Keeping Sliding Glass Doors Working in Salt Air
Keep the track clean
Sand and grit in the bottom track are the main reason sliders get heavy. Vacuum the track, then wipe it with a damp cloth. Avoid oily lubricants that attract more grit; a dry silicone spray on the rollers is enough.
Rinse the hardware
Salt air corrodes metal. A rinse with fresh water now and then, especially after a storm, slows that down on handles, locks and the track.
Check the weatherstrip
If you can see daylight at the edges or feel air moving, the weatherstrip is worn. It is an easy fix on a door that is otherwise in good shape.
When a tune-up is not enough
Rollers that have cut grooves in the track, frames that have bowed, glass units that have fogged, and locks that no longer line up are signs the door is at the end of its life.
What a new slider changes
A new sliding glass door glides on fresh rollers, seals tight and locks securely. Impact-rated sliders also mean one less opening to worry about in storm season, and larger multi-panel layouts can open the house to the patio.
