hi all -

I'm in a new rental townhome (one level) in which one of the bedrooms has a sliding glass door (and screen) going out to the backyard. This is the only "window" in that room, which, I will want open sometimes - even at night (only a few inches).

The usual solution is to open the door a few inches and then place a hefty dowel rod or 2x4 in the rest of the "sliding pathway" so that noone from the outside can continue to slide open the door.

BUT - this door seems to be put on backwards! Gack! The "sliding door" part is on the outside track! So, there is nowhere on the inside to put the dowel or slider.

I'm in need of a solution! Initially I thought of just taking apart the whole thing, the frame and all, and flipping it around, and then re-installing. I'm seeking advice on that strategy from all the handy-women and men out there: is this a huge strategy? Is it stupid? Is there another way to do it?

I'm going this weekend to Home Depot to look at certain sliding door locks to see if there is one I can put at the bottom to "lock" the door open a few inches, but all someone would have to do is slit the screen and flip it open. IDEAS?

Thanks! I'm going to go to my landlord with it as a safety issue anyway...but would like to have some suggestions or strategies for it, and costs, for either replacing the whole door and frame, or, "reversing it"

THANKS FOR YOUR IDEAS AND HELP :-)

A.J.G.

 

It wasn't installed backwards -- there are some sliders out there that are designed that way! It's not feasible to try turning it around -- you'll end up with the weep holes in the threshold draining to the inside. The best solution is to replace the slider.

 

Wierd, never seen one like that. In addition, all the sliding doors I've seen, once opened about 2" can be lifted out of the tracks, regardless of how big a 2x4 you have laying in there to keep it from sliding open, it doesn't keep it from being lifted up.

 

Depending on the type, you can drill a hole (or two or three) through the top rail(s) and door, then put a pin through it. It won't move, and it won't come out unless you pull the pin.

Regards,

 

Pella is like that. I had a Pella door once and they gave me a "deadbolt" that installed at the bottom, against the inactive leaf. To use it, you simply pushed it into a strike plate that you installed in the face of the active leaf. Since it was at the center of the window, it couldn't be reached.

Even if the door you have isn't Pella, it should still work. Contact Pella and ask them what they have.

Bruce