Maintenance notes from the field.
How to keep sliding doors, pivot doors, lift-and-slide systems and windows working. Written by the people who get called when they stop.
Sliding patio door hard to open? The 30-minute fix
Most sticky sliders aren't broken. Grit in the track is grinding into the rollers. Clean, lubricate the right way, and adjust.
Read the guide →Pivot door closing too fast, bouncing or not latching
Most modern pivot doors have a hydraulic closer with small adjustment screws. Here's what each one does and where to start.
Read the guide →Lift-and-slide · 5 minLift-and-slide doors: what to maintain and what to leave alone
The handle lifts the panel off its seals. Understanding that one mechanism tells you how to care for the whole door.
Read the guide →Imported systems · 7 minBuying doors or windows from China? Seven checks before the container ships
Factories build exactly what you order. Most problems we see on DMV job sites start with the order, not the factory.
Read the guide →Permits · 5 minReplacing windows or doors in Montgomery County, DC or Virginia: do you need a permit?
Same size, usually no. Bigger opening, yes. Then there are city permit offices, historic districts and lead rules.
Read the guide →Seasonal · 4 minThe DMV fall checklist for windows and doors
Twenty minutes per door before the first freeze. Weep holes, caulk, weatherstrip, locks and the dollar-bill test.
Read the guide →Seasonal reminders
Two short emails a year, spring and fall, with the maintenance list for that season. Nothing else.