What's the best screw for hollow door?

[Mak5526]

We have a hollow bathroom sliding door. I screw this latch to it but now came loose. 

What's the best screw to re attach this to the door. 

 

 

[Noyade]

Evening @Mak5526 

Would you consider a sliding door latch? They're not that hard to install.

Just a thought.

Cheers!

[Mak5526]

I do have tht privacy lock installed  installed, but can be locked only from inside. I have a Husky and she can slide the door and loves to rip the paper roles apart. So I installed the latch. Lol 

 

[JacobZ · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mak5526,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

It's great to see you've already received some advice from @Noyade.

The problem I am seeing is not because of the screw, it is because of the location of the screw. A hollow core door like yours has a timber stile that runs vertically along the right and left sides of the door. This stile is usually only around 30mm wide. See the below example taken from Hume Doors website.

 

If the screws for your latch are not hitting this stile, the screw will only be held in place by a thin, roughly 2-3mm MDF veneer. If you move the location of the screws over so they are solidly in the stile, you won't have as much trouble with them pulling out. 

Unless you could find a way to attach the cabin hook closer to the edge of the door, you may be better off replacing it with something like this Taskmaster 38mm Chrome Plated Barrel Bolt at the top or bottom of the door.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions.

Jacob
 

[Mightwork]

Many of the hollow core doors have a timber strengthening bar (batten) across the middle, often around where locks are fitted. You may be able to find it with a timber stud finder, or even by pressing or tapping on the door to feel or hear the difference between the less supported plywood/mdf and where a pine batten has been mounted (usually with glue) in the factory.

It's likely to be where the original latch is, but may be present elsewhere as well. These reinforced parts will take the screws far better.

Another alternative could be to fit the cabin hook to the top timber frame within the door if you can reach high enough for it to be of use.

(Maybe provide a broom handle or the like for shorter people in the case of an emergency visit)

Dogs and young kids seem to really enjoy the way the toilet paper flys of the roll when given a good spin.

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mightwork,

Please allow me to extend a warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Allow me to tag @Mak5526 so they are notified of your comment. 

Thank you for the extra advice, I'm sure they will appreciate it.

Jacob