Signs your sliding door needs a repair
Aluminium sliding and stacking doors are built to last, but the parts that carry and guide each panel wear with use. Most problems start small and get worse, so it pays to deal with them early. Typical signs include:
- The door is heavy to push, grinds or judders as it slides
- A panel jumps off the track or the bottom scrapes along the sill
- The lock will not engage unless you lift or push the door
- The handle is loose, broken or no longer turns the lock
- The door rattles or whistles in the wind
- Rain collects in the sill or comes in under the door
What usually causes it
Worn or broken rollers
Each sliding panel rests on rollers in its bottom rail, and those rollers carry the full weight of the glass. When the bearings wear or a wheel cracks, the door drags, drops and can ride off the track. Replacing the rollers and setting the panel back to the right height usually brings back a smooth, light slide.
A dirty or damaged track
Sand and grit act like sandpaper on the track and rollers, and Cape Town’s wind keeps blowing more in. A track that is worn, dented or bent makes the door bump and stick. Depending on the damage, the track is repaired or replaced.
A lock that no longer lines up
When a door drops on worn rollers, the lock no longer meets its keep in the frame. Often re-adjusting the door and keep is enough; a broken lock or handle is replaced.
Perished seals and blocked drainage
Brush and rubber seals harden and shrink over time, which lets in draughts, dust and rain. Drainage holes in the sill also block up with dirt, so water collects instead of running out. Seals are replaced and drainage cleared as part of the repair.
How a repair call-out works
Tell us what the door is doing, which suburb the property is in and, if you can, send a photo or a short video of the problem with your quote request. We come out, find the cause and quote for the repair before any work starts.
Quotations are free. A call-out fee of R200 applies only if you do not accept the quote.
Replacement parts carry their suppliers’ warranties. On older or discontinued aluminium systems an exact matching part is not always available. If that is the case, we will explain the options before you decide.
Repair or replace?
Most sliding door faults are in the moving parts and can be repaired. When a frame is badly corroded, bent or out of square, a repair may not last, and a new door can make more sense. If that is the case we will tell you and quote for both. See aluminium sliding doors for new installations, or the guide to sliding doors or sliding folding doors if you are thinking of a change.
For folding doors, windows and shop front doors, see all aluminium door and window repairs.
Sliding door repair questions
Why does my sliding door keep coming off the track?
Usually because the rollers are worn or set too low, or because the track is damaged or full of grit. Putting it back on the track only helps for a while; the cause needs to be fixed so it stays on.
Do you repair stacking doors?
Yes. A stacking door is a sliding door with more panels, and it has the same rollers, tracks, locks and seals.
Is there anything I can do myself in the meantime?
Keep the track clean: vacuum out sand and grit and wipe the track down. Avoid oil or grease on the track, as it holds on to dirt. Our guide to caring for aluminium near the sea has more tips.
Is there a call-out fee?
Quotations are free. A call-out fee of R200 applies only if you do not accept the quote.
Which areas do you cover?
The same Cape Town suburbs as our installations. See the full list of suburbs.