Guide · Repairs
Why your sliding door won't slide, and what fixes it
Nine times out of ten, a heavy, noisy or derailing slider comes down to rollers, the track or alignment. Here is how to read the symptoms.
Start with the symptom
The way a sliding door misbehaves is a strong clue to the cause. A door that is heavy or drags usually has worn or seized rollers. One that is noisy or grinds often has a gritty or damaged track. A door that jumps or comes off the track is typically worn rollers or track damage letting the panel wander. And if it feels like you are lifting rather than sliding, the panel has probably dropped out of alignment.
The usual causes
- Rollers, the wheels at the bottom of the panel wear flat, seize or collapse. This is the single most common cause and the most satisfying to fix.
- Track, sand and grit pack the channel; the running surface can also dent. A blocked or damaged track fights the rollers.
- Alignment, the panel sits out of square, so it binds and lifts.
- Seals, perished brush seals add friction and let dust and draughts in.
What you can safely do
Clear visible debris from the track and check the panel is not obviously off its rail. Avoid oily lubricant sprays, they attract sand and make dragging worse; a dry-type lubricant is usually the right product for a sliding track. Do not force a derailed or very heavy glass panel back onto the track yourself, a large sliding panel is heavy and can be a crush or drop hazard.
When to call us
If cleaning does not help, or the door is heavy, noisy or off the track, the rollers likely need replacing and the track servicing. On a sound frame this restores a smooth glide for far less than replacing the door. Send a photo through the sliding-door repair page or run the symptom checker to get a likely cause and a brief to send us.