Glass Door Repair

With so much glass in windows and doors in a home, it's not hard to figure out why reputable glass repair services stay so busy. Sliding glass doors open a home or business up to make it a more enjoyable place to spend time in, that's for sure. But in the blink of an eye, all that can change as glass is shattered or cracked and it's time to call in a repair service. There is no putting off a repair of this type either. But it's not just broken glass that can be the reason for a sliding glass door repair.

Oftentimes it's the rollers that a door rides on or damaged hardware such as a handle that is the reason for the call. But as doors go, sliding glass doors that are damaged really do, for the most part, require the services of a professional and there are good reasons for that. As an example, the large thick glass shards that result from a broken sliding glass door are particularly dangerous. Handling them during the cleanup carries with it the high risk of serious injury.

Then after the cleanup is done, handling the large heavy replacement pane also carries with it its own risk. Then finally, dealing with a seriously damaged sliding glass door is often a job that calls for two experienced technicians.

Door Hardware Suppliers: Explained

Finding the right door hardware for your repair job can be tricky. The biggest problem I have found that most callers who contact me face is the broad variety of types and brands of sliding glass doors. Particularly in older homes, locating door hardware suppliers who have what is needed can be a problem.

Manufacturers of home repair products, and this for sure includes sliding glass doors, are similar to car manufacturers in that as the years tick by, new models replace the old and sometimes older style hardware becomes hard to come by. Also, replacing rollers in particular presents its own challenges. This is because to get to a faulty roller or rollers, the door needs to be removed and flipped upside down.

It's a difficult task. So the best place to start is one of the leading big box hardware stores. Those would be Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware. I also recommend that if you can, it's best to remove any offending part in need of replacement and carry it along with you. The reason for this is the number of variations of rollers, in particular, can be a bit overwhelming, and then many of them look similar but end up not being the correct fit.

Professional Door Repair Companies: What They Offer

There are several good reasons why so many callers who ring me up have decided to scratch the idea of trying the DIY option and instead reach out to professional door repair companies. Reason #1, I suppose, is that door repair companies are equipped with the tools, experience, and expertise to handle any problem, and there is a long list of them. For example, sliding glass doors in particular are very heavy. Too heavy, in fact, for most people to handle them.

Then if the job requires that a door be taken into a shop to be repaired, it's not hard to imagine that that would be a huge problem. Then diagnosing a problem unless it's glaringly apparent can require an experienced professional. For instance, in the case of a door that is malfunctioning due to settling foundation, determining the source of the problem can call for a higher level of experience.

So the list of solutions that professional door repair companies bring to the table is extensive, but in the end, it can be summarized in one statement. That is that if someone is hoping for professional results, the best person to turn to is a professional. Not just any professional either. Rather, it's always best to go with one of the professional door repair companies that guarantee their work.

Weatherproofing Products: Argon Gas Explained

Of all the places in a home or business that call for weatherproofing products, doors are for sure the most noteworthy. The reason here is, unlike say windows, doors are less static. That means they get used more as people pass through them, and they are also bigger. Bigger means more exposure. So when it comes to the most impressive weatherproofing products, argon gas-filled sliding glass, double, and French doors are the most impressive. Gases, it turns out, are not all the same, so some are denser than others.

Argon gas is thicker or more dense than the air that we all breathe. So as a result, argon gas hinders the flow of heat energy while allowing light to pass through. These windows and doors really need to be experienced in person to be appreciated.

Hold your hand up to one on a hot day, and it's nothing short of amazing. The light comes through bright and clear like normal, but only a fraction of the heat comes with it. Argon gas is perfectly safe and non-flammable too, and existing double and triple-paned windows can be filled with it. It's also perfectly clear.

More on Weatherproofing Products

One thing I have discovered over the years I have been doing door and home repairs is how little most home and business owners appreciate the differences in the quality of paint in general when it comes to weatherproofing. Paint is your first line of defense when it comes to protecting your home, so it only stands to reason that anyone would want the best. The problem shoppers face, though, is sticker shock on good-quality oil-based paint for doors. The prices of anything made from petroleum have shot up right along with gas prices. It's surprising how much a gallon of top-quality paint costs now.

But when the brush hits the surface, that extra money spent is well worth it because replacing or repairing a water-damaged door costs a heck of a lot more. It's the same thing with weather stripping used to close up the gaps along a door's edges. The cheap stuff can sure look enticing when compared side by side with top-quality peel-and-stick weather stripping. But here again, the money saved on power bills more than makes up for the difference.

