How to Check a New Sliding Door Installation
The time to spot a bad installation is while the installer is still there. Here is what to check before you sign anything.
It moves with one finger
A new door should glide with almost no effort. If it needs a proper pull on day one, it will only get worse.
It locks without being lifted or leaned
Lock and unlock it several times, standing normally. Any lifting or leaning means the panel is not sitting where the lock expects.
The gaps are even
Look along the edge where the panels meet, top to bottom. The gap should be the same all the way down. A gap that tapers means the door is not square in the opening.
It seals all the way round
Close it and run your hand along the edges. You should not feel moving air anywhere.
The outside is properly sealed
Go outside and look at the caulking around the frame. It should be continuous, tidy and with no gaps at the corners. This is where water gets in.
The track drains
Ask where the weep holes are and check they are clear. A track that holds water is a seal and corrosion problem waiting to happen.
Nothing rattles
Close it and give it a gentle push. A new door should sit solid.
The glass is clean and unmarked
Check both panes in good light for chips, scratches or anything trapped between the glass. Easier to raise now than in six months.
The screen works too
Screens are often the afterthought. It should slide easily and sit in its track properly.
You have the paperwork
Get what warranty applies to the door itself and what applies to the installation, in writing. They are usually two separate things from two different parties.
If something is not right
Say so before the installer leaves. Almost all of the above is quick to adjust on the day and a much bigger conversation a month later.
Need a hand?
Stuck Door repairs sliding glass doors across Orlando and Central Florida. Rollers, tracks, locks and glass. We are family owned, licensed and insured, our parts carry a two-year warranty, and phone estimates are free.
Call or text (407) 900-9412, or send us a message.