How to Lock French Doors on a Porch

Fenestrations – the openings in the walls of a building, also known as doors and windows – admit light and allow passage in and out of the building. They may be simple or highly decorated, depending on the purpose of the building. French doors contain at least two movable, or active, panels that swing in or out from the center. They provide a stylish fenestration but also a security puzzle because French doors lack a stationary central door jamb to secure each half. The problem is solved by installing special hardware to lock one or both sides.

Deadbolt key or keys, if applicable

Instructions

- 1
  Close both doors and turn the multi-point handle to engage the head and foot bolt or bolts. As you turn the lever handles, bolts will raise and lower in both doors and click into steel channels in the header and foot jamb of the door casing. You will find multi-point bolt handles on old, large French doors and on newer French doors.
- 2
  
  A manual bolt for header or jamb.
  
  Raise and lower manual bolts on doors without multi-point levers by locating the manual bolt on the inside surfaces of each door at the top and bottom near the inner edge of the door. Slide all four bolts up or down and turn to catch in the slot to keep them seated in the anchor channel. Some doors may have keyed deadbolts at the top and bottom of each door, requiring a key to turn and seat each bolt.
- 3
  
  The sash bolt is located just above the handle.
  
  Complete the locking procedure by turning the key in the sash deadbolt, found near the door handles, that secures the center of the doors together.
- 4
  Rattle the door and check that no manual bolts have slipped or that the multi-point lever latches are secured.
- 5
  
  Never leave keys in a locked French door.
  
  Remove any keys from deadbolts and store them far enough away from the window that an intruder could not reach them by breaking a pane of one of the doors.

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