Also, better quality weather stripping lasts so much longer when pressed into place. So long after cheap weather stripping has come undone and had to be replaced, better quality weather stripping will still be holding fast in place.

Security Enhancement Tools

Cordless tools have come a long way since they were first introduced a good handful of decades back. It's been tough on craftsmen and women like myself because improvements in things like battery technology have made short business of rendering these tools obsolete as newer models made it onto the market. Most people don't recall the first nickel-cadmium battery packs. They were amazing at first, but people like myself were hit with the surprise of how fast nickel-cadmium batteries wore out.

Then along came lithium batteries, and now some companies won't even use corded tools. So for the modern DIY aficionado intent on doing their own security enhancement work and saving a load of money by doing so, a rechargeable toolkit is a must. It's made up of about five main standbys. Those are a drill, screw and nut driver, a sawzall, and a multipurpose cutter. If you want to, you can throw in a Dremel tool with good carbide metal grinding bits.

With this set of tools and accessories, craftspersons will pretty much want for nothing as they take on a multitude of projects around their home. That for sure includes most any of the security enhancement projects. It's also worth mentioning here that if you own a stucco home, a hammer drill with a set of masonry bits will come in handy from time to time as well.

The Straight Scoop on Home Security Enhancement Product Warranties

Just like so many other products you can buy, security enhancement products are also available that are covered by warranties. I personally find the warranties on some of the best quality security doors a bit amusing. After all, the better doors of this type are almost impenetrable. Some of my favorite security enhancement products, though, are the low-tech security enhancement tools that I help clients make themselves from time to time.

No warranty there, are things like wedges to cram under door thresholds to prevent the door from opening. Or sticks of wood cut to length to lay in a window sliding channel preventing it from being jimmied from the outside. I like those. But a home security enhancement product warranty mostly serves to show that a company stands behind its product even if its terms need to be read over carefully.

This is because just like so many other product warranties, there will be clauses that void the warranties. Some more than others. Even so, if a product fails to include any type of warranty, all three leading home improvement stores sell their own product guarantees and general contractors are required to guarantee their work for a reasonable length of time.

DIY Tutorials: Can You Trust Them?

It's hard to imagine that there was a time when DIY tutorials weren't just a mouse click away. Back then, and it wasn't all that long ago, people were left on their own to figure things out when they took on a home improvement project. So now, in increasing numbers, I find myself directing callers to DIY tutorials rather than sitting on the phone while they pick my brain for home improvement information.

It is worth pointing out here though that all DIY tutorials are not the same. Just like anything else, some are better than others. My personal peeve is the DIY tutorials that make the whole thing look too easy. They don't, for instance, show blunders or the searches for parts that are no longer available. For instance, people are left to find out the hard way that floor and bathroom tile manufacturers discontinue designs and color schemes in surprisingly short order to make room for the newest offerings.

This means that replacements for broken tiles can be impossible to find. The list of pitfalls just goes on and on so to avoid them I like to advise callers and clients to take the time to watch as many DIY tutorials as they can before they start in on a project. I also like to make a point of asking retailers if a product I am considering buying has been a subject of returns.

The Pros and Cons of Mobile Repair Services

I happen to own and operate a mobile repair service for home repairs so I suppose this makes me an authority on the topic. So, this first tidbit of information I have to pass on is that not all home repair services are the same. Some are more knowledgeable and some are more reputable. So what can you do or say to hopefully make sure that you have someone like myself knocking at your door after you make the call? For starters, I always advise callers to, no matter who they contact, make sure that they have a website that showcases who they are, what they do, and what previous clients think of them.

If they don't care enough to put their face and reputation online for all to see then keep on looking. The benefit of mobile repair service is convenience and communication. That is they come to your place and communicate with you in your comfort zone. Then the big con or downside of mobile repair services like mine is that if they are good at what they do they are usually busy so you may need to wait a few days for them to show up and do the work.

Then the big benefit of a brick and mortar community-based home repair service is they will usually have a shop to do bigger jobs that can't be done on-site. They also often have lower prices because they don't need to account for drive time to and from a job.

Sliding Glass Door Consultants: Who Are They?

Just when you thought you knew it all, along comes sliding glass door consultants. People who may not know how to boil an egg yet know everything there is to know about sliding glass doors. For instance, it was a sliding glass door consultant who first told me about argon gas for two and three-pane windows.

