How to make a sliding door slide easier?

Sliding doors are a great way to save space and make a room feel more expansive. They are quite practical to use while also looking very elegant. Sliding glass doors provide more light into the area while also making it appear larger.

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However, when sliding patio doors begin to malfunction and become stuck in the track, it becomes a nuisance. Let's see how to make a sliding door slide easier.

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There are several reasons why your sliding glass door is hard to open and close.

Although sliding glass patio doors are simply constructed, they do have a few moving parts. Failure at any of these points can cause the sliding glass door hard to open and finally get stuck.

These are the following causes, in order of likelihood, why your sticky sliding glass door is hard to slide:

• the tracks are blocked by debris or dried fluids
• tollers that are broken
• misaligned installed sliding door
• a settled wall.

A tip to be aware of at all times: You can effortlessly operate your sliding doors by cleaning and repairing the track. However, the most crucial aspect is to keep your door track clean. It will not become stuck if it is cleaned and wiped on a regular basis. To avoid harming the track, try to cross it without rubbing your shoes on it. This will ensure that your sliding door moves smoothly at all times.

When the sliding door is hard to open the main task is to get the right information on how to make a sliding glass door slide easier.

In any case, you'll need to remove the door to get a better look at what you're up against and to determine why your sliding door is hard to slide.

1. Sliding door removal.
   • The first step towards how to fix hard to open sliding glass door, get someone who can assist you in removing the slider from its tracks. On the sides of the door, near the bottom, look for the plastic adjustment screw covers.
   • Remove the covers by unscrewing them, and then adjust the rollers with a screwdriver so that they move away from the door.
   • Tilt the top of the door towards you slowly. You should be able to lift the door very simply off its tracks.
2. Patio door tracks scrubbing.
   • With a stiff-bristled brush and hot soapy water, clean the firstly vacuumed tracks.
   • Make sure the top and bottom of the door you've removed are clean as well.
   • Check on the condition of weather strips, they can also create friction.
3. Tracks’ Lubrication.

   A thin film of lubrication should be applied to the top and bottom of the door track. Tips: on vinyl door tracks, use a non-stick silicone lubricant. Instead of spray lubricant, use a hard wax like candle wax or beeswax if you have wood tracks. Specific door track lubricants are available at your local hardware store if you're ever unsure or don't have the correct product on hand. Oil-based lubricants should be avoided because they tend to gather more dirt than anything else.

4. Inspection of a sliding door.

   Examining the rollers and bolts on the sliding door. If the rollers are damaged, unsteady, or unclean beyond cleaning, remove them and take them to a hardware store to get replacement rollers.

5. Reinstallation of a sliding patio door.
   • To place the sliding door back, just pop it back into place with the help of the additional pair of hands.
   • Then adjust the rollers with the screwdriver.
   • Finally, slide the door back and forth a few times, making sure that the lubricant is equally distributed throughout the tracks.

If the tips above didn’t work and your sliding glass door is hard to move, call the Vinyl Light technician to get a professional opinion. We are ready to give you the best advice on how to make a sliding door along with a screen door slide easier. And if needed we are here for you to replace your old patio door with a new energy-efficient vinyl sliding patio door!

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HomeServe photo by Matt Schmitz

Unsticking a Sliding Glass Door at a Glance

• Tools & Materials: Stiff bristle brush, silicone-based lubricant, vacuum, screwdriver, prying tool, pliers, hammer, block of wood, cleaning solution, rag, saw horses
• Step 1: Clean tracks
• Step 2: Fix bent tracks
• Step 3: Apply lubricant
• Step 4: Adjust rollers
• Step 5: Remove door
• Step 6: Clean or replace rollers
• Step 7: Reinstall door

Fixing a sticky sliding glass door is one of those projects that’s easy to, well, let slide. After all, if it still works, why fix it? However, playing tug-of-war every time you go to open your door can get old, and you’ve finally decided that enough is enough.

This May Also Interest You: Got a Sagging or Sticking Door? Here Are 8 Fixes to Try

Fortunately, unsticking a sliding door can be done quickly and easily, unless underlying structural issues are to blame. Read on to learn how to make a sliding door slide easier, and discover when you may need to call in a pro.

