Tips for solving common problems with sliding glass doors

 

1. Sliding Doors that are jammed or difficult to slide

The accumulation of debris is the main reason why sliding glass doors refuse to slide. Dirt, mud, hair, and fur can accumulate along tracks and grooves, blocking the underlying rollers and preventing smooth movement. Here is how you clean the rollers and rails.

Remove the sliding door from the track. First, locate the roller adjustment screw and use a screwdriver to rotate the screw counterclockwise. This will retract the roller so that the door is flush with the track. Then, remove the door stop on the top of the frame. Carefully remove the door from the track.

Check the rollers. Gently pull out the roller with a screwdriver. If they appear to have been damaged, they must be replaced. If they are only dirty, scrape off the dirt and wipe it off with denatured alcohol.

Reinstall and clean rollers. Align each adjustment screw with the access hole and tap into place with a hammer and wooden block to prevent damage to the wheel. When they are properly seated, retract the rollback wheel as much as possible.

Clean the track.  Like the roller, wipe the top rail with alcohol and spray it with silicone. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove loose debris from the bottom track, and then clean with alcohol.

Reinstall your door. Align it with the bottom rail and tilt it upward. First reinstall the door header -- otherwise it may fall out. Roll the door towards the frame on the latch side, and then turn the adjustment screw until the door is parallel to the frame.
 

2. Alignment issues

Most sliding doors can be knocked off track at some point. To realign your door on the rails at the top and bottom of the door frame, remove the door from the rails and reinsert it, ensuring that the top rollers are aligned. Push the top of the sliding door onto the track. Turn the top adjustment screw slightly to allow movement. When the door is repositioned, be sure to readjust the screws.
 

3. Glass fragmentation

If there is no problem with the frame, although you can replace the glass of the glass sliding door yourself, we recommend leaving this issue to experts to resolve. However, if you have confidence in your home improvement skills, replacing the glass of a sliding door is like replacing other windows.

Remove the decoration around the glass and carefully remove any remaining glass fragments.

You need to order a new piece of glass -- to obtain the correct measurement, measure the height and width of the opening, and then subtract from each measurement ¼ Inches.

Place new glass in the opening and fill in place.

Replace the trim you removed and secure it with a pin.

Clean any excess sealant and clean the glass.