Colorless and odorless, argon gas is thicker than the air around us, and this allows it to block out heat from passing through a window while allowing the light to pass through. It was astounding when I first held my arm up to a window of this type and it felt cool. Then there are just so many new options and features in sliding glass doors that a sliding glass door consultant can help you to sort through.

Security features that make your home and business a safer place and convenience features like doors that swing open like a standard door or with the flip of a switch slide open. Then there are code restrictions that need to be navigated that can influence the size of a sliding glass door that can be installed in a wall.

Then of course, there are cost considerations and a sliding glass door consultant can make sure that you are getting the best value for the money spent before it is spent.

Common Questions

What are the most frequent problems homeowners face with sliding glass doors?

I'm always surprised by the number of clients and callers that I need to remind that almost everything on and in a home has a lifespan. Some are longer than others, but just as on a car, moving parts tend to have the shortest lifespan. Even so, just because something like a sliding glass door will eventually begin to show its age, this doesn't mean that a homeowner has to watch it die. There are things that they can do to keep it up and going indefinitely if they choose to do so.

So perhaps the most frequent problem encountered is worn-out rollers. How soon this happens depends on how often the door is used. Ignore worn-out rollers at your own risk because if they wear completely out, the door will drag on the sill which will in turn cause it to become damaged.

Beyond that, broken glass is yet another not so common problem. Broken glass on a sliding glass door is usually the result of a wayward golf ball, baseball, or even a pool ball over shooting the pool table can be the culprit.

What are a few handy DIY repair tips that homeowners can put to use on sliding glass doors?

No doubt about it, home repairs are anything but cheap now. As a result, more than ever before, people with sliding glass doors are reaching out to find ways of doing the work themselves when their doors are in need of repairs. So the first big tip I give clients and callers is to keep the runners clean.

Dirt buildup will eventually make its way into the rollers, and they will end up fouled. So use a vacuum cleaner to regularly remove dirt and grit. Then to lubricate rollers, don't use oil of any type. Instead, use silicone spray on doors and even windows. Here, dirt and grit stick to oil while silicone won't hold it.

Also, oil is far too messy and will stain painted surfaces like walls and even floorboards. Then finally, use a long Phillips screwdriver to poke into the hole at the bottom of doors to adjust the rollers up or down. Don't be too forceful, or you will strip out the screws.

Where can homeowners locate reliable guides and tutorials for DIY sliding glass door repair?

As time has moved on, the Internet has become increasingly loaded with tutorials and information products on an ever-increasing number of topics. So of course, there are a heck of a lot of them out there that cover DIY sliding glass door repair. The truth is, however, that some repairs are better left to professionals. Repairs that require removing the entire door or dealing with large shards of broken glass. Even so, there is still a nice list of projects that can be done DIY.

I tell my callers looking for DIY solutions. I recommend to them that if they go online to check out tutorials, to take the time to check out more than one or two. Look at a lot of them and be aware that very few of them mention what can go wrong. Things can go wrong when messing with any type of glass door or window. Also, try to find tutorials that give advice on locating replacement parts because they can be difficult to find for some brands.

How to find the right replacement parts for sliding glass doors?

I am never surprised by the number of calls that I get from home and business owners on the hunt for replacement parts for their DIY sliding glass door repair project. Some are more difficult than others. The leading big box hardware stores carry a good selection, but it's surprising how many they don't carry. Older doors, in particular, can be a problem. So I always recommend that they remove the part they need completely and take it with them when they go on the hunt for a replacement.

This way, they will have it at the ready to compare what is on the shelf. To see if something is a fit or if a universal part is going to fit. Still, having it on hand means they can show it to a shop clerk at the door section so they can get a look at it to see if it's familiar.

Are There Universal Parts Available for DIY Sliding Glass Repair?

I like to point out to clients that if there are universal parts available for their sliding glass door or doors, they are in luck. This is because particularly for older doors, factory-made matching parts can be difficult to find at times. So for door handles and rollers, if a part is unavailable locally from a leading big-box hardware store, the next option is to search out to see if they have universal parts.

Most often it's the rollers that turn out to be the lucky find. Universal rollers that fit on a number of brands. Universal handles, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult to find. Then when a universal door handle is found, more often than not it will have a different look or outward design. Even so, a universal door handle with an odd look will suffice until a factory-made fit can be found.

Professional Repair vs Replacement

When should a homeowner call in a professional or when can they do the job themselves?

