of 170results12345NextDidn't find what you were looking for?magnifying glassDo you like it?× LikeNot a Fan× Thank You!Many of today`s homes feature sliding glass doors. Although they open up the home to a world of light and pastoral beauty, they also can be a source of annoyance. Fortunately, it is easy to fix doors that stick or skip out of their tracks.All sliding doors in the home either hang from rollers that run in overhead tracks, as most closet doors and other light interior doors do, or they run on tracks along the bottom of the door, as patio doors and other heavy glass sliding doors do.Suspended doors usually have plastic or metal guides on the floor to keep the bottom of the door from swinging in and out.If the guides are bent or knocked out of position, doors may bind, stick or rub against each other. Most guides have slots for making small sideways adjustments; sometimes the mounting screws loosen to cause the binding. Replace bent or broken floor guides; most lumberyards and many hardware stores carry them.
Probably the most frequent cause of binding is rollers slipping out of their overhead track. Each door has two roller hangers, one near each end. Lifting up on the door and guiding the roller back into the track is usually a simple task, but it is seldom a permanent solution. The roller jumped out of the track for a reason and will probably continue to do so until the problem is eliminated. Sometimes one or more mounting screws work loose, letting the track sag or shift and leaving inadequate clearance between doors. Make sure all the screws are tight.If the track is bent or dented, the roller jumps out as it slides past. To check for this, slide both doors to one side, step inside and examine the track with a flashlight. If it is bent, you should be able to straighten it with a pair of pliers and a hammer. At the same time, make sure the inside of the track is clean and unobstructed.Another frequent problem is broken rollers, which must be replaced, or an improperly adjusted roller bracket.
Most have self-lubricating nylon wheels so oiling is not required, but it doesn`t hurt to spray on a powdered graphite lubricant.The best way to check for problems is to remove the door. First remove the floor guides (each is held down with one or two screws), then pull the bottom of the door toward you and lift up to take the door out of its track.Roller brackets have adjustments for raising or lowering them slightly. On some the entire bracket can be raised, on others only the roller is raised and the bracket stays in place.All roller units are designed to vary the height of the roller above the top of the door, enabling the installer to hang the door level even if the frame is slightly out of square or the track at the top is not exactly level. It also enables the installer to compensate for minor irregularities in how the overhead track is mounted.If the adjustment screw on the bracket loosens, the door can sag slightly at one side, drag along the floor and make it difficult to slide.
After removing the door, see if the original setting has changed or if any of the adjusting screws or bolts are loose. Before tightening screws or nuts, try to reset the bracket at its original position.If the adjustment has changed, marks or lighter spots will usually show the original setting. If you are not sure of the original setting, try to set the brackets so the door hangs level. In some cases you will have to experiment with various settings. Start out with both brackets at the same height.With bottom tracks, the most common problem is dirt, leaves or other debris in the tracks. Remove the debris with a stiff brush or screwdriver, then use a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle.Another point to check on glass patio doors is the adjustment of the rollers set into the bottom edge. In some models the rollers ride on a raised section of track in the center of the channel; in others the rollers ride on the bottom of the channel. They are made of self-lubricating vinyl that needs no oiling, but if they seem to be moving stiffly, spray them with a silicone lubricant or powdered graphite.
Do not use oil.Improperly adjusted rollers may make the doors bind or roll open or shut by themselves. Such doors usually have a small screw on each edge, near the bottom, that enables you to adjust the roller height without taking the door out of the track. Turning one way raises it slightly; turning the other way lowers it.Aside from dirt in the track, the most common problem in this type of door is a bent track. Because most such tracks are metal, it is often possible to straighten the track with a hammer and a block of wood.For inward bends that tend to pinch the door, the block of wood is cut for a snug fit inside the track, then forced into the channel to bend the metal back to its original shape.For outward bends, the block of wood is held inside the channel to serve as a backing. Use a hammer to bend the metal back but do not use the hammer to straighten such metal tracks without holding the wood block behind the metal or you are likely to damage or break the metal. New Owner Demolishes O.j. Simpson MansionDark meaning of bubble-gum Pumped Up Kicks is tough to chewHandshakes For All, Including Simpson, As Fung Ends Testimony
Pain relievers: What are the differences?Nicole Simpson's Grisly Death Described To Jury10 reasons why you want the jobHow to Repair a Skewed Door In this how-to video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva fixes a cockeyed door in mere minutes In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to repair a skewed door. 1. Close door and check the spacing at the top and latch-side of the door. 2. Determine which hinge must be shimmed to adjust door and create even spacing. 3. Remove appropriate hinge from door and jamb. 4. Hold door hinge against cardboard and use utility knife to cut around hinge; 5. Set two or three cardboard shims in the hinge mortises on the door and jamb, then replace the hinge. 6. Install shims behind other hinges, if necessary. 7. Close the door and check the spacing. 8. If necessary, add or subtract shims until the door latches properly and closes without binding.See products and services from this episode