Sliding Glass Doors | MI Windows and Doors (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of sliding glass doors? ›

High Maintenance

One of the biggest disadvantages of installing sliding doors in your home is the level of cleaning they require. Because they feature a large expanse of glass, you may notice a build-up of dirt and grime.

Lubricate the Tracks for Smooth Use

Upon washing the tracks, the next thing to do is to apply some lubricant on them. You can spray WD-40 or any silicon-based lubricant on your tracks to make your sliding door rollers operate smoothly along the tracks.

Ultra Glide's smooth, greaseless properties are well suited for sliding doors and windows, as the dry lubricant repels dirt and thus prevents buildup of grime and debris. Use Ultra Glide for every door in the house, including sliding glass doors, pocket doors, patio doors, and garage and storage shed doors.

A thin film of lubrication should be applied to the top and bottom of the door track. Tips: on vinyl door tracks, use a non-stick silicone lubricant. Instead of spray lubricant, use a hard wax like candle wax or beeswax if you have wood tracks.

On average, the life expectancy for patio doors is 20-years. Yet, patio doors can have a longer or shorter lifespan. This is much the same for sliding doors. External sliding patio doors should last around 20-30 years.

Sliding doors are a popular choice, but they do have some drawbacks. The most notable disadvantage is they offer limited ventilation when closed. There's no way to open the top or bottom of the door to allow air to flow in and out.

Sliding Door Do's & Don'ts

Do not grease or oil your tracks. Wheels are designed to turn not slide. Many clients wrongly assume that if they lubricate the track it will help the door slide. It is only a temporary fix and will absolutely speed up the deterioration process and cause more lasting damage.

Many uses of Vaseline capitalize on its effectiveness as a lubricant, which makes it a great substitute for WD-40. Apply a thin layer of the gel on squeaky or sticking door hinges, cabinets, and windows, and on the tracks of sliding glass doors to keep things moving smoothly.

When there's dirt in the door track, it not only makes it hard to open and close the door, it may cause serious damage if the door jumps the track when it hits an obstruction. If the sliding door is still sticky after the tracks have been cleaned, use powdered graphite or silicone lubricant to ease things along.

Outside of a blockage, one of the most common reasons for a sliding glass door not properly closing is due to a bent track.

Why is my sliding glass door very stiff? ›

Most of the time, the problem stems from dirty and dried up rollers. To fix this, remove your door from the tracks, clean out the rollers and spray them with a lubricant, such as WD-40. If after doing this your door still sticks, the real problem may be that the rollers are damaged or broken.

Sliding glass patio doors are a valuable addition to any home. They offer energy efficiency, an abundance of natural light, enhanced curb appeal, a seamless indoor/outdoor transition, durability, and increased resale value.

Sliding doors do not occupy any space in a room, but they are wider and therefore require more wall space. Ultimately, the choice as to whether you should opt for sliding doors or hinged doors comes down to a few factors, including price, preference, style and building requirements.

They are an affordable choice and provide lots of natural light and heat, which may save you money. They do have security flaws, but you can fight most of them with additional locks. If you hate cleaning windows though, a sliding glass door may not be the best choice for your home.