Particularly in California, the cost of calling in a professional to do anything on a home can be pricey. Professional sliding glass door repair is no different in this respect. However, there are some jobs on a door that require a pro to do the work and then there are jobs that a homeowner can easily do themselves. So one of the easiest jobs a homeowner can do is to adjust the rollers. The only tool required is a Phillips screwdriver that is poked into the hole at the bottom of all sliding doors. Simply turn the screwdriver to adjust the rollers up or down.

Then an example of the type of work that requires a professional touch is removal of the door to replace rollers that are completely worn out. Doors are heavy and require suction tools to grip the glass door safely, and it is usually a two-person job. Then in some cases, the door must be taken offsite to the company shop to do a repair of this type.

Should a Sliding Glass Door Be Repaired or Replaced?

Just as with so many other components in and around a home or business, it can be a fine line between repairing or replacing. The decisive factor can be cost. In cases like this, perhaps an older, outdated sliding glass door should be replaced as the cost of repair exceeds its value.

Then often a door will be replaced with a newer, more modern, feature-laden door rather than throwing good money at an old, outdated door. So in the end, information is key. I recommend that before any decision is made, that more than one professional door repair technician be contacted for an estimate.

Also, knowing all you can about newer sliding glass doors can only help in the decision making. What's important to keep in mind here is that complete replacement does call for a team of professionals, and once it's installed, it carries a full service lifespan of service.

Improving Sliding Glass Door Security: What Can Be Done?

It's a fact that when criminals have been interviewed in jails where they are serving time for burglary, most mention sliding glass doors as their preferred point of entry. They are big and made of glass, so once the sound is muffled, they are easier to breach than a standard solid door.

The easiest and cheapest way to boost up security on a sliding glass door is to cut sticks of wood the length of the track to be laid in to block the door from being opened. Super easy.

Then there is harder glass available now that is far more difficult to break than glass of years past. Then making sure that the outside area is well-lit will go a long way towards thwarting break-ins. All convicted burglars who were interviewed unanimously listed that as a major deterrent.

What are Some High-Tech Devices to Boost Sliding Glass Door Security?

Home security is always on the mind of callers who ring me up for home repair services. Then one area in particular that they all seem to focus on is sliding glass doors. Unlike standard doors, sliding glass doors have more vulnerable areas which makes them a preferred point of entry for break-ins.

There is a fairly broad range of electronic sensors that can be retrofitted to sliding glass doors. But these require that entry be made to set them off. Motion sensors are great, and they can be installed inside the home pointing out through the glass. One of my favorites, though, is steel security doors that cover the entire sliding glass door once they are installed. Then combined with a high-quality pick-resistant lock, they work to provide real security that functions to block entry.

What are Some Useful Tips for Maintaining Door Alignment?

Over time, sliding glass doors will go out of alignment to some degree. For some doors, it can be worse than others, and I always try to make my clients aware of that as I do the repair. The simplest alignment issue to address is caused by wear on the rollers. One of the rollers will settle down or become more worn, resulting in the door leaning. The solution is usually to simply adjust the rollers using a Phillips screwdriver stuck into the holes at the bottom of the door.

Then the worst cases of misalignment can be the most preventable. These are the cases where a door is leaning as the result of a foundation settling or dry rot under the door sill on the framework of the home. Water pooling around the exterior of a home is the leading cause of foundation settling. Then using a water hose to clean a back patio running up to a sliding glass door is a leading cause of dry rot in the frame.

What are Some Common DIY Steps for Proper Sliding Glass Door Adjustment?

I tell my clients that it's the size and weight of sliding glass doors that causes them to go out of adjustment. Yes, there are mitigating factors, but it's their weight and size that make them vulnerable to these mitigating factors. So if adjusting the rollers doesn't work, then it's time to take more invasive steps.

Check to make sure that the floor is level by placing a small ball on it to see if it rolls on its own. Then the next place to check is along the sides to see if the space along the wall has expanded. In cases of alignment adjustment that don't involve the rollers, removing the trim and using shims to slightly move the door frame sides either in or out to make them plumb.

Also, check to see if the frame around the glass is coming apart. Repeatedly slamming a sliding glass door can cause the framework to actually come undone, particularly in older aluminum doors that are held together by screws at the corners.

How Can Homeowners Improve the Energy Efficiency of Their Sliding Glass Doors?

I like to point out to new clients considering having a sliding glass door or doors installed that they can end up taking a big hit on their power bill. Sliding glass doors are big, and glass is not the best insulator on its own, so it helps if extra measures are taken. Argon gas-filled double and triple pane windows are a great first line of defense for cutting power bills.

