How To Remove Sliding Patio Door Frame

Prepare The New Sliding Glass Doorframe And Threshold

Most new sliding glass doors will come with a thin plastic strip around all edges of the frame. If you are replacing an existing sliding glass door and the trim cannot be removed, remove the mounting strip. To remove the mounting strips, use your razor blade to score along the bottom edge and bend forward and backward using pliers until you are able to snap completely off.

Use a razor to score the plastic strip. Use pliers to bend and snap off.

Remove screws holding door panel in place.

Remove The Existing Doorframe And Threshold

To remove the existing doorframe and threshold, first remove any screws or nails holding the frame to studs of the wall. Once the screws or nails are removed, use your pry bar to pry the doorframe and threshold from the door opening.

If you are unable to pry the doorframe out, use a reciprocating saw to cut through the center of the top part of the doorframe. Carefully, start from the cut part of the doorframe to collapse the existing frame and threshold inward using pliers.

Use a reciprocating saw to cut through the center of the top part of the doorframe.

Carefully pull out the existing doorframe and threshold.

Dont Forcefully Remove Sliding Glass Doors

If youre having trouble with any of the steps outlined above, its time give the professionals a call. This is particularly important if any part of the door is stuck. Forcing a stubborn door could lead to cracks or damage to the track or door frame. A partially removed door or unfinished project leaves your home with an unsecured opening.

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Avoid Forcing The Door Out

Shims, fasteners, and sealing can make detaching a door particularly difficult. Excessive pushing and prying increase the chances of breaking the glass pane, ruining the tracks, or damaging the door frame and surrounding skirting, which means extra repair costs.

Try to remove all fasteners and to use appropriate tools such as a reciprocating saw to cut through sealing material to disassemble the door with minimal damage.

How To Remove Sliding Patio Doors

• Written by Rebecca Hollada on Dec 09, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

What You’ll Need

Sliding patio doors not only serve as an outdoor exit but also let the sunshine and natural light into your home. Sliding doors come in a wide variety of styles, so if it comes time to update your decor, you might want to update the doors as well. Removing a sliding patio door is only moderately challenging, but by using the tools and steps below, you can remove one with little difficulty.

Step 1 – Unscrew the Interior Casing or Trim

Since sliding doors are generally heavy, with a considerable width of six to eight feet, you might need to ask for help from a friend when lifting it out. In order to make your task easier, you can disassemble the door before you try to remove it.

First, do away with the interior casing or trim with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Do this cautiously, so as to not damage it in the process. If there is dirt stuck in the casing, you have to remove it before you can insert the screwdriver. Also, if you have any decorative trim at the top of your doors frame remove that as well before you proceed any further. Having done so, locate the roller adjustment screws in the sliding panel and raise them by rotating them in an counter-clockwise direction.

Step 2 – Lift the Sliding Door Panel Out

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Replacing A Patio Door

If you have a backyard deck or patio, chances are there’s more than an ordinary door connecting your outdoor space with the inside of your home. In contrast to the traditional porch, decks and patios are real living spaces that extend both the form and function of your home’s interior. And while we’d all like to keep the nasty weather outside where it belongs, we’d like to do so in a way that brings the spaces together as part of a whole. And the usual way is with a patio door.

The classic patio door fits a double-wide opening and is made up of two aluminum-frame glass panels–one fixed and the other sliding. While the actual opening isn’t that much bigger than an ordinary door, the broad expanse of glass across the two panels creates a feeling of spaciousness and helps connect the indoors and outdoors in a visual way.

It’s not unusual, though, for older sliding patio doors to show their age. The rollers and tracks are subject to wear, making operation difficult. Handles may break and latches may become misaligned. Add to this the wide range of styles available to replace your old sliding unit, and the project begins to look attractive.

Removing The Old Unit Full-glass patio doors are heavy and it makes sense to disassemble the old unit and remove it in pieces. While sliding patio units vary in design and assembly, here’s the removal process we followed.

…and slice through the exterior caulking with a utility knife .

HOMING INSTINCT

New Door Flashing Details

The key to making your sliding door leakproof is to carefully follow the proper flashing techniques.

• The basic principle is to continually keep water flowing downward to the exterior. In most cases, you can follow the details we show here for flashing the sill. The side details will vary depending on the new door frame details and the exterior siding on your home.
• Most doors have plastic nailing flanges that you lay over some type of house wrap. Extend the house wrap if necessary.
• Then lay adhesive-backed flexible flashing over the flange/house wrap joint to seal it.
• Finish the sides by nailing on the side trim and caulking the gaps.
• The top details vary slightly. If you need a trim piece at the top, slide a metal drip cap under the house wrap and nail the trim directly below it.
• If you don’t need an extra trim piece, slide the nailing flange under the house wrap, seal it with flexible flashing, and lay the house wrap over it, sealing the corners with small sections of flexible flashing.

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Your Patio Glass Door Will Have Two Separate Glass Units

One unit is the door that you slide and the other unit is stationary. First,stand outside your house and look at your sliding glass door. If the stationarydoor unit is between you and the sliding unit you will most likely have to remove thestationary unit so that you can get to the glass sliding unit.