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There are two main parts of a sliding glass door that makes it slide: the rollers and the tracks. The rollers are small wheels attached to the outside corners of the door and are guided along a metal track on the bottom or top of the door jamb. Larger sliding doors may have rollers on both the top and bottom of the jamb, but most residential doors only have rollers on the bottom. Dirt, damage or misalignment in either of these components can hinder the smooth operation of your sliding door.

• Stiff bristle brush (toothbrush, small grout brush or wire brush)
• Silicone-based lubricant
• Vacuum
• Screwdriver
• Prying tool (flat-head screwdriver, butter-knife, small pry bar, etc.)
• Pliers
• Hammer and small block of wood
• Cleaning solution (general purpose cleaner, white vinegar, etc.)
• Cleaning rag
• Sawhorses (optional)

HomeServe photo by Matt Schmitz

The tracks of your sliding glass door can accumulate dirt and debris over time, which can obstruct the operation of the rollers and make the door difficult to slide.

Use a vacuum to suck up any heavy and loose dirt and debris. Then, thoroughly scrub the track with a stiff bristle brush to clean off the remaining dirt and grime, while periodically sliding the door back and forth to expose the full length of the track. For really caked-on dirt, you can apply a cleaning solution to the tracks or brush as you scrub. Wipe off any residual cleaning solution with a rag and suck up any leftover dirt with your vacuum.

Along with dirt, bent and damaged sections of the track can hinder the performance of the rollers. Tracks with inward bends will pinch and grab the door as it slides along the track, while outward bends can throw the rollers out of alignment and possibly derail them.

Visually inspect your track for any bends and slide your door back and forth to identify isolated areas where your door has difficulty sliding past. You can usually fix minor bends with a pair of pliers or a hammer and block of wood, but major bends might require the track to be professionally repaired or fully replaced.

HomeServe photo by Matt Schmitz

Spread a silicone-based lubricant evenly and thoroughly across the track while working it in by sliding the door back and forth. This can aid in reducing friction along the track and help it to slide easier.

Using a silicone-based lubricant is important since it won’t gum up over time or accumulate dirt and debris like petroleum-based lubricants will.

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The roller wheels are designed with adjustable heights so they can remain aligned on the track. Over time and normal wear and tear, the rollers can get thrown out of alignment, which can hinder their performance.

Most sliding glass doors have adjustment screws located on the side of the door next to the rollers. Most of the time, these screws will be concealed with plastic plugs that can be easily removed with a small prying tool. Once exposed, use a screwdriver to turn the adjustment screws clockwise to raise the rollers and counterclockwise to lower them. Adjust the rollers on both sides of the door to ensure evenness and test the door after each adjustment. If the screws are difficult to turn, you can apply some of your silicone lubricant on and around the screws.

If the above methods fail to unstick your door, it’s possible the rollers are dirty, broken or damaged. Unfortunately, the only way to repair these issues is to remove the entire door. Doing so will also be necessary if you discover your tracks are damaged beyond repair.

Sliding doors are heavy, fragile and expensive, so removing them requires careful handling by at least two people. Start by fully opening the door, then lifting it up and out of its track. Depending on the door, you may also have to remove some stop molding from the jamb with a hammer and prying tool. Carefully lay the door onto a set of sawhorses, preferably with padding or cushioning — like moving blankets — between the sawhorses and the door to protect the glass.

If you’re uncomfortable performing this step yourself, consider hiring a professional to do it for you.

Once the door is removed, check to see if the rollers are dirty, damaged or broken. If so, remove the rollers by either prying them out or removing the screws securing them to the door.

If they’re dirty but not damaged or broken, clean them off with water or a cleaning solution and a bristle brush. Once they’re dry, apply lubricant around all the moving parts and reinstall them.

If they’re damaged or broken, purchase replacement rollers and install them onto the door according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Once the rollers are back in place, reinstall the door by reversing the steps you took to remove it. Adjust the rollers and check to see if your door is easier to slide. If not, there may be underlying structural issues — like a sagging wall — that are causing the problem. If you suspect that’s the case, hire a professional contractor to inspect the wall and make any necessary repairs.

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