. If a repair is the right answer, that's what we'll do.
Frequently asked questions
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Usually yes. French doors that catch, won't meet in the middle, or won't latch have normally dropped on their hinges or fallen out of alignment. Adjusting or replacing the hinges and resetting the doors is a repair, not a replacement.
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Yes. A dropped leaf is one of the most common French door faults. We adjust or replace the hinges and realign the doors so they sit square and meet cleanly again.
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Draughts usually come from a dropped door, worn weather seals, or doors that no longer close tightly. Realignment and replacing the seals normally solves it without a new door.
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Yes. The glass sealed unit can be replaced while the door stays in place. French door glass normally needs to be toughened safety glass, and we quote it that way.
Got a French door problem?
Send us a few photos of both doors, the meeting point, and the fault — see our quick guide on what photos to send. We'll tell you the likely repair and price. Part of our full door repair service in Bristol.
Get a Free Quote
Describe the problem and add photos if you have them. We'll usually reply during working hours with advice and a price where possible.
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Broken glass or can't lock your door? Call 07400 466844