For months I have been plagued with how to keep our balcony door open. Up until recently I used a stylish rubber bungee cord. Actually, the cord is ugly and it’s a pain to attach each time someone goes in and out. I found a magnetic door catch that is really useful, just not in the way I hoped. It looked so streamline and clever I ordered it. As I installed it on the door, I kept ignoring my inner voice which kept saying “this magnet isn’t strong enough.” The installation was complete and the door appeared to be staying put despite mild wind gusts. Emboldened, I went into another room only to hear a tremendous bang and the twinkling sound of broken glass. Suffice it to say the magnet wasn’t strong enough for our occasional 15-20 knot wind gusts. I will be reviewing a window glazing tool soon which will be needed to help replace the two glass panels that broke. However, I do recommend this item for interior doors! The catch looks stylish, the magnet holds the door secure (minus wind gusts) and it is available in multiple finishes. It even has a spring built in to absorb a little shock. I also discovered the manufacturer makes a heavier duty version after the fact, but I think I’ll shy away from exterior magnet use and opt for a hook catch instead.
I bought the smaller catch you see on the left of the image from KwikLocks for a little over $10.
The catches are made by Deltana, although I don’t think they sell direct to the public.
Learn from my Door-Catch Woes
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