Can a Sliding Door Frame Be Removed and Reinstalled?

[Nickster]

Hi all,

As the title suggests, is it possible to remove a sliding door frame? I need to have mine taken out so that the balcony underneath can be properly waterproofed. I’m getting mixed opinions, some people say it can be done, while others recommend replacing the door entirely rather than removing and reinstalling the existing one.

Has anyone here done this before?

 

[TheMightyQuin]

Hi all,

As the title suggests, is it possible to remove a sliding door frame? I need to have mine taken out so that the balcony underneath can be properly waterproofed. I’m getting mixed opinions, some people say it can be done, while others recommend replacing the door entirely rather than removing and reinstalling the existing one.

Has anyone here done this before?

Who installed it? If you can find that out, then contact them directly.

The frame is just U-channeling that the door runs in, so it's the cheapest part of the door. It may bend or buckle upon removal, but making and installing a new one should be easy and cheap.

 

[Nickster]

Who installed it? If you can find that out, then contact them directly.

The frame is just U-channeling that the door runs in, so it's the cheapest part of the door. It may bend or buckle upon removal, but making and installing a new one should be easy and cheap.

Not sure who installed it, as it was already in place when we bought the property. We recently had the balcony waterproofed, but a small damp spot appears below the sliding door on the bedroom side when it rains. The contractor has tried to resolve it without removing the sliding door, but it seems all options are now exhausted. The next step appears to be removing the door, waterproofing underneath, and then either reinstalling it or fitting a new one. I’m getting mixed opinions, some say the door can’t be removed without causing damage, while others say it can.

 

[Nickster]

Another thing I am worried about is them removing/ damaging the surrounding wall.

 

[airborne]

I highly doubt it considering the process of removing the existing frame will without a doubt damage it and make it very difficult to refit and use. But I'm sure you can have a new frame fabricated and then just reuse the doors which are the most expensive part.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Ultimately depends on how it was fitted exactly and whether reversing that will damage it.

Sometimes it's just pop-riveted in place and you just drill it out remove it...put it back and re-rivet.

Really the answer is that it depends.

 

[TheMightyQuin]

Not sure who installed it, as it was already in place when we bought the property. We recently had the balcony waterproofed, but a small damp spot appears below the sliding door on the bedroom side when it rains. The contractor has tried to resolve it without removing the sliding door, but it seems all options are now exhausted. The next step appears to be removing the door, waterproofing underneath, and then either reinstalling it or fitting a new one. I’m getting mixed opinions, some say the door can’t be removed without causing damage, while others say it can.

You really need to start differentiating or distinguishing between a sliding "door" and the sliding door "frame".

Only the frame will need removing and replacing or even just re-fitted. The DOOR is kept as is.

Isn't there a name or tag on the door of the manufacturer? There usually is. Like Trellidor or something like that.

 

[SauRoNZA]

The bigger question is WHY you want to remove it to waterproof the balcony? Surely that's not going to make any difference at all.

This sounds like busy work for very little result.

Unless it's somehow lower than the balcony, which would be a problem in an of itself, this is a bit silly.

 

[WAslayer]

Not sure who installed it, as it was already in place when we bought the property. We recently had the balcony waterproofed, but a small damp spot appears below the sliding door on the bedroom side when it rains. The contractor has tried to resolve it without removing the sliding door, but it seems all options are now exhausted. The next step appears to be removing the door, waterproofing underneath, and then either reinstalling it or fitting a new one. I’m getting mixed opinions, some say the door can’t be removed without causing damage, while others say it can.

Can you clarify where the "below the sliding door" is exactly..? You say balcony was problematic, so do you mean damp is appearing between the balcony and sliding door package on the interior of the bedroom..?

Can you share a picture of the location..?

I suspect, without knowing exactly where the damp appears, removing the sliding door package is a fools errand and unnecessary cost.. water is coming in from the outside, not the inside.. given there is a balcony above the door, I wouldn't expect water to be making it to the top of the sliding door package frame, unless the balcony has not been properly waterproofed..

 

[krieg]

Is it a wooden frame or aluminium? Wooden Frame you will need to break some plaster around it to get it out. If it is wood rather cut the two sides with a multitool blade at the bottom and remove the bottom piece, if there's water problems underneath it will be rotten anyways.

