Patio Door Repair

Patio doors lets the light and air enter into a room and also lets you enjoy the view outdoors. Patio doors are unlike the conventional doors made of wood. They are glass doors and are usually sliding so that it is easy to open and close the door. Sometimes the door does not move as smoothly as it should, and then repairing patio door becomes essential. If the problem is due to some mechanical glitches, door repair parts are easily available from home improvement stores. The main problem in sliding doors is that it gets stuck while opening and closing. This is primarily due to accumulation of dirt, mud and food in the sliding door track. The best way to avoid this problem is to regularly vacuum the track while cleaning the room.

Common Problems with Patio Door

Some of the common malfunctions of a patio door are bad rollers, damaged screen and a too short door. Patio doors should open and close smoothly and easily so that even a child is able to operate it. Unfortunately patio doors sometimes get stuck and this is mainly due to damaged rollers. Avoid installing plastic rollers if you live in a damp and humid climate as the plastic becomes brittle and tends to expand. Always go for metallic rollers which are rust proof as they will last for a longer time. Another reason why the sliding patio door is not working properly is because the glass door is too short. Just adjust the height of the door by using the adjustable screw located at the top and bottom of the door.

Repairing Sliding Patio Door

For repairing patio door, first you will need to remove the door and then clean and lubricate the tracks as well as the rollers. The patio door has two separate units. One is the glass door that slides and the other is the stationary unit, which is usually made of aluminum. Loosen the two plugs that covers the roller adjustment screws which is at the bottom of the sliding door frame. With the help of a flat-head screwdriver remove the screws. This will retract the rollers and will lower the patio door. Now slide the door all the way so that it is fully open and then remove the stopper. Now lift the door off the bottom track and let it lean against a wall. Remove the rollers from the bottom track and check if dirt is clogging it. You can scrape the dirt from the roller and clean it with alcohol. Apply a lubricating oil on the rollers and reinstall them back on the track. If you find that the rollers are bent, broken or damaged in any way replace them with new ones. Vacuum the aluminum track before reinstalling the patio door and spray a silicone based lubricant all around the track. You can also rub the track with paraffin wax, which also acts as a very good lubricant.

If even after following these steps the door still doesn't slide, it may be a sign of an underlying structural problem or poor installation. This might be due to an undersized header above the patio door or a rotten sill beneath it. You need to seek the help of a professional remodeling contractor to repair the patio door. Hope that this article on how to repair patio door was helpful.