Before you go through the trouble of removing the stationary door unit, first tryto go inside your house and see if you can remove the sliding door unit. Usually youcannot because there is a lip along the bottom of the patio glass door frame that prevents the sliding glass door from beingremoved from the inside.

If the rollers on the bottom of the door are difficult to get over the lip,you can adjust them to help you create more room . If it isnot the rollers but the sliding unit’s frame preventing you from pulling thesliding unit out of the door frame, you are going to need to remove thestationary door unit first before you can remove the sliding unit.

To remove the stationary door unit, you first need to take out your screen door. Lift one end of the screen door frame and use a screwdriverto lift the roller on the bottom of the screen door frame off of the track. Dothis to both ends of the screen door and your screen door will pull out of thedoor frame.

Caulk And Install The New Sliding Door Frame

• Assemble the frame following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If you have a knockdown door frame, assemble it on the deck, garage floor or other flat surface.
• Dry-fit the assembled door frame in the opening to make sure everything fits.
• Apply two beads of silicone caulk along the length of the threshold and tip the frame into the opening.

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A Removing The Leaf Of An Older Model

Follow the next steps, if your patio door has a tilt-mechanism.

• Unlock the patio door and open it. Turn the handle to the tilt position.
• Lift the door, until the hinge leaves the corner bearings .
• The door should now only be connected to the stay arm, a metal rod which ensures that the system can stay in tilt position. You can now remove the stay arm .

Some models do not have a tilt-mechanism. In this case, please continue to the next step.

• Open the door and simply lift it off the hinges.

Hinges normally feature an oily layer to ensure their proper function. You should wear work gloves and work carefully to prevent furniture from soiling.

Remove The Adjustment Screw Covers

Sliding glass doors have two adjustment screws that control the rollers height on the bottom or side edge of the door. These are usually covered with adjustment screw covers that keep the screws out of sight.

Locate these covers and use your flathead screwdriver to pry the covers off and expose them carefully. 

Recommended Reading: How To Adjust A Sliding Glass Patio Door

To Remove The Rollers From Most Sliding Unit’s Youneed To Remove The Bottom Of The Sliding Unit’s Frame

Most likely the screw that holds the roller in place is the same screw thatholds the frame together. Remove the screw from both sides of the unit. Then tryto remove the bottom piece of the frame off of the sliding unit; you may need touse a rubber mallet or a piece of wood and tap on the bottom of the frame untilit comes off of the sliding unit.

Now that you have removed the bottom of the frame you can take a close lookat your patio glass door rollers. Remove one of the rollers and match it up withone of the rollers on this page:

You can try your local hardware store, of course, but be sure to bookmarkthis page! Swisco has a hugeselection of patio door rollers online that your hardware store can’t match,including those for discontinued door models!

It is a good idea to replace both sliding door rollers at the same time toprevent extra wear-and-tear to one new roller, which will have to work twice ashard when paired with an old roller.

Sliding Glass Door Installation

For older homes, it may be necessary to replace existing sliding glass doors due to age, disrepair, or energy efficiency. For ambitious homeowners, taking the do-it-yourself route can be a great way to save money.

There are four main steps in the process of replacing a sliding glass door:

These instructions guide you through the replacement process using a vinyl sliding glass door as an example.

Note: Replacing a sliding glass door will require at least two people to remove the existing door and install the new door.

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Tools And Materials Needed

• Reciprocating saw
• Heavy blankets, cardboard, or foam sheets

The flathead screwdriver will help you tuck the sliding glass door rollers under the sliding panel as you pull it out. Depending on the screws used in your sliding glass door assembly, you may need either a flathead or Phillips head screwdriver.

You will likely need both. A pry bar with a hammer claw at one end will be necessary toward the end of the project as you begin prying the frame and stationary door parts away. 

A reciprocating saw can help you cut through any parts of the frame or trim that are difficult to remove. Heavy blankets, layers of cardboard, or foam sheets are essential to protect your sliding glass doors and flooring.

The bottom edges of these doors can be sharp and easily scratch or mar flooring. Youll also need help from another person to lift and move the doors once they are removed.

These doors are heavy, and their large size can make them difficult to maneuver alone. Once youve gathered your tools and materials, you can begin removing the sliding glass door and stationary glass door.

How To Disassemble A Sliding Glass Door

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Sliding glass doors provide a lovely view of a backyard garden and an extra-wide opening for when you need to move large pieces of furniture, such as a couch, into your home. Keep your sliding doors in working condition by periodically removing them and cleaning the tracks. Disassemble a sliding glass door to replace the rollers or when installing a new sliding glass door.

Things You Will Need

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Measure The Opening Before You Buy

• Pry the interior trim free.
• Chip away drywall to expose framing.
• Pull off the interior trim around the old door and measure the “rough opening” width and height .
• Pro tip: Make sure you measure to the framing right next to the old door jamb. You may have to cut away overhanging drywall to get at it.

