|
Replacing Rollers on Sliding Glass Doors

My house has a set of sliding glass doors that are about twenty years old. One of them is difficult to open and close. The track is okay – could it be the rollers that need replacing?
Ellen, Troy OH

You bet! Where the door may be made of steel or aluminum the rollers are usually made of nylon or soft metal that wears out all too easily. The good news is that most good hardware stores offer a large selection of replacement rollers. Naturally, it is better if you purchase the proper rollers from the original manufacturer, but most replacements will work pretty well. Before you go to the store looking for new rollers try adjusting the ones that you have. It just might be that they are slightly worn – not broken – and simply need to be adjusted so that the door doesn’t drag on the track. The door has an inside and outside face, a top and bottom edge and a left and right edge. The screws that adjust the rollers are located about an inch above the bottom of the door. One is on the left edge and the other is on the right edge. Use a flat pry bar to lift the door. This will take pressure off of the roller and make turning the adjusting screw a breeze. Don’t turn the screw more than one turn at a time. If the problem gets worse you probably turned the screw in the wrong direction.
See more Q&A in the Doors and Door Hardware category!
|
|
Random Q & A!
|
Checking for Damage
In the wake of the recent earthquake we are concerned that our home may have sustained either minor or major damage...
|
|