Patio Door Repair - How to Keep Your Door in Good Shape
Patio doors are an attractive and useful addition to any home, bridging the gap between outdoor and indoor living. However, they are subject to wear and tear and must to be maintained properly.
Doors that are damaged are not just a security risk, they also contribute to high energy bills by allowing cold air into the home.
Glass damaged
Patio doors can be used to create a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors. They can improve the aesthetics of your home and boost energy efficiency. However, over time the sliding mechanisms can experience issues that affect their function and overall performance.
One of the most common issues homeowners encounter with their patio doors is cracked or shattered glass. It can be caused by various reasons. It could be due to misaligned tracks or cold drafts entering the building or even when the door was put in incorrectly in the first place. However, if you're unsure about the root of the issue, it's best to contact a professional.
Broken windows can be dangerous for your safety however they also allow colder air to enter the home, or allow water to get in, or make your house more attractive to criminals. It is also important to repair damaged windows as soon as you can, to prevent further damage.
If your patio door is cracked and you need to contact a glazier who can replace the glass. This is usually a more efficient alternative than replacing the entire door, since it can be a lot cheaper to replace only the glass panel.
Glass panels for sliding patio doors are usually secured into the frame with glazing beads, which may be loose with time. They can also crack or break when exposed to high temperatures. Depending on the severity of the damage, you might be able to do the work yourself, but it's best to seek out professional assistance to ensure a perfect finish and safe installation.
Sliding Tracks
Over time, dirt and dust, even rust, can accumulate on the tracks of your patio doors. This can impede its smooth movement, which is why it's crucial to keep the tracks clean. This can be done by using a brush and mild detergent. You can also use a degreaser remove more severe build-ups. If your door still doesn't move smoothly, it may be because the track is bent or damaged.
This issue is typically caused by heavy doors or pets pulling in dirt, which could cause the internal cogs or spindle to break. This can cause the handle to become stuck and make it difficult to remove.
repairmywindowsanddoors that can cause a sliding patio door's failure is a lack of lubrication. Preventing future problems can be accomplished by applying a silicone-based grease to the tracks and rollers. Make sure you thoroughly clean the track prior to applying lubricant. This will stop it from accumulating more dirt.
Test the door after applying the lubricant, moving it up and down. Reapply lubricant if it is not moving smoothly. At some point, you'll be in a position to get your sliding patio door to move again without the need for a repair company.
If the tracks of your door are bent, you may require removing the door in order to straighten them. This could be a large task, so it's recommended to get assistance from someone else. Start by laying down an untidy floor. Remove the plugs that cover the roller adjustment screws. Usually, they are located in the corner of the frame on each side. Once the screws are removed the track will slide away from the wall. If you find a section of the track that bends outward, grab a rubber mallet and a piece of wood. Put the block of wood on the bent-outward section of the track, then use the mallet to straighten it. Repeat this process on the opposite side of the track if required. After the tracks have been straightened, you'll be able to install your door again and reattach any hardware that was removed.
Broken Rollers
If you notice that your patio door isn't easy to open and it's scraping or catching on the track, then it may be time to replace the bottom roller. Like all moving parts, the bottom roller is going to wear out over time and if you leave it for too long, you'll discover that the door is really difficult to use. This can lead to an excessive strain on other components such as the handles which may break or the track which will be damaged.
Replacing the rollers is quite a tricky job and it requires removing the entire panel from the frame. The first thing you need to do is to retract the roller wheels and give the panel a gentle pull to see if it will break free. If the panel falls off, ask a person to help you remove the panel and placing it on a flat area. Once the panel is removed, you can begin to look at it for indications of damage.
After you've done this, you're now able to begin working on the rollers. They're likely to be fastened to the frame of the metal, so you'll need a screwdriver and possibly a pry-bar or stiff putty knife to remove them. After you've removed the old ones, make notes about their style and dimensions so that you can replace them with identical 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 instances, the bogies which sit underneath the rollers will fail or the tracks they run on will break. In this instance the entire track would need replacing. It's typically a two-person job as the panel needs to be lifted from the aluminium frame to allow the builders to remove it. This is typically the longest portion of the repair, and the care should be taken to avoid cracks or broken glass.
Weather Treatment
Paul and his wife were tired of their old patio door opening up to let drafts through when they were in the living area watching television or in their recliner of choice. They also noticed icicles on their frame during the winter. Our product expert advised the couple that their doors required to be treated for weather. The door was old and had some corrosion due to age and British weather however it was fixable to improve the aesthetics of their home. They decided to move forward with installing new patio doors and window treatments that would go with their interior decor.