Stuck patio door

In Torrevieja nearly every home has a terrace or a balcony, and nearly all their doors are aluminium or uPVC. With the salty air, the sand and the sun, their catches and tracks take a lot of punishment.

Most common causes

• Broken catch or handle. The internal mechanism snaps and the handle turns without moving the catch.
• Dirty track or worn rollers. On sliding doors, sand in the track or a broken roller stops the panel from gliding.
• Dropped panel. The door sags a little and the catch no longer lines up with its keep.
• Jammed key lock. On those with a cylinder, the salty air seizes it up.
• Door shut from outside. You are stuck on the terrace and the door has closed.

What to do now

• If you are stuck on the terrace, ask a neighbour for help or message us. If there is any risk (intense heat, an elderly person or a child, someone unwell), call 112.
• On a sliding door, lift the panel slightly by the handle as you move it: if it has dropped, that sometimes frees it.
• Clear the track of sand and leaves if the door will not slide.
• If the door will not close and you are going away, at least secure the shutter or message us so we can leave it locked.

What not to do

• Do not force the handle: if the mechanism is broken, you will snap it completely.
• Do not lift a sliding panel out of its track unless you know how to put it back. It is very heavy and the glass can break.
• Do not put oil in the track: it traps more sand.
• Do not hit the frame: aluminium bends easily.

How we sort it out

We work 24 hours a day, every day, in Torrevieja and the Vega Baja. With a video and a photo on WhatsApp we give you a fixed quote.

If the door is shut and you cannot get in or out, we open it with the least invasive method. Then we replace the catch, the handle or the lock if they are broken, and adjust the panel so it closes properly. We tell you before we replace any part.

You will find the details under locks for aluminium and uPVC. If all you need is to get it open, see aluminium and uPVC door opening.

Ground floor security

In bungalows and ground floor flats, the patio door is often the weakest point in the house. If its catch fails, take the opportunity to strengthen it: a key-operated lock and a reinforced shutter make all the difference. We explain it under shutter reinforcement.

Pay by card, Bizum or cash, and talk to us on WhatsApp in your own language.