Milgard Doors shown Sliding doors continue to evolve as they grow in popularity. Consumers have always appreciated the way additional livable space is created because the doors slide, instead of swing, open. Exposing the indoors to more natural light is another plus. Now creative designers are providing even more options for homeowners who want the latest architectural innovations in their sliding doors. Property owners who aren’t planning on upgrading their sliding doors can take heart: keeping the doors you now own in working order and overall good condition is most important. Provided they operate smoothly, open and close easily, shut tightly, and keep your home secure from intruders, your older sliding doors should be good to go for years to come. As for the latest sliding doors, check out these improvements: Remote controls. Why bother to get up when your sliders open and close at the touch of a button? Doors that fold away offer the benefit of … [Read more...]
Some homeowners hesitate at the suggestion they protect their wooden doors from the elements by installing storm doors. Many homeowners don’t like the idea of storm doors. The think the natural beauty of an expensive wooden door is hidden by an exterior door that is ugly and cheapens the appearance of a home. They frequently change their minds when we show them the beauty and practicality of today’s storm doors. Your grandfather’s storm doors were made of inexpensive metal, flimsy and made a racket when opened and closed. Modern storm doors are sturdy, durable, and come in a variety of colors and styles. Benefits to installing storm doors in front of your wood door: Allows a breeze. This is a feature many homeowners really appreciate. We offer storm doors with movable screen inserts that can be closed or opened. Open the screen when you want the breeze, but not insects, inside. Protection from the elements. Rain and sun won’t damage your wooden door. One caveat: … [Read more...]
If you are tired of having to open the sliding door several times a day for your pet, you owe it to yourself to consider the benefits of in-glass pet doors. Installing these doors is simple: A snug, energy-efficient door, large enough for your pet to pass through, is inserted into an opening cut in the sliding door panel. It’s easy to understand why A-1 On Track has installed so many of in-glass pet doors. They mean freedom, for both animal and human. Dogs and cats are able to go outside any time they wish, without the homeowner having to open a door. And homeowners are able to be away for extended periods, no longer having to worry about their pets having access to the outdoors. If your animal likes to go outside overnight, the in-glass pet door is your invitation to uninterrupted sleep. We’re able to install pet doors on virtually any type of sliding door in just a couple hours, and at a reasonable price. The in-glass pet door is superior to those cheap pet door … [Read more...]
There are several reasons that problems with swinging closet doors can develop: Placing clothes or heavy mirrors on hangers mounted on the doors can alter the way the door hangs on its hinges, even to the point where it doesn’t operate correctly. Hollow-core doors are particularly susceptible. Repeated exposure to moisture may actually change the shape of a door. It’s important to have vents to the outside in bathrooms or rooms with indoor pools or hot tubs to allow humidity to escape. When a building settles, the shape of door frames change. Settling is a particular problem in earthquake-prone California. High-pile carpet may be toasty on your feet in the morning but has the same effect as a rubber stopper on a hinged door. Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with stubborn closet doors. An A-1 On-Track door repair professional can fix virtually any door problem. We’ll do what it takes to restore the operation of your closet doors. In many cases, simply … [Read more...]
The simple act of keeping a sliding door sealed will ensure that it glides smoothly for a long time. Sliders that have been exposed to water can be tough to open and close. If water has worked its way into the door frame, the rollers and bottom track will deteriorate over time. Sliding doors that lead outside, such a patio sliders, are highly susceptible to this type of moisture. But even interior sliders located in humid areas such as bathrooms can be damaged in this way. So keep an eye on the condition of the seal around all doors in the house. If it seems to be missing or looks cracked, keep moisture out by resealing. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, do this by checking out the existing caulk line - whoever initially installed the sliding door likely sealed it, so the old caulk is easy to spot - and remove damaged or cracked caulk with a utility knife or screwdriver. It may be easier to provide an overall watertight seal by removing all the caulk surrounding the door. … [Read more...]