You May Need To Create More Room When You Attemptto Remove The Sliding Unit From The Door Frame

To create more room you can adjust the rollers on the bottom of the slidingunit. By turning the adjusting screws on the rollers clockwise the wheels moveup into the sliding unit’s frame giving you more room. The adjusting screws arelocated either at the bottom of the sliding unit’s frame or in the sides of theframe. There is a chance that there are plugs covering the screws.

After you adjust both rollers try to remove the sliding unit from the door frame. If the unit is still gettingstuck you may need to get someone to help you. Have your helper lift one side ofthe unit and pull outwards while you try to pry the other side of the unit overthe track.

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Prepare The Work Area

Place foam sheets on the floor around the area where you will be working. This helps to protect the floor from potential scratches and can prop the glass door from breaking in case it is dropped on the floor. Be sure to remove any furniture, rugs, pots, and other items in the vicinity of the work area.

How To Install An External Sliding Door

Installing a sliding door isnt actually that difficult. Particularly if there are two of you to share the weight and the awkward lifting.

But be warned that most new doors will come disassembled, due to their size and weight. This can be fiddly, getting all the pieces in place. Installing a new jamb and tracks will also up the expertise needed.

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Take Out The Old Door Panels And Frame

• 2.1 – Remove the screen door from the track.
• 2.2 – Depending on the door model, loosen the screws holding the rollers. Lift the sliding panel out of the lower track.
• 2.3 – Unscrew and remove the angle brackets on either side of the stationary panel. Slide the panel to the middle of the door frame, then lift and remove.
• 2.4 – If the door has a nail fin, remove a section of the exterior wall cladding in order to release it. Unscrew the door and lift it out of the frame.
• 2.5 – For a standard finless door, unscrew and remove the side jambs and the lower and upper tracks from the door frame.
• 2.6 – Remove all exterior caulk around the door casing.
• 2.7 – Use a reciprocating saw to cut between the casing and the jambs. Do not cut under the threshold. The door casing must be held steady while you cut.
• 2.8 – Remove the casing from the opening.
• 2.9 – Loosen and lift the threshold; you may need to use a crowbar.
• 2.10 – Clean all residue and caulk from surfaces of the frame.

How Do You Remove A Sliding Patio Door From Its Track

remove thethethe doorit’sthe tracksyourremove the door from thetrackthe

How to Remove a Glass Patio Sliding Door Frame

Also, how do you turn a sliding door into a regular door? So, if you’re asking yourself how to make a regular door into a sliding door, look no further.

can you take sliding doors off?

Pry off the adjustment screw covers located at the bottom or side edge of the glass sliding door using a flathead screwdriver. Turn the screws counter-clockwise to pull the rollers up into the door. This lowers the door in the track to make space for you to tilt it out and remove it.

How do you fix a sliding glass door that won’t slide?

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Measure The Door Opening

• 1.1 – Remove the interior trim to expose the jambs.
• 1.2 – Measure the height on both sides of the opening. Measure from the lintel down to the subfloor, the actual surface the doorsill rests on.
• 1.3 – Measure the width across the bottom and top of the opening. Always measure from the jambs and not from the frame of the door you are replacing.
• 1.4 – For each pair of measurements, retain the shortest of the two.
• 1.5 – Measure the frame of the existing door. Measure the width and height from the outside edge of the frame.
• 1.6 – Measure the total thickness of the wall. Vinyl cladding: measure from the interior drywall surface to the exterior lath the vinyl siding is nailed on. Brick exterior: measure from the interior drywall surface to the marks left by the old door on the brick.

Why Remove A Sliding Glass Door

The instructions you will follow below will differ based on your goal. Are you removing your sliding glass door to create space for a new door?

Are you removing the sliding glass door to replace damaged parts or for routine maintenance, like cleaning the rollers and track? Perhaps you need to remove the door so you can move a large armoire or couch into or out of your home. 

If you are preparing your home for new door installation or moving a large piece of furniture, you will need to remove both the sliding and stationary door panels.

If youre taking care of regular maintenance, parts replacement, or cleaning, you may only need to remove the sliding panel.

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Maintain Sliding Doors Regularly

The average cost of replacing a sliding door is about $1,000. A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your doors in top condition and helps you avoid costly repairs or replacements.

• Using a toothbrush, sweep any debris caught in between the tracks. Alternatively, you can use a small handheld vacuum to get the job done faster.
• Next, with the door pulled back, spray a silicone-based lubricant along the track to get the door to slide back and forth with ease. Silicone lubricants are super slippery but they also do not gather too much dirt.
• We recommend vacuuming the door tracks every time you vacuum the room. Lubricate when you notice the door slowing down. In other instances, lubrication might not be enough as the problem could be faulty rollers that need replacing.

Part 1 Of 2: Removing The Screws And Head Stop

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Check The Roller Assemblies And Clean The Wheels

Use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry each roller from its pocket in the bottom of the door. If they are bent or broken, replace them with new roller assemblies.

Scrape any dirt from the wheels, then clean them with denatured alcohol and a rag. Lubricate the wheels with silicone spray, which doesnt hold dirt.

Reinstall the rollers by aligning the adjustment screw of each one with its access hole and tapping in the assemblies with a hammer. Use a wood block to protect the wheels. Once the rollers are seated, retract them as far as possible.

Step 5