How to Remove a Glass Patio Sliding Door Frame

A glass patio sliding door is usually a single door that slides, combined with another that is fixed. This combination makes removal of such doors a tricky task, but a bit of grit and following a few basic instructions will help you easily remove the sliding door frame.

Step 1: Initial Steps

The sliding door also has a moving panel and a stationary panel, along with a door frame. You also need to deal with the trim of the door, so that the frame comes off entirely. Therefore it is advised that you use the help of a friend or relative. Sliding doors are pretty heavy, and can pose quite a challenge.

Step 2: Sliding Panel

Open the sliding panel. At the bottom of this panel, locate the position of the adjustment roller screws. There will be 2 of these. Take a screwdriver and loosen the screws in an counter-clockwise direction, so that the rollers at the bottom are raised up.

Some patio doors have a head stop, attached at the top of the track of the door. In such a case secure this head stop with the screw driver before removing the screws. The head stop is a mere ornamental trim that covers the inner side of the edge of the top frame of the door.

Step 3: Removing Sliding Panel

Tell the friend assisting you, to lift the sliding panel of the door towards the track of the upper portion. Simultaneously, in a swinging movement pull the bottom of the door’s panel in your direction. Now, keep lowering the door panel, until it comes off the track in the upper portion of the door, and move it out. The sliding door is heavy, so be careful while performing this step.

Step 4: Removing Brackets

Now locate the screws that hold the fixed panel in place. You will find an L shaped bracket between the corner of the fixed panel and the track of the door. Take a small screwdriver and loosen the screws of the bracket. Then, loosen the screws that hold the panel and the door together.

Step 5: Removing Fixed Panel

See where the seam of the fixed panel meets the jamb of the door, and cut around this seam with the help of the knife. This is necessary to remove the caulk or paint that secures the panel to the jamb.

Next, you have to pry out the fixed panel. While doing this, your helper must hold the panel firmly. Position the flat pry bar between the track and the base of the fixed panel. Lift it up on the fixed panel, and pull its lower portion in your direction. Carefully remove the panel totally from the opening.

Step 6: Removing Trim

Use the pry bar to lift the trim along the sides of the door. Insert it at the base of the trim and apply pressure to lift it up to the extent that the nail shafts are visible. Use the hammer claw to grab the shafts and take off the trim by pulling it out.

Step 7: Detaching Nails

Take the reciprocating saw and put a bi-metal blade into it. Cut the nails that attach the frame to the walls. The blade will cut through nails and screws as well, all along the frame’s perimeter.

Step 8: Final Steps

Place the pry bar at a corner of the sliding door threshold and hammer it. Generally the threshold is glued to the sill of the door, so you need to apply sufficient force to pry it up.

Finally the door frame will come free. Lift it out and set it aside. Make sure that all old nails and shims are removed, by pulling them out using the hammer claw, after detaching the frame.