I recently bought a house with French doors in the basement, but I've had a problem where they occasionally blow open on windy days, even when locked. It seems like I have to pull up on the left handle to get the top bolt to latch, but sometimes they still randomly open again. I'm curious whether my issues stem from the doors themselves or if it was a bad installation job. When the slider was installed last week, the company mentioned that the French doors could be worth around $10-12,000. I'm wondering if the noticeable gap between the doors (they seem close at the top but have a gap towards the bottom) could be affecting their closure. Should I disclose this if I decide to sell them? I couldn't find a brand sticker but saw a custom order sticker from 2013. I checked with the company about records, but they said they don't keep old ones.
2 Answers
You might want to think about posting for advice before replacing them next time! It sounds like the door with the lock may not have been installed properly, which could be why it didn’t latch correctly. If the bottom lock isn’t engaging, strong winds could definitely push the top lock open. If only the top lock was working, then yes, the door itself might be the issue. But installation could have definitely made it worse. If the next owner has the same setup, they might face the same problem, unfortunately.
Yeah, the gap between the doors could definitely be an issue. It could prevent them from properly sealing shut, causing them to ‘lose hold’ when the wind gusts. If it’s an installation issue, the next owner might end up frustrated too, unless it gets fixed. It's a good idea to be upfront about the problems when selling. Better safe than sorry!