15 Secretly Funny People Working In Bi-Fold Door Repair
Bi-Fold Door Repair
Whether they are external or internal, bi-fold doors offer a degree of flexibility that can be customised to suit any requirement. But, like all other fixtures and fittings, they may suffer from the occasional wear and wear and tear.
Thankfully, it's not hard to restore them to good shape. With a little patience and some basic woodworking skills, you can tackle a couple of easy bi-fold door repair projects.
Cracked Corners
Bifold closet doors are usually light, but they are prone to cracking near the top and bottom pivot points. This is usually the result of time due to the natural deterioration of wood in your home. This can be easily fixed by clamping and gluing affected wood. It's a simple process and will reduce the cost of hiring a professional do the job for you.
Most often, the main problem with bifold doors is that they won't open or close smoothly. The most likely cause for this is a misalignment in the doors or their pivot pins and guides. This could be caused by a slipped door or loose pivot pins or guides which are easy to fix with a little bit of effort.
First, you should look over the runners or tracks for obstructions or blockages. Leaves, dirt, and sand can cause issues for a bifolding door. Regular cleaning and lubrication of the tracks is essential to keep them in good working order.
If you observe that a door leaning when closed, it could need to be trimmed. You should make use of circular saws since doors are not very thick. You should also be careful to avoid cracking or chipping the door veneer when trimming it. Put the door on a stable table and draw an outline with pencil. Cut the door with circular saw along the line.
Another problem that often arises with bifold doors is that the doors will scratch against carpeting whenever they're opened or shut. This can lead to seals deteriorating, allowing drafts into your home, and decreasing its energy efficiency. It's good news that this is an easy problem to solve. You'll need to clean the seals using an non-abrasive cleaning solution, such as vinegar or mild dishwashing detergent and then apply silicone sealant on the damaged area. The problem should be resolved once the sealant has dried. This should also help extend the life of your seals and the doors in general.
Doors that are not aligned
If your bifold doors are sticking or jamming as you try to open them or closed, it's an indication that they are out of alignment. This could pose a serious risk to your home's security. It is crucial to deal with this issue immediately if you notice it. Delaying repairs could lead to damage that requires more extensive and expensive repair work.
Adjusting your bifold door can be accomplished fairly easily. Make sure the track is clear of obstructions and clean. You may have to apply a brush or a cloth to clean any debris or dirt that have accumulated over time. Once the track is clean, you can lubricate it using a silicone spray or any other fluid to smooth the movement of the doors.
The next step is to adjust the pivot brackets in order to put your doors in the correct position. The brackets are situated on the upper and lower corners of the frame of the door and are held by screws. If your door is dragging on the floor you can raise it by loosening the screws, then tightening them later. If it is moving away from the wall you can lower it by loosening the screws and tightening later. Continue to make small adjustments until the doors are perfectly aligned.
Also, it's important to ensure that the door frames are secured. If the frame moves a little, it can cause gaps between the door that allow air and moisture to get in. It can cause hinges to become in alignment and doors to be uneven. In this situation, you'll need to resecure the frame.
It is also important to ensure that the doors are on the same level as the floor. If they aren't then you must adjust the hinge bolts to get them into a correct position. This can be done by opening and shutting the doors. Then, you can use the spirit level and screwdriver until the panels are all level.
Shag Carpeting
Bi-fold doors are made to slide up and down, but they may scrape your wall or floor. This usually happens as a result of one or more pivot pins not aligned properly.
This problem is often easy to solve. A pivot pin is situated at the bottom of the bi-fold doors and connects to the floor bracket. At the top the spring-mounted retaining pin engages a sliding bracket which locks into the track. If your bifold door scrapes against the carpet, just raise it by rotating the pivot pin on the bottom counterclockwise until it reaches the proper height.
You may also experience a shagging issue with your bi-fold door if the track on which they slide is not level. This could be due shifting weather conditions, settling or shifting. If this is the situation, you can adjust your tracks by loosening the screws which are holding the upper track bracket. Slide it up or down until it is at the same level as the bottom track bracket.
Another possible issue with your bi-fold door is that the wood has cracked around one or more of the pivot pins. This is a common problem with many types of doors, including bi-folds. You'll need C-clamps as well as a small amount of carpenter's adhesive to solve this. To begin, take off the door and then pry out the pivot pin using a screwdriver. Then apply the glue to the crack with a toothpick, then clamp the door and let it dry for about 3 to 4 hours.
If the issue with your bi-fold door is major or minor, you should have it repaired by a professional with experience. This will prevent further damage and ensure that your door is functioning correctly. You can find an expert in your area by visiting the website of your door company. They will have a list of installers who have attended their training workshops for certification. Then contact them to set up your bifold door repair appointment.
Broken Slats
Louvered doors to closets let air circulate, stop mildew from developing and make your clothes easy to see. Although they can be an attractive addition to the home, repairing or replacing them isn't easy.
Louver doors are made up of the slats which open and close to let in light rain or wind. They're often made of polyurethane or wood and are often used in doors, windows or even walls. Certain bifold doors don't have louvered slats but those that do could be displaced over time or break.
It is possible to believe that you should replace the door after a slat is broken. But, it's not required. You can fix the broken part of the slat using a piece of fabric and carpenters' glue.
Start by removing the door from the track. Place it on the floor or on a set saw horses in a way that the slats face upwards. This will allow you to work on the door without damaging the hinges or tracks.
To take out the broken slat begin by putting an hammer that is claw-like under each slat and jerking up to detach it from the door. Once the slat is detached, measure the area from the point of removal to determine the width and length needed for the replacement slat. Once you have these measurements, take a piece of cork/foam board and cut it to the same length as the area from which the broken slat was removed.
Apply a thick line of carpenters' glue to one side of the foam/foam board. Place the fabric on the board's back smoothing out any wrinkles and creases that may appear along the way. Place the slat carefully into the slot of the door and, if needed fix it with a nailed. Once the glue is dry, you'll be able to hang your bifold closet door.