A sliding patio door takes a lot of abuse, especially during the warmer months. Think about the number of times that patio door is used during a busy day. Considering summer barbecues, pool parties, family gatherings or time hanging out on the patio with a cool drink, it’s obvious your sliding screen doors are opened and closed dozens of times a day. Is your patio door showing its age? Inspect a well-worn door and you may see: Tears and holes in the screen. Insects seem adept at slipping through the smallest opening to get into your house. A bent frame, which may be affecting the operation of the slider. Broken handles. Locks that don’t function properly. Keep in mind that intruders love a door with a faulty lock. It’s relatively easy to break into a home through a patio sliding screen door that may be closed but not tightly locked. Stubborn rollers that make opening and closing the door a chore. If your sliding screen door were a car, you’d take it … [Read more...]
For a relatively low cost, you can expand usable space in your home or business while controlling noise simply by installing sliding doors between adjoining rooms. Sliding doors bring increased functionality to your home. Imagine converting two rooms into one space for: Entertaining or family gatherings. You’ll finally have the space for an extending table and be able to accommodate everyone at those special times or on holidays. A more functional master bedroom. The smaller room could be used as an easily accessible closet or dressing room. Soundproof sliding doors will enable one person to sleep undisturbed while another uses the room next door for TV viewing. A play area for the children. Set up one room as a space for playing with toys or games. Sliding glass doors allow an adult to keep an eye on the kids while blocking noise so the room next door is quiet. Finding a slider that suits your taste is a breeze. The enormous variety of quality sliding doors that … [Read more...]
Patio doors that are constantly used are particularly prone to the effects of debris in the track. But even lightly used closet sliders become difficult to operate after awhile.The biggest reason sliding doors become balky is due to debris that accumulates in the track at the base of the doors. Over time, mud, hair, dirt, dead insects, and nearly invisible pollen become lodged in the track, wearing down the rollers at the base of a slider. At A-1 On Track, we find that it’s common that sliding glass doors in Bay Area homes need repairs after just 10 years of use. Regular cleaning of the tracks is the most effective way to keep sliding doors operable. Routine maintenance sounds obvious but is overlooked by most homeowners. After all, the doors work fine 99 percent of the time. We suggest that every few weeks, vacuum out the tracks of the sliding glass doors in your home. Then take a damp rag, wipe down the tracks, and dry them with a second rag. If you have several sliders, do … [Read more...]
Sliding shower door maintenance really comes down to regular cleaning. Most shower doors are not easy to clean, but making an effort to remove soap scum and mold on and around the door - paying particular attention to the tracks in which the door slides - keeps the door looking nice and operating smoothly for years. Cleaning sliding door tracks after every shower is unnecessary. However keeping your glass clean from stains and streaks can be easily handled with a glass squeegee or similar smooth glass swiper that will remove drops containing soap and oils. A once-a-week cleaning routine using undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle, baking soda, a soft cloth and a toothbrush is also a good routine. You may also want to wear rubber gloves and keep windows open while you work. A reminder: vinegar is not safe for use near or on certain bathroom tile types such as travertine. Make sure the door is dry. Spray the vinegar on the inside, shower side of the glass door. Wait a … [Read more...]
This may come as no surprise to many homeowners: a sliding closet door with mirrors tends could have issues that are not present with standard closet doors. The reason: Mirrored doors, constructed with metal framing, are heavy. The heavier the sliding door, the greater wear and tear will be on the rollers and tracks. Many people who live in homes built in the 1970s and 1980s, when mirrored sliding closet doors were popular, have experienced the grinding of a closet door that happens after years of use. If you are tired of tugging on a stubborn slider to gain access to your clothes, or have often crunched your fingers against the heavy doors, you have options: Replace the mirrored door. A professional can install new, lighter doors of a more contemporary style. This may be your best choice if the door track is damaged or bent. Perform simple maintenance. Check to see if the sliding door has gotten untracked. If it has, try to place it back in the track by gently lifting … [Read more...]
