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