Lockable partly-open french doors

Double glazed casement windows often have a piece in the frame with two slots for the handle-latch to go - one with the window closed and one with it cracked open.

I wonder if the top and bottom bolts on a swing door could do something similar - have one slot where the door locks in the closed position, and one slightly inboard of the door where it locks slightly open. Then you'd put the door in that position and pull the handle up to deploy the bolts into the slot, and locking with the key to secure the door in that position.

I think the part is called a 'night vent keep':

There are fixed restraints, but they look less good.

Before going too far with this have a think about how this might affect your contents insurance. I can’t imagine that any kind of locking system that holds the door partially open will be as secure as a fully closed door with a multipoint locking system.

If you accept that it won’t be burglar proof you might as well just go for a simple door holder.

Tim

Security's not an issue as I won't be popping out to the shops or going on holiday whilst the door's a'crack. Those kind of door stops won't cope with the winds we get in my neck of the woods (West Wales) I'm afraid.

Something along the lines of "ABUS 2130": Like a chain for a door, only not a chain but a solid bar?

Thomas Prufer

what about a window within the frnech door as you can get tri-stay hinges where they have a child safety feature as you cannot open the window any more than 1 inch unless you press a button on BOTH the top and bottom hinge to then open it wider (designed to stop children falling out of the window)

If you are wanting a whole new French window then have a look a Velfac. They offer an optional 'Restrictor with ventilation position' with their windows. We have them fitted to our windows although we chose not to have it on the french doors.

What you want is a feature of the lock mechanism, and DG door/window suppliers have their favoured brands so won't necessarily be aware of of the full range on the market. You could explore the DG spares sites to see if anyone stocks door mechanisms that'll lock ajar. (Having said that the bolts on my french doors are much wider than those on my lock ajar-capable windows, presumably for security reasons, so there might be a good reason that the people you spoke to said 'no can do.')

How about a pair of these

I don't know of any door lock system that can do this, but you can add a vent to the doors. Have a search for glazed-in vents and trickle vents. If you're having new doors made it is an easy option. If the supplier doesn't know what you're talking about find a more competent one :-) HTH, Cheers, Jim

They're designed for sliding doors; mine are french (swing-open) type.

You don't seem to get much air-flow with those things, though - and certainly nothing like as much as with a door that's open a bit. I could get an after-market door stay if they made one that could be bonded to the door with that adhesive that actually *fuses* the surfaces together. I don't think UPVC is the kind of plastic that melts with that adhesive, though.

Agreed with trickle vents, but the glazed-in type come in larger sizes, and are the width of the glass unit.