Sliding Door Maintenance 101

Sliding doors- the key is in the name. But what happens when your patio doors stop sliding and opening them becomes a full upper-arm workout? Read on to find out how you can give your timber sliding doors a new lease of life with some quick and easy maintenance.

Dirty or Broken Rollers

If your timber sliding doors are sticking or need to be jiggled open then a good clean of the tracks and rollers is the first port of call. Given the amount of traffic passing over the threshold of your timber sliding doors, it’s unsurprising that hair, mud, food and other debris collects in the grooves of the track and becomes impacted on the rollers beneath the door. Vacuuming the visible section of the track may help, but often, the problem lies in the hidden crevices and a deeper clean is required.

Cleaning the rollers of timber sliding doors is a simple enough process but requires 2 people as the moving section of the door needs to be removed. If you lack the manpower (or confidence!) for this then check out your local door repair company for sliding door service and restoration packages.

If you do decide to brave it, there are several steps to follow.

Removing Timber Sliding Doors

To remove timber sliding doors, you need-

• A flat-head screwdriver
• A Phillips screwdriver
• Some foam pads or heavy blankets

1. Lay the foam pads or heavy blankets on the floor surrounding the door. This protects the floor from scratching or chipping and offers a cushioned surface to lay the door on.

2. If there is a screen door attached, this needs to be removed first. Use the flat-head screwdriver to lift the door rollers off the bottom track. The screen door can then be lifted off and placed in a safe location.

3. Next, move the sliding portion of the door to the indent on the bottom track. This is normally located in the centre of the track. Find the adjustment screws on the base section of the door frame. Pop the screw plugs out and use the Phillips screwdriver to slacken the screws. You can then pull up the rollers.

4. Unscrew the head stop from the overhead frame. Make sure your helper is on hand to gently hold the door in place as this is done.

5. With your helper, tilt the door from the frame and carefully lift it from the tracks. Place it on the foam pads.

Clean and Lubricate the Tracks

1. Once the sliding door has been removed, use the flat-head screwdriver to pry the rollers from their seats.

2. Gently clean the rollers and track with a cloth dipped in denatured alcohol before spraying with silicone lubricant. Don’t forget to clean and lubricate the head track and head stop too! Any damaged or warped rollers should be replaced. More information can be found about doing this here.

3. While the sliding door is removed, it is a good idea to inspect the other door components for damage. Check the tracks, weather stripping panels and lock mechanisms for signs of wear and tear as these can all cause the door to become jammed if they are in disrepair.

4. Once you have finished, pop the rollers back into place and lift the door back into the frame. Reattach the head stop and ensure that the door is secure and slides smoothly along its track.

The Valley Windows Promise

Here at Valley Windows, we supply a wide range of high-quality timber sliding doors to suit all tastes and budgets. Drop into our showrooms today to speak to one of our window and door experts. Call us on 03 9594800 to arrange a quote or discuss your home improvement project or alternatively, drop us a line here and we’ll get back to you.