How do I Repair a Sliding Glass Door?

In many homes, sliding glass doors allow for easy access to a patio or veranda. Unlike traditional doors that swing open, a patio door of this type utilizes a system of tracks and rollers to move easily from a closed to an open position. Over time, it may become necessary to make repairs to the door itself or the mechanism that allows the door to move with ease. If the time to repair a sliding glass door around your home has arrived, here are a few tips.

Before you begin to repair a sliding glass door, it is a good idea to secure the help of a friend or another family member. Glass doors can be heavy as well as bulky. Since most problems with these types of doors have to do with the ability to open and close them properly, you will need to disengage the door from the frame. Two people will be able to handle the heavy door with greater ease.

One of the first things to do is inspect the structure of your door. Depending on the configuration, you may find that it is possible to lift the sliding door out of the track. To accomplish this, stand on the inside of the door structure. Firmly grip each end of the door and lift upward. This should lift the door panel off and out of the bottom track. Swing the panel bottom slightly toward the inside of the room. This should disengage the rollers along the top track and make it possible to detach the sliding door completely.

Keep in mind that other glass door configurations may require that you remove a side rail from each track in order to lift the patio door out. Normally, these detachable rails are also found on the inside, along the top and bottom. Use a screwdriver to remove the rails and set them aside.

Your door repair may focus on two specific areas: the rollers or the tracks. In order to determine if the rollers are the problem, place the detached sliding door on a pair of sawhorses. This will allow you to inspect the rollers found along the top and the bottom of the door easily. Should you find that the rollers are damaged or warped in any way, use a screwdriver to free the damaged rollers from the framing of the door.

Make sure to take the detached roller to the hardware or home store along. This will allow you to make a precise match. Taking this simple precaution will save time and allow you to repair a sliding glass door with less trouble. Upon returning home, attach the new rollers to the door framing.

Inspect the tracks before placing the door back into position. Normally, they will require nothing more than a good cleaning. Use a vacuum to remove any loose dirt or grit, then wash the rails with mild detergent and warm water to remove any remaining residue. Once the tracks are clean and clear of any dirt of debris, you can reinstall the door.

Glass repair is another common issue with sliding glass doors. If the crack is relatively small, it may be possible to use a resin based repair kit to seal the crack and prevent it from growing larger. For larger cracks, you will need to replace the glass pane in order to repair a sliding glass door.

Remove the door from the tracks and unscrew the side panels on the door frame. This will allow you to lift the broken glass from the body of the door. Make sure to take exact measurements, as you will want to new glass panel to fit snugly in the body. Keep in mind you may have to order the new panel in advance. However, there are some home stores that are able to cut panels to specifications with no more notice than an hour or so.

The time needed to repair a sliding glass door will vary, depending on the nature of the problem. If you are able to secure replacement parts easily, there is a good chance that the job can be completed in two to three hours at most. However, if you have to order parts, keep in mind that you may need to re-hang the door until the parts arrive.