Signs your sliding door needs alignment.
Every sliding door eventually goes out of alignment. It's not a question of if, it's when. Rollers wear unevenly, foundations settle, and frames shift over the years. The result? Gaps, drafts, and a lock that doesn't catch. These problems get worse the longer you wait. Here's how to tell if your door needs adjustment.
Gap at Bottom of Door
Visible daylight under the door, or you can feel air coming through. One side may be lower than the other.
Door Doesn't Close Flush
The door sits slightly open or doesn't pull tight against the frame when closed. You can feel a breeze.
Drafts Coming Through
Air leaks around the edges even when the door is closed and locked. Your AC is working overtime.
Lock Doesn't Line Up
The latch misses the strike plate because the door has shifted. You have to lift or push the door to get it to lock.
Door Feels Heavier
The door takes more effort to slide. When alignment is off, the rollers drag instead of rolling smoothly.
Uneven Weatherstripping Wear
The weatherstripping is compressed or torn on one side but fine on the other. Uneven contact means misalignment.
Why alignment problems are so common on the Treasure Coast
Florida homes settle. The sandy soil beneath Treasure Coast foundations shifts over time, and that movement gets transferred to the door frame. Even a quarter-inch change throws the whole door out of whack. We see this constantly in newer construction in Port St. Lucie where GL Homes, Lennar, and D.R. Horton communities are built on freshly filled land. Homes in Palm City west of I-95 have similar settling issues. Add Florida's heat and humidity (which cause aluminum frames to expand and contract daily), and it's no surprise that doors go out of alignment every few years.
Notice any of these? A misaligned door wastes energy, lets insects in, and compromises your home's security. The fix is fast and affordable. Call us at (772) 207-4146 and we'll usually get to you the same day.
How we align and adjust sliding doors.
Door alignment is one of our most straightforward repairs. We've adjusted thousands of doors across the Treasure Coast, and the process is quick, clean, and doesn't require removing the door in most cases.
Diagnose the Misalignment
We check the door position relative to the frame, measure gaps on all four sides, and test the lock engagement. We figure out exactly what shifted and why.
Adjust Roller Height
Using the adjustment screws at the bottom of the door, we raise or lower each side independently. This is the main fix for most alignment issues.
Realign the Strike Plate
If the lock still doesn't catch after roller adjustment, we reposition the strike plate on the frame so the latch hooks in cleanly.
Test Everything
We slide the door back and forth, test the lock from both sides, check for gaps and drafts, and verify the weatherstripping makes full contact around the entire frame.
When alignment won't fix the problem
Sometimes alignment adjustment isn't enough. If the rollers are worn or cracked, adjusting the height screws won't help because the door will just settle back down. In that case, roller replacement is needed before alignment can work. We always check the rollers as part of our alignment service. If they're shot, we'll tell you and quote both jobs together. Getting them done at the same time is cheaper than two separate visits. We see this pairing frequently on older doors from Milgard and Pella that haven't been serviced in 10+ years.
The energy cost of a misaligned door
A gap at the bottom of your sliding door isn't just annoying. It's costing you money. Conditioned air escapes, hot Florida air rushes in, and your AC runs longer to compensate. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air leaks around doors and windows can account for up to 30% of heating and cooling costs. A $99 alignment that seals up those gaps can pay for itself within a few months on your electric bill, especially during Treasure Coast summers when the AC runs all day. For more tips on keeping your door in good shape, check out our sliding door maintenance guide.
Alignment matters for security too
A misaligned door is a security risk. If the lock doesn't fully engage the strike plate, the door can be forced open with minimal effort. And if there's a gap at the bottom, a pry bar can be wedged in. We always check lock engagement as part of every alignment job. A door that sits level, closes flush, and locks tight is a door that keeps your family safe. This is especially important for homes in Stuart and Hobe Sound where seasonal residents leave their homes unoccupied for months at a time.
Door Alignment Pricing
* Estimated labor costs. Parts and materials may be additional. We quote the exact price before starting.
Simple roller height adjustment starts at $99. Full alignment service that includes strike plate repositioning, weatherstripping check, and lock adjustment runs up to $199. Price covers labor. If we find the rollers need replacing or the track needs repair, we'll quote that separately so you can decide. No surprises.
Alignment for every major sliding door brand.
Roller adjustment mechanisms vary by manufacturer, but the principle is the same. We know where the adjustment screws are and how much travel they have on every brand you'll find on the Treasure Coast. From builder-grade Simonton and Ply Gem doors to premium Andersen and Marvin models, we've aligned them all.
Serving the entire Treasure Coast.
Treasure Coast Sliding Door Repair does door alignment across Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, and Indiantown. That covers Martin County, St. Lucie County, and Indian River County. Alignment is one of our fastest service calls, so same-day scheduling is almost always available.