How to Repair a Sliding Screen Door That Has a Broken Lock

Open the sliding screen door. Stand straddling the door’s track with one leg on each side of the track. Check the screws of the latch to see if they are loose or missing. Tighten the screws with the screwdriver, if needed. Test the door lock, if this does not solve the problem move to step two.

Open the sliding screen door. Hold onto the latch. Use the screwdriver to remove the screws from the existing lock. Pull apart the latch slowly making sure to catch both pieces. Place the inside latch and the door handle in a safe spot. Measure the screw holes in the screen door. Write down the measurements and take the old latch to a hardware store for comparison.

Select a new lock similar to the old lock. Check to make sure the lock will match the measurements for the holes in the screen door. Read the instruction on the package of the new lock. Make sure all the parts for installing the new lock are included in the package, sometimes screws go missing from packages.

Slide open the screen door. Straddle the door’s track so your arms can reach each side of the door easily. Position the new lock on the inside part of the door and hold in place with masking tape. Put the door handle on the outside of the sliding screen door. Place the two screws into the new lock and tighten. Remove the masking tape. Close the door and test it to make sure it locks correctly.