Sliding and hinged doors are an increasingly used option at the entrance to the plots of homes or in vehicle entrances. There are several reasons to opt for this type of option: they offer numerous aesthetic options, save a lot of space and are especially safe against any attempt to access the land or parking illegally.
All these reasons have led owners of houses with a plot to opt for this model of door for access to their home.
Obviously, like any type of installation, sliding doors for access to the house need regular care to keep the structures in perfect condition. To this we must add some breaks or wear that the materials can suffer, and it is necessary to know how to fix a sliding door or clean its rails so that everything is maintained in an optimal way.
This type of door is chosen for its versatility and comfort. They are ideal for facilitating access to homes at the touch of a button, as they are usually mechanized and their operation can be controlled from the car thanks to a remote control.
What factors should we take care of to keep aluminum doors sliding and hinged?
One of the main problems with this type of door is that they get stuck. When operating on rails or tracks, they can accumulate dust, lint or other debris that ends up reducing their functionality.
It must be taken into account that these doors are outside, so it is very common for stones, sand, mud and many other types of dirt or elements that can damage accumulate
It is also possible that, when a sliding door at the entrance to the home or parking lot does not open and close normally, it is not due to dirt or accumulation of matter in that area. In these cases, it is normal that small repairs have to be carried out, either on the rails themselves, on the wheels or on other mechanical elements.
Finally, the motors that generate the movement of these doors may also suffer some damage that should be checked if they are suspected of malfunctioning.
Cleaning
Cleaning the rails of sliding doors is one of the tasks that must be done on a regular basis, and first of all if you notice any small problem in the sliding of the panels.
To do this, it is best to remove the door completely by opening it and proceed to clean the guides well thanks to a vacuum cleaner, a broom or, if necessary, by hand. It is important to carry out this type of control and cleaning on a regular basis, since these stalls, as many elements are exposed outside, are very vulnerable to blockages due to the accumulation of sand, dust or small objects on their rails.
Possible wear and tear
The daily use of any exterior element of the house means that some components suffer wear and tear. In the case of sliding or folding doors to access the plot or the garage, they are usually issues related to the wheels or rails and do not present major problems for repair.
In the case of wheels, the most common thing is that some of them have broken due to use, so that it does not allow the door to slide properly. The solution is to replace the worn or broken part with a new one. These installations are made with this possibility in mind, so that replacement is not complex.
Rails or sliding tracks can also suffer wear and tear over time: the most common situation is that, due to use, or the weight of vehicles when passing over them, they bend or curve slightly. To solve this, it is enough to straighten the rail based on small blows that can be cushioned with a wooden block, so as not to directly hit the piece and damage it.
Other Maintenance Requirements
In addition to these small inconveniences, we must take into account other conditioning factors that can present us with the scenario of a sliding door that does not work well.
Rust is a common visitor in the case of exterior sliding doors and doors with metal structures.
How to fix a sliding door with rust? It is enough to treat the structure like any other piece of aluminium affected by this situation: the area must be cleaned with sandpaper until all the rust disappears. Afterwards, it is advisable to repaint the affected area with an anti-rust paint, if possible.
On the other hand, it is essential to carry out regular checks of all the elements of the sliding or hinged door (stops, brakes, tracks, anchors), with the aim of immediately warning of any damage and putting measures in place to prevent the problem from worsening.
It is important not to forget the rollers, closures and hinges, which should be constantly greased. This can be done with a silicone spray, which protects and cleanses the area for several weeks with each application.
How to fix an aluminum sliding door
In most cases, almost any damage to an aluminum sliding door can be repaired by the owners of the door.
It is enough to maintain this habit of constant revision so that there is no excessively serious complication that requires the presence of a specialized technician in its maintenance. The latter circumstance occurs on very few occasions, as long as a small effort is made to keep the sliding or hinged door and its external environment in perfect condition.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that aluminium sliding doors are precisely made of this material because it has many advantages over any other choice: aluminium is much more durable and resistant to the passage of time, humidity and sudden changes in temperature. For this reason, it is a material perfectly suitable for large access doors to the grounds of homes or garages.
It is also a material that can be adapted to different aesthetic needs and that can be easily worked, so that in the event of needing a more serious repair, there is no need to activate the alarms, because in most cases the budget for the work to be done to leave it in perfect condition will not be too high.
Taking into account all these habits of caring for the access doors to the plots of homes or vehicle entrances, this installation will be one of the best decisions for the owner of the property. By not forgetting things such as cleaning sliding door rails and small repairs to fix any damage or wear that may arise, these structures are designed to accompany their owners throughout life.
