Patio Door Repair - How to Keep Your Door in Good Shape
Patio doors are attractive and useful addition to any house, bridging the gap between outdoor and indoor living. They are susceptible to wear and tear, and should be maintained in a timely manner.
Doors that are damaged do not only pose a security risk, but they also increase energy costs due to the fact that they allow cold air to enter the home.
Damaged Glass
Patio doors are a fantastic option to create an effortless transition between indoor and outdoor living spaces. They can enhance the aesthetics of your home and improve the efficiency of your home's energy usage. As time passes, the sliding mechanisms may develop issues that could affect their overall performance and functionality.
The glass on patio doors may crack or be shattered. This can be due to a variety of reasons. It could be due to tracks that aren't aligned properly or cold drafts entering the home or even if the door was set up incorrectly. If you are unsure of the cause, it is best to seek out an expert.
Broken windows can be a safety hazard however, they could cause colder air to enter your home, or allow water to enter the structure, making it more attractive to criminals. To avoid further damage it is essential to fix damaged windows as quickly as possible.
You'll need to call an experienced glazier in the event that your patio door is broken. They can replace the glass. This is a quicker and less expensive alternative than replacing the whole door.
Glass panels for sliding patio doors are typically secured to the frame using glazing beads that can become loose with time. These beads can break or crack when exposed to high temperatures. Depending on the degree of the damage you might be able to perform the repair yourself, but it's best to seek expert assistance to ensure a flawless finish and a secure installation.
Tracks that slide Tracks
Over time, dust, dirt and even rust may accumulate in the tracks of your patio door. This can impede its smooth movement, which is why it's crucial to keep them clean. This can be done using a mild detergent and brush. You can also use a degreaser in order to get rid of more pronounced build-ups. If your door doesn't slide smoothly, it could be that the track is bent or damaged.
This is usually caused by heavy doors, or pets dragging dirt into the door. The spindles or cogs can break. This could result in the handle becoming stuck and becoming difficult to open.
Another common cause of a sliding patio door's malfunctioning is an absence of lubrication. The best way to prevent future problems is done by applying a silicone-based grease the tracks and rollers. Make sure you thoroughly clean the track prior to applying lubricant so it doesn't gather more dirt.
Once the lubricant is applied Test the door by moving it back and forth. Apply lubricant again if it's not moving smoothly. Eventually, you'll be able to get your sliding patio door to move again without the need for a repair company.
You may have to take down your door to straighten the tracks in case they are bent. This is a huge task, so it's recommended to get help from someone. Start by laying down an untidy floor. Remove the plugs that cover the screws for adjusting the roller. Usually, they are located in the corner of each side of the frame. Once the screws are removed the track will begin to pull away from the wall. Take a rubber mallet or block, and a rubber mallet if there is an area that is bent to the outside. Place the wood in the area of the track that is bent outward, and then hit it with the mallet until the track straightens. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the track if necessary. Once the tracks are straight, you'll be able to install your door again and reattach any hardware that was removed.
Broken Rollers
If you find that your patio door is difficult to open and it's catching or scraping on the track, then it's probably time to replace the bottom roller. It will wear out with time, just like all moving parts. If you wait too long, you could find the door difficult to open. This could cause excessive stress to other components such as handles that could break or the track that will be broken.
It's a daunting task to replace the rollers as you will need to remove the entire panel from the frame. The first thing you need to do is retract the roller wheels and give the panel a light pull to see if it will come free. If it does, you need an assistant to help remove the panel and then place it on the floor. Once the panel is removed you can begin to look at it for signs of damage.
Once you've finished that, you can now begin working on the rollers themselves. They'll likely be glued to the frame of the metal, so you'll need a screwdriver and possibly a pry-bar or stiff putty knife to remove the rollers. After you've removed the old ones, take notes about their style and size so that you can replace them with the same ones.
It's possible that there is no visible damage to the rollers, and they simply require lubrication. If this is the scenario, spray a silicone-based lubricant onto the rollers, and then try sliding the panel again.
In more serious cases the bogies which sit underneath the rollers may fail or the tracks they roll on will become damaged. In this scenario the entire track will need replacing. It's usually a two-man job as the panel needs to be removed from the frame of aluminium to allow the builders to remove it. This is usually the longest part of the repair and the care should be taken to avoid any cracking or broken glass.
repairmywindowsanddoors and his wife were sick of their old patio door opening up to let drafts in when they were in the living room, watching TV or sitting in their favorite recliner. They also noticed icicles inside the frame during this past winter. The couple spoke with our product expert who advised them that their doors were in need of weather treatment. The door was old and had a bit of corrosion due to age and British weather. However, it could be repaired to enhance the appearance. They decided to move forward with installing new patio doors and window treatments that would match their home's decor.