Not all patios need an elegant hinged French door; sometimes the house’s architecture (and the design of the patio itself) calls for a more contemporary centerpiece. And for that, a sliding door is one of the best ways to fulfill that need.

At Renewal by Andersen®, our sliding doors work so effortlessly we’ve taken to calling them “gliding doors”. But while they’re tested to work for years of continued use, you still need to care for them properly to prolong their life span. In today’s post, we share a few ideas on how to do it.

Lubricate the Track

Sliding doors operate by rolling on a track, which is why it’s the most common cause of sliding door problems. This is mostly caused by rust and grime. To fix this, simply lubricate the rollers and the track itself.

In general, you should do this more often if you use your sliding doors frequently. For a more specific case scenario, rollers should be cleaned and lubricated every six months. Avoid a petroleum-based lubricant for this task, however. They’re efficient, but such a lubricant lets dirt cling to it, which means you need to clean your track much more assiduously.

Instead, use a silicone-based lubricant. Home remodeling experts even apply it to mechanisms that require lubrication, since they’re easier to work with.

Roller Adjustment

When you’re done cleaning and lubricating the track, try to open and close the door if you feel any resistance. If the track is clear of any impedance and the sliding door still sticks, squeals, or bumps, it may be because one of the rollers may be physically damaged. As our patio doors are made to order, you need to contact us for a replacement; none of the components we use in our products are available in your local hardware store.

At Renewal by Andersen, we understand that you’d rather not be hassled with door maintenance or improperly installed doors. For better replacement windows and doors, talk to us. Call us today at (916) 779-5800 to learn more. We serve Sacramento, CA, and nearby areas.