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