A sliding glass door for the patio is always a good idea. These are not only eye-catching, but also elevate your home interior aesthetics too. Wait, what! Did the harsh weather and wind blow up your glass door? Or the handle is not functioning? Is the lock broken or the rollers are dead? All these issues are the worst nightmares. Don’t compromise the safety of your family and replace these yourself. Sounds cool, right?
Don’t worry, we are not only suggesting, but we’ll also guide you on the whole thing. Check our step-by-step guide will help you figure out all the requirements. Here you go!
1. How to replace a sliding glass door (patio door)?
If you think of replacing the sliding glass door, make sure you have all the needed tools.
The checklist includes
- Screwdrivers
- Screws
- Saw
- Razorblade
- Pliers
Step by step guide to remove sliding door:
Step 1: Remove the Existing Door Frame
Grab a razor blade, score the drywall and cut the weather stripping around the sliding glass doorframe. Scoring helps to save the drywall around the door.
Step 2: Remove the Existing Sliding Glass Door
A sliding glass door comes with two panels. One is the stationary panel while the other is movable. Some versions have a screen door as well. Removing the screen door is simple, just lift it up and pull it out of the bottom track while pulling it towards you. Then, remove it from both tracks and place it in a safe area.
For removing the stationary door, find the screws that hold it in place. Then, turn the screws loose and lift the panel up and take it off from the bottom track. Sliding it towards yourself from the bottom area, pull it out from the top track too. Follow the same procedure for the sliding door and keep all these panels safe and away from each other.
If any of these was broken, you need to be extra careful during the procedure.
Step 3: Remove the Existing Door Frame
Next, you need to remove the doorframe. For this, remove the screws that hold the doorframe to the wall. Then pull the doorframe and use a saw if you are unable to get it out. Using pliers, pull the door frame out and make sure the debris is all in one place.
Step 4: Prepare the area for the new door
Measure the door opening, and then measure the new sliding door to check if you need a thicker doorframe you can also go Glass Genius to check door thickness stuff with quality. If the glass door is wider than the last one. Follow these steps.
- Measure the area needed to fix the new glass sliding door. Then mark all the floors and floor space that needs to be discarded.
- Then it’s time to score the drywall. Continue scoring throughout the markings until it’s done well.
Sometimes, you need to do it multiple times to be able to break the drywall.
- Then, taking the help of pry bars, break the drywall making enough space for the new sliding glass door.
- Remove the drywall and then use a saw to remove any flooring that is marked. You can use a razor blade to cut and remove the carpet.
- Clean the area and remove all dirt that comes in the way of the doorway opening.
Step 5: Installing the new doorframe
Fix the doorframe into the doorway opening and secure it by using suitable screws. Make sure you put enough screws to hold the doorframe in place.
Step 6: Place the door panels
First, fix the stationary door panel by lifting it up and fixing it in the top track and push it slightly as it gets fixed in the bottom track too.
For the sliding door panel, follow the same procedure, however, it has some adjustment screws, so turn them anti-clockwise so the rollers come down and the glass panel fixes well in the bottom track. Slide it to ensure proper movement.
Once it’s done, bring up the screen door and place it in the same way, first lift it up putting it into the top track and then push it at the lower end to push it in the bottom track.
Step 7: Put the other parts
Then, install the door handles and lock and follow the step-by-step instructions in the next headings to put the handles and lock correctly.
And there you are. It’s done. Brace yourself for a tremendous job. Enjoy a treat and share a toast for finding out the DIY person in you.
This was a major issue sorted out. However, some other problems arise too and you don’t need to replace the door for these issues. Let’s learn about those:
2. Replacing the sliding door handle
Loose or broken handles are miserable. If you’re facing any of these issues, then this guide for replacing sliding door handle would help you out.
Grab these things first:
- Screwdriver
- New handle
- Pliers
Step 1: Remove the handle
Find the screws and unscrew the handle. Make sure you hold it throughout and it does fall off. Keep the screws safe.
Step 2: Get a new handle
Take the old handle to the hardware shop and get the best possible match. If you want to change the style, then find the same size so it fits perfectly without drilling any extra holes.
Step 3: Put the new handle
Unbox the handles and place it on the handle area. Put the screws back. Also, you’ll have to put handles on both sides of the door and then screw them together.
Tip:
If you face an unlucky situation when the door is closed and the handles come off. Just remove the handles and put a screwdriver in the holes that you see on the handle location. Then pull the door open and continue with the rest of the job.
It’s super-easy and saves money too. So next time the door handle misbehaves, hop in and volunteer for replacing sliding door handle instead of looking for a handyman.