Argon gas is clear, safe, non-toxic, and thicker than the air around us that's typically used to fill the gap in windows. It lets all the light through while blocking out the sun's heat on warm summer days. It also functions well during the winter months. Great things have been done in the development of newer screens that are now woven from a variety of products.

So stainless steel screens are far more durable than what was available in the past, and energy-efficient screens are also available now for another layer of energy efficiency.

What Weatherproofing Measures Are Most Effective for Sliding Glass Doors?

Sliding glass doors, just like any other door or window, present their own waterproofing challenges. So the first thing I advise clients thinking of having one installed in their home is to pick a place that's covered. Any door left to fend for itself against the elements has a tough job. So it's best to make sure that a sliding glass door is installed under an awning or roof. Then something else to consider is that due to their size and weight, sliding glass doors are more prone to settling.

Settling can lead to a host of issues ranging from gaps to a door that needs to be removed and reset. So I advise anyone who will listen to make sure that water isn't allowed to pool outside up against a home. Water pooling is the leading cause of foundation settling, and a settling foundation leads to a home leaning. Then finally, avoid as much as possible using a garden hose to spray off decking or a patio outside a sliding glass door as it can lead to decay.

What Steps Should Be Taken if a Sliding Glass Door Is Shattered or Cracked?

I get calls quite frequently from home and business owners who are dealing with a sliding glass door that has shattered or been cracked. Given the amount of space that they occupy, it's not hard to understand how this can happen. They are a big target. So it's simple. I advise callers in no uncertain terms not to take on the task of a DIY glass cleanup job as the result of a shattered window pane of this size.

It's important to keep in mind that a dual-pane window has twice the broken glass. So in the case of a shattered sliding glass door, my advice is to stay clear of it and do nothing. People have died from handling shards of that size. So secure the area and call in a professional. A cracked sliding glass door, though, is a different story. It can be secured by using a good quality tape like Guerilla Tape to cover the surface with strips to prevent any pieces from coming loose and falling out onto the floor or outside patio.

How Can Homeowners Safely Handle Glass Panels?

It turns out that one very popular style of sliding glass door mimics the look of a classic French door. These doors have multiple window panes instead of the typical sliding glass door that features one big window. So occasionally one of these panes gets broken, and it's usually due to an errant baseball or something else a youngster has decided to pick up and throw.

ow, typically I advise callers not to even consider a DIY sliding glass door repair that involves the window. But in the case of a multiple-pane window, it's possible if a few rules are followed. The basic hand tools are available at the local hardware store, and make sure to pick up some thick leather gloves while you're at it.

It's also smart to bring along a plastic tarp to spread in the area under the door to hold any shards that fall out. Then work slowly and deposit the shards as you remove them into a bucket or small trash can that can be tossed away into a larger trash can when the job is done.

What Is the Typical Cost Range for Common Sliding Glass Door Repair?

I get more calls for faulty rollers than any other sliding glass door repair. So with a few basic questions over the phone, I can usually give them a ballpark idea of what the repair is going to cost. Time is money when dealing with door repairs, so the easier the job is, the lower the final bill will be. Door rollers also vary in cost.

Pella rollers are surprisingly expensive, for instance. You can check online to see how much they are now. The least costly rollers are the ones that can be picked up at any of the top local big box hardware stores. I typically tell people that if they make it easy for me, it will help to bring the cost down. So make sure that any furniture around the area has been moved away and check to make sure that there is an open parking spot in the driveway.

Then if there is broken glass involved, make sure there is room in the trash can. Also, I always point out that emergency door repair comes at a premium. So if they can avoid that, to be put on the schedule for later in the week.

How Can a Homeowner Estimate the Cost of Door Repair versus Door Replacement?

There are a few solid factors that play into deciding between door repair or door replacement. So, for instance, I like to tell callers that if they are in the mood for an upgrade and doing some decorating, this would be the time to do it by having a newer door installed. Or if the damage was done to a door on a rental property, then for sure, a door repair might be the better choice.

But as far as estimates go, I have no trouble giving a rough estimate over the phone if the caller is honest about the extent of the damage and takes a few minutes to send me a few pics. Door replacement is more work than most people realize. The new door needs to be picked out, purchased, then transported.

Then the old door needs to be disposed of, and that also costs money. Then finally, a new door usually needs to be painted and trim installed. So in the end, the estimated cost of a door job is greatly influenced by what the homeowner wants done.