Worn rollers are the number one reason sliding doors become hard to open. All Star Sliding Doors replaces old, corroded, and damaged rollers with premium components built to handle South Florida's demanding climate.
The Most Common Fix
If your sliding door is hard to open, makes noise when it moves, or feels like it is dragging across sandpaper, there is about an 80% chance the rollers are the problem. Rollers are small wheel assemblies mounted inside the bottom of your door panel. They ride along the track and allow the door to glide back and forth with minimal effort.
When rollers wear out, everything changes. The wheels develop flat spots from constant pressure. The bearings seize up from corrosion and lack of lubrication. Dirt and hair wrap around the axles and grind them down. Eventually, the rollers stop rolling altogether, and your door is essentially sliding metal on metal. That is when the real damage starts because a door with failed rollers will also destroy the track underneath it.
The good news is that roller replacement is one of the fastest and most affordable sliding door repairs we perform. In most cases, our technician can remove the door panel, swap out the old rollers, install new ones, and have the door sliding like new in about an hour. It is one of those repairs where the difference is immediately obvious the moment you slide the door open for the first time.
Understanding the Problem
Sliding door rollers do not fail overnight. The process is gradual, which is why many homeowners do not notice the problem until the door is almost impossible to open. Here is what happens:
First, the lubricant inside the roller bearings dries out. South Florida's heat accelerates this process. Without proper lubrication, the bearings start generating friction and heat with every slide of the door. That friction causes the wheel surface to develop flat spots, similar to what happens to car tires that sit in one position for too long.
At the same time, moisture from humidity and rain seeps into the roller housing. In homes near the coast in Hallandale Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Pompano Beach, salt air speeds up this corrosion dramatically. The metal components rust, the bearings lock up, and the wheels stop spinning freely.
Meanwhile, dirt, sand, pet hair, and other debris work their way into the roller mechanism from the track below. This grit acts like sandpaper on the moving parts, wearing them down even faster. By the time the door starts feeling heavy, the rollers are usually well past their useful life and need to be replaced entirely.
Our Process
Roller replacement is a straightforward repair when you have the right tools, the right parts, and the experience to do it efficiently. Here is how our technicians handle a typical roller replacement from start to finish.
Premium Components
Not all sliding door rollers are created equal. The cheap rollers you find at a big box hardware store are made with standard steel bearings and plastic wheels that are not designed for South Florida conditions. They might work for a few months, but they will corrode and fail just like the ones you are replacing.
All Star Sliding Doors uses professional-grade roller assemblies that are built for heavy use in coastal and tropical climates. Here is what makes our rollers different:
We carry multiple roller sizes and styles on every service call to match the specific requirements of your door. Whether you have a standard two-panel slider, a triple-track system, or a heavy impact door, we have the right rollers on the truck and ready to install.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common signs include difficulty opening or closing the door, grinding or scraping noises when the door slides, the door jumping off the track, or the door sitting unevenly in the frame. If you have to lift or rock the door to get it moving, the rollers are almost certainly worn out and need replacement.
Standard rollers typically last 5 to 10 years in South Florida depending on usage frequency, proximity to the coast, and maintenance habits. Homes within a few miles of the ocean may see rollers wear out faster due to salt air corrosion. The premium stainless steel and polymer rollers we install can last significantly longer with basic maintenance like occasional lubrication.
Roller replacement typically costs between $150 and $250 per door depending on the type of rollers needed and the door size. Impact-rated doors and oversized panels may cost more due to the heavier-duty roller assemblies required. We provide a free on-site estimate so you know the exact cost before any work begins.
Absolutely. We carry heavy-duty roller assemblies specifically designed for impact-rated sliding doors. These doors are significantly heavier than standard sliders and require rollers with higher weight ratings and stronger bearing systems. Our technicians are experienced with all major impact door brands including PGT, CGI, and ES Windows.
Related Services

Complete diagnostic and repair for sliding glass doors that stick, drag, or will not close properly. We address the root cause, not just the symptoms.
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New rollers need a clean, smooth track to perform properly. We clean, repair, or replace tracks as part of a complete door restoration.
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Regular maintenance extends the life of your new rollers. Our tune-up includes lubrication, track cleaning, and alignment checks.
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