3. Patio glass door lock replacement
Because of frequent use, it’s common to have a broken door lock. However, it’s very easy to fix it and takes less than 10 minutes to get Patio glass door lock replacement done.
You’ll need the following stuff
- New door lock
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Nose pliers
Step 1: Remove the handles.
To perform the window replacements in Vaughan, you’ll have to remove the broken lock. For this, remove the door handle first by taking out the screws that hold it.
Then, take the old lock to the hardware shop so that you can find a similar model. This intelligent hack saves time. Then, unbox the lock and follow the next step.
Step 2: Remove the lock
For this, first, remove the handle and follow the steps shared above for replacing sliding door handle. Then, open the screws that keep the lock in place. Hold the lock with a nose plier and pull it out after the screws are removed.
Step 3: Put the new lock
Adjust the new lock in the lock space and secure it with the screws. Then, put back the handle and close the door to check if the lock works fine.
4. How to replace and adjust sliding glass door rollers
Does the sliding door create noise, or it doesn’t glide as usual? It’s time to replace the rollers as they are old and ailing now.
Equipment required
- Screwdriver set
- New roller
- WD-40
Follow these steps and you’ll learn how to fix sliding door rollers
Step 1: Remove the sliding door
The sliding door has two screws at the bottom. The lower ones are the adjustments screw. Turn the screws clockwise to raise the glass door up. Then hold the sliding glass door firmly from both ends and raise it high while pushing the bottom part towards you. Pull the door out from the track and place it at a safe place.
Step 2: Remove the rollers
Next, take out the screws above the adjustments screws. Then use a screwdriver and remove the rollers from the bottom of the door.
Step 3: Get new rollers
Grab the old rollers and head up straight to the hardware store. Get new rollers and continue with the process.
Step 4: Fix them now
Place the new rollers in the space provided and then secure them with the screws. Turn the adjustment screws in the opposite direction so that the rollers get back to the raised position.
Step 5: Prepare the track
It’s now or never, clean the door track and remove the dirt. Put some WD-40 to ensure fluent sliding of the door.
Step 6: Fix the door
Then hold the door and place the upper part into the top track and then adjust the lower end of the glass door in the bottom track. Lastly, turn the adjustment screws anti-clockwise so that the rollers get down and the door fixes in the bottom track.
Next time, don’t worry about how to adjust sliding glass door rollers. Follow these steps, enjoy the DIY challenge and replace the rollers like a pro.
When you’ve replaced the door rollers, spray WD-40 on the base so that it keeps moving well.
Care tips
Replacing sliding glass door and its parts requires safety precautions too. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:
- Spread a tarp in the working area and cover the nearby furniture to prevent the dust from spreading all over the house.
- Wear safety glasses and use safety gear while dealing with tools and equipment.
- Make sure there are no children or pets in the working space because they might hurt themselves.
- The sliding glass door is heavy so take help from someone if you can’t handle the load yourself.
Safety comes first. So, always take care of yourself and others working with you.
Cleaning and maintenance tricks
Because it’s right there in the patio, we know it’s constantly being used and has fingerprint marks all over. It requires good care and needs to be clean all the time. Here are a few tricks that might help you.
To clean the tracks
Mix baking soda and vinegar in a ratio of 1:1 and spill it all over the track area. Let it rest for about 10 minutes and then scrub out all the dirt from there. Clean with a towel in the end.
To clean the glass
Spray any Glass cleaner on the mirror and say bye to the nasty stain as you wipe the glass with an old newspaper.
If the stains are tough, mix any liquid dishwashing soap with vinegar and fill it up in a spray bottle. The vinegar acts on the greasy stains and the soap allows cleaning the glass easily. Rub it on the whole glass door with a damp cloth and clean it with a squeegee.
Lubrication is must
Also, if you hear a screech sound, or find the door getting stuck often, WD-40 saves you from such problems. Have one handy, in case you need it anytime.
Don’t forget the handles
Dirty door handles look gross and take away the good look of your trendy sliding glass door. Always clean up the handles with a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. It will leave the handles sparkling clean.
- Don’t forget the panes. Give them a clean quick whenever you clean the sliding glass door.
These cleaning tips can be applied anytime you see the glass door is calling out for a cleaning job. Remember a spick and span glass door shows your cleaning skills and how much you love your place.
Wrapping it up
Explaining everything up in so much detail, we guess you know the process of replacing sliding glass door, Patio glass door lock replacement, replacing sliding door handle and how to fix sliding door rollers. It’s sometimes messy, time-taking, tiring, but the efforts are worth the drain. You’ll love it once it’s done. Now you know the right place to get the tips whenever you find yourself in such a situation.
Be helpful and share it with someone who needs it.
Cheers!
