sliding closet doors keep coming off track

Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top We've got a closet with a pair of overlapping sliding doors that hang, by their wheels, on a top-mounted rack. There's a bottom guide screwed to the floor that keeps the doors lined up. But unless a door is opened carefully and slowly, one or both of its wheels come off the track. Are there any tricks or adjustments I can make to prevent this? I do a lot of remodels and the easiest way to make a bedroom look newer is take out the old hollow doors or mirrored doors and put in 6 panels. Not many closets are square either. The first thing you need to do is use the rolling mechanism to adjust the door meet the wall as good as you can. You can angle the rollers and move them up and down. Obviously your door needs to slide on the floor so you have to play with this a little. But try to get each door to match its outside wall.
These only cost a couple dollars at big box and if you are taking old ones out, there is no extra work. For instance the roller in Mazura's answer isn't as adjustable as the normal roller you would get at big box.frameless shower doors barrie You want a little friction on the flooring... used 4 door jeep wrangler for sale in scBut that only works with carpet. sliding screen door lock mechanismIf closet doors are flung open the pressure of the roller will eventually affect the track each time it jumps off. contemporary front doors norfolkSo get the doors a little lower.bi fold doors blinds or curtains
Make sure the rollers are about 3-4 inches from the outside of each door. The closer to the middle your rollers are, the easier for them to jump. Get a good light/flashlight and inspect your tracks. light oak upvc doorsMost tracks are about the same quality (I am sure there are high end ones but I haven't seen them). pvc folding door canadaYou can have two problems with the track. First the track can be angled down. This just happens with the weight of the door over time. It actually doesn't hurt to have it angled up slightly (open side of track). For this use a wood block and hammer. The other thing that goes wrong is the lip itself becomes deformed or it get pushed down. I would simply tap this into place with a hammer. For more deformed sections I break out the pliers. If I am having an issue I go through the whole track with pliers.
Grease the wheels and track. Buy new rollers if adjustments do not avail you. To remove the door, disengage the lower track. Standing outside, tilt the bottom of door towards you. Lift slightly and the door should fall off. Insure the track is free of debris. Measure your roller arm carefully, Prime Line Products has many types and sizes. Your wheels probably don't look like this anymore, on Ebay: Check the area where the doors run along the bottom ,on many older homes the bottom of the door runs on a small piece of iron known as a sled. If any debris plaster etc. is in the doors glide path it will lift the door when closing and will knock the roller off the track. Just use a flashlight in one hand and a long thin stick (yard stick) in the other hand and push any debris over to the side (left and right) and clear the doors path and you should be ok. Also to get the roller back on track lift the door at the bottom with a large flat head screwdriver and a block of wood and wiggle the door left, right, in and out until the roller seats on the rail.
This may take many attempts unless you get lucky. Good luck , it's a real pain , but better the tearing your walls out . Most high end sliding door hardware has captive wheels. that means the track has a top edge as well as a bottom edge. While changing tracks is a project, it should solve the problem. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service. Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged doors or ask your own question. Although sliding closet doors make getting into your closet easy, their daily use makes them vulnerable to malfunctions and needed repairs. Whether your door skips off the track, sticks, or won’t close properly, this guide will help you solve your issue. Step 1 – Clean the Track A dirty, obstructed, or damaged track can make a sliding closet door jump off its track. To fix this issue, first try vacuuming up debris and grime from the track with a crevice attachment.
Then, wipe it with a damp rag. If grime still remains, try wiping it up with a mild cleaner and a cloth. Checking for Stray Paint Drips In addition to regular debris, if a room was painted just before the door started to jump the track, you should inspect the track for stray paint drips. Carefully scrape them up with a paint scraper. Step 2 – Tighten Screws In floor-mounted tracks, loose screws can obstruct a sliding door. To fix or prevent this, tighten the screws with a screwdriver. Step 3 – Fix Dented Track Sections Floor-mounted sliding door tracks are particularly prone to bending. To pound a minor dent straight, first cut a piece of scrap wood to fit snugly into the track, extending beyond the damaged section. Then, use the wood as a guide and cushion to hammer the track straight. If you notice that your overhead track has minor damage, you can usually bend it into place with pliers. To fix severe damage, you must replace the door hardware. You can find this hardware sold as a kit with the rollers, track, and guides in one package.
Or, decide what pieces you need and buy your hardware separately. Step 4 ­– Tighten the Overhead Track Forcing a sticking door can further damage tracks if forced. To fix and prevent this issue, tighten the overhead track and its screws with a screwdriver. Step 5 – Replace Worn Wheels Additionally, a sliding closet door may stick if the rollers have worn or developed a flat spot from use. High-quality door hardware will last about 20 years. Replace worn roller wheels, paying attention to the offset from the mounting bracket to the wheel center. Common offsets available are 1/8, 1/4, 7/16 and 1/2 inch. Step 6 – Adjust the Door Height If the flooring in the room was recently replaced, a sticking closet door may be rubbing against the new, taller carpet or tile. If a taller floor is the problem, you may be able to adjust the height of the door using the screws or knobs on the back of the door that controls the roller height so the closet will hang plumb.