| If the sliding glass doors in your home are more than | | | | almost all cases, it will be the old rollers. But, if the |
| 10 years old, you might notice that they are | | | | opening is 8' wide, sometimes the wood header that |
| becoming harder to slide open. This problem is even | | | | runs across the opening has sagged just enough to |
| more common on aluminum frame dual pane doors. | | | | make it tight in the center of the opening. If it's the |
| The reason is because the doors are heavier due to | | | | rollers, you need to adjust them all the way up into |
| the dual pane glass, but many of the aluminum units | | | | the door. Look for a hole on the bottom side where |
| did not use stainless steel rollers. So, in many cases, | | | | you can put a phillips screwdriver and find the |
| the rollers get rusty from moisture and they start to | | | | adjustment screw. Then turn that screw |
| bind.In order to replace the rollers, you have to | | | | counterclockwise as far as you can. Do that to both |
| remove the sliding panel from the opening. In most | | | | sides, then try lifting out the door. If you are still |
| instances, the fixed panel must be removed in order | | | | getting stuck, have your helper lift one side and pull |
| for the sliding panel to come out. There is a simple | | | | outward while you try to pry the frame and roller |
| way to determine whether or not your fixed panel | | | | over the track. If you get one side out, have your |
| has to come out as well. If the slider is on the inside | | | | helper hold that side with his or her foot to prevent |
| track and the fixed panel is on the outside track, you | | | | it from going back in while he or she lifts the other |
| have to remove both panels, because the slider will | | | | side for you to pry free.Once you get the slider out, |
| only come out from the outside. There is a lip on the | | | | almost all rollers are held in place by the same screw |
| bottom of the track inside your house. That lip keeps | | | | that holds the frame corners together. So, you need |
| water from coming in. Unfortunately, that lip is also | | | | to set the panel on one side, remove the screw in |
| too high to lift the sliding panel up and over. So, you | | | | the corner, flip the panel over, remove the screw on |
| have to remove the fixed panel first, then lift and | | | | the other bottom corner. Now, you can take a |
| swing out the slider from outside. If you are one of | | | | rubber mallet or the wood handle of a hammer, and |
| the few people who have a slider on the outside | | | | tap the bottom frame off the glass. This will give |
| track, then you can lift your slider out without | | | | you access to your rollers. Take a close look at how |
| removing the fixed panel.But, let's assume you need | | | | they are inserted into the door frame. In fact, it's a |
| to remove the fixed panel first. Here is what you do: | | | | good idea to only remove one roller to bring with you |
| Remove your screen door if you have one. The | | | | to match for the new ones. Then, when you get |
| screen door will have two rollers on the bottom. Lift | | | | back home, you can use the roller that is still in place |
| one end of the door frame with one hand while using | | | | as a guide to installing the new ones.Places like Home |
| a flat screwdriver to lift the roller off the track. Do | | | | Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware carry about |
| that on both sides, then take out the screen door | | | | 80-90% of the rollers out there. So, you should be |
| and set it aside. Now, look for a metal piece on the | | | | able to find them. However, let's say this just isn't |
| bottom track that runs from the bottom corner of | | | | your lucky day, and you can't find your rollers |
| the fixed panel all the way across to the bottom of | | | | anywhere. You are going to have to have them |
| the side jamb that has the door lock hardware. If | | | | ordered. Bring the roller to your local glass shop. If |
| your door is really old that piece might be missing. If | | | | you're lucky, they will have them in stock. If not, |
| you have one, you can pry it up from the track. It is | | | | they can order the rollers, but you won't get them |
| snapped in place even though it looks like it is a part | | | | for about a week. Don't panic. Just go home and tap |
| of the track. Once you have that piece removed, | | | | the bottom frame back on the door panel, but leave |
| you want to look inside the house where the fixed | | | | the corner screws out. You can even leave the roller |
| panel is against the wall jam. Look for screws holding | | | | out that you removed. Lift the door back in place, |
| the frame to the jam. They usually have one near | | | | install the fixed panel but don't snap the bottom |
| the top and bottom corners, and one near the | | | | piece back in, and don't install the inside screws. |
| center. Remove these screws and put them where | | | | Then, from inside the house, lift the slider and pull it |
| you won't lose them. Now, you should be able to pull | | | | closed. You don't want to drag it if you left the roller |
| the fixed panel out of the side jam. There is a very | | | | out. It will scrape the bottom track. Just lift it enough |
| good chance that it will be stuck. If it is, grab the | | | | to take the pressure off, and close and lock it.When |
| center rail near the bottom and lift up as hard as you | | | | Your new rollers come in, take everything back out |
| can. If you feel the panel go up, pull it back down. Do | | | | and install the new rollers. Adjust the new rollers all |
| this a couple of times, then try to pull it out of the | | | | the way up before putting the door back in. That |
| side jam again. This usually loosens it enough to pull it | | | | way, the new rollers won't interfere with you lifting it |
| out. If it still won't come out, you will have to put a | | | | back in place. Adjust the new rollers down until the |
| thin screwdriver between the fixed panel frame and | | | | door slides good and locks. You want to be sure |
| the side jam and pry while a helper pulls the panel | | | | there is an equal gap at the top and bottom when |
| away from the jam. Once you get it free of the side | | | | the door is about an inch from closing into the side |
| jam, grab the fixed panel side rail and have a helper | | | | jam. You can adjust the rollers to make this |
| grab the other rail. Lift the panel up into the top | | | | dimension even. If you can get the job done by a |
| track and swing the bottom out of the bottom track. | | | | professional for $50 or $60 including parts, it might be |
| Remove the panel from the top track and set it | | | | worth hiring someone to do it. But, in high population |
| aside with the screen door.Now, you can try lifting | | | | areas such as Los Angeles, it's common to pay $100 |
| the slider up and out, just like you did with the fixed | | | | in labor only. Then they mark up the cost of the |
| panel. If the slider won't clear the bottom track, you | | | | rollers, and you could wind up spending $130 for a job |
| need to do a couple of things. First, look to see if it's | | | | that you can do yourself for about $20. Next week |
| the old rollers protruding from the bottom that is | | | | i'm going to tell you how to repair your broken or |
| preventing the door from coming out, or if the actual | | | | defective window glass.John Rocco has been installing |
| bottom of the door frame is hitting the track. In | | | | replacement windows since 1978. |