 

[Nickster]

The bigger question is WHY you want to remove it to waterproof the balcony? Surely that's not going to make any difference at all.

This sounds like busy work for very little result.

Unless it's somehow lower than the balcony, which would be a problem in an of itself, this is a bit silly.

The contractor says the sliding door needs to be removed to properly address the damp issue. I got a second opinion, and they advised the same. The sealant around the frame appears to be intact, so I’m unsure whether the problem lies with the frame’s sealant or a compromised area beneath the door where waterproofing may not have been done.

The sliding door opens onto a balcony that previously had waterproofing issues. We removed the tiles, redid the waterproofing, and re-tiled. There’s no more damp on the ceiling below the balcony. However, on the inner side of the sliding door (my bedroom side), there’s a half-circle-shaped damp spot forming on the ceiling directly below the bottom of the frame. This is on the bedroom side of the door, not the balcony side. I hope that makes sense?

 

[Steamy Tom]

pics?

but in theory yes, however the frame or the surrounding can be damaged in the process.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I mean if you own the place maybe this is the time to upgrade and put a stacking door or something entirely different in and just make it worth your while.

Sliding doors I've found to always be a pain in the ass at some point.

 

[Nickster]

I mean if you own the place maybe this is the time to upgrade and put a stacking door or something entirely different in and just make it worth your while.

Sliding doors I've found to always be a pain in the ass at some point.

Yes, I was considering putting in a double hinged door and removing the sliding door all together. I think it would look nicer. The sliding doors that were originally put in are those cheap ones so quality wise it's not great either...

 

[SauRoNZA]

Yes, I was considering putting in a double hinged door and removing the sliding door all together. I think it would look nicer. The sliding doors that were originally put in are those cheap ones so quality wise it's not great either...

Yup. And sooner or later the rollers will kak themselves and need replacement etc.

 

[airborne]

Yup. And sooner or later the rollers will kak themselves and need replacement etc.

It's actually a surprisingly easy job and the new rollers are cheap and once changed with good quality ones will last for many years.
You just need someone to help lift the door off the track, which can be a bit challenging if they are large and heavy doors.

 

[WAslayer]

It's actually a surprisingly easy job and the new rollers are cheap and once changed with good quality ones will last for many years.
You just need someone to help lift the door off the track, which can be a bit challenging if they are large and heavy doors.

Unless your sliding door package is 50 years old like mine, in which case you cannot find replacement rollers..

 

[SauRoNZA]

It's actually a surprisingly easy job and the new rollers are cheap and once changed with good quality ones will last for many years.
You just need someone to help lift the door off the track, which can be a bit challenging if they are large and heavy doors.

As above you might struggle to find replacements.

But there are often more complex issues like security gates in front of the sliding door that are bolted/riveted in and makes it a much bigger job.

Swopping the castors/rollers themselves isn't such a big job I agree, but still unnecessary work.

Main issue with sliding doors over say stacking ones is that they work harder and also take up more "free space" so what could have been a nice open cavity on a good day is now always obstructed by a glass panel.

It's a nice cheapish upgrade (if you are going to do the work anyway) to change the entire dynamic of the space.

 

[airborne]

As above you might struggle to find replacements.

But there are often more complex issues like security gates in front of the sliding door that are bolted/riveted in and makes it a much bigger job.

Swopping the castors/rollers themselves isn't such a big job I agree, but still unnecessary work.

Main issue with sliding doors over say stacking ones is that they work harder and also take up more "free space" so what could have been a nice open cavity on a good day is now always obstructed by a glass panel.

It's a nice cheapish upgrade (if you are going to do the work anyway) to change the entire dynamic of the space.

I haven't come across one I couldn't find replacement rollers for but that is something to consider, burglar guards definitely can complicate it. Stacking doors including fitment was far from cheap going by the last quote I saw a few years back but if the window including frame has to come out then I’d definitely get quotes for a new frame vs stacking doors.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I haven't come across one I couldn't find replacement rollers for but that is something to consider, burglar guards definitely can complicate it. Stacking doors including fitment was far from cheap going by the last quote I saw a few years back but if the window including frame has to come out then I’d definitely get quotes for a new frame vs stacking doors.

Yeah I mean it’s definitely more expensive, just adding a consideration.