Sliding Door Repairs · Gauteng · October 2026
Repair or Replace Your Sliding Door — How to Decide
Most sliding door problems are mechanical — worn rollers, a dirty or bent track, a failing lock — and are repaired quickly at a fraction of the cost of replacement. But there are situations where replacement is the right decision. Here's how to work through the question systematically.
Not sure whether to repair or replace? Call us for an honest assessment.
Call 078 246 4898The cost comparison
Before anything else, the numbers need to be in view:
A full mechanical repair — rollers, track, lock, and bottom guide — costs between R850 and R1,500 in the vast majority of cases. A new door costs 8 to 25 times more. Unless the frame itself is damaged, repair is the financially correct decision in nearly every case.
When repair is the right choice
Repair makes sense in all of the following situations:
Repair when:
- The aluminium frame is structurally sound — no cracks, no buckled sections
- The glass is intact, or only one panel needs replacing
- The problem is mechanical: rollers, track, lock, guide, or perimeter seals
- The door is less than 20 to 25 years old
- The total repair cost is under R2,000
- The frame colour and glass spec are still appropriate for the space
The key insight: The aluminium frame of a sliding door is designed to last decades. In most cases where a door "needs replacing", the frame is fine and the only worn components are the mechanical ones — rollers, track, lock — which cost a fraction of a new door to replace.
When replacement makes sense
There are situations where replacement is the right call:
Consider replacement when:
- The aluminium frame has structural cracks, buckled sections, or severe corrosion eating through the profile
- The door is in a security-critical position and the frame is too worn to take a modern lock
- You're