sliding glass door
#1
02-13-04, 04:38 PM
sliding glass door
Help! My grandmother has a sliding glass door which is stuck.
This door opens to the back yard. There is an added panel with a pet door which the sliding door should close up against, and a metal dowel locks the sliding door at the top.
Apparently, I closed the door too hard and it is now stuck, slightly beyond where the metal dowel lines up to securely lock the door.
I tried pulling the door back open slightly, but it literally won't budge. I checked for obvious, visible potential problems (nothing is lodged in the track; the screen door is not preventing the glass door from moving) and cannot figure out why it won't move.
Before I call a door repair company (they charge $80 just to come LOOK at the door) I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
Melinda
This door opens to the back yard. There is an added panel with a pet door which the sliding door should close up against, and a metal dowel locks the sliding door at the top.
Apparently, I closed the door too hard and it is now stuck, slightly beyond where the metal dowel lines up to securely lock the door.
I tried pulling the door back open slightly, but it literally won't budge. I checked for obvious, visible potential problems (nothing is lodged in the track; the screen door is not preventing the glass door from moving) and cannot figure out why it won't move.
Before I call a door repair company (they charge $80 just to come LOOK at the door) I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
Melinda
#2
02-13-04, 07:31 PM
Melinda, either the sash is stuck in the doggy door, or the rollers under the sash have failed. Your job is to figure out which!
Start at the mullion side of the sash -- the side opposite the latch. Use a screw driver and try prying the sash up and see if that will allow it to slide. If so, the rollers have failed. You'll need to remove the sash and replace the rollers. You might have to install a 'snap-cap' on the guide for the sash as well. Not a big thing. Take the 1 of the rollers to a local glass shop and buy 2 (both sides are the same), and a 'snap-cap'. Cut the cap to length, use a rubber mallet or a block of wood to snap it on the guide, replace the rollers in the sash, reinstall it, and you are good to go.
If the sash is stuck in the doggy door, you'll probably wind up destroying the doggy door to get it free. A word to the wise -- the doggy door is replacable for less than $100 -- destroying the sash will mean you are looking at replacing the slider, which is a $500 to $1,000 thing, or maybe more. Choose carefully which you choose to destroy!!!
Start at the mullion side of the sash -- the side opposite the latch. Use a screw driver and try prying the sash up and see if that will allow it to slide. If so, the rollers have failed. You'll need to remove the sash and replace the rollers. You might have to install a 'snap-cap' on the guide for the sash as well. Not a big thing. Take the 1 of the rollers to a local glass shop and buy 2 (both sides are the same), and a 'snap-cap'. Cut the cap to length, use a rubber mallet or a block of wood to snap it on the guide, replace the rollers in the sash, reinstall it, and you are good to go.
If the sash is stuck in the doggy door, you'll probably wind up destroying the doggy door to get it free. A word to the wise -- the doggy door is replacable for less than $100 -- destroying the sash will mean you are looking at replacing the slider, which is a $500 to $1,000 thing, or maybe more. Choose carefully which you choose to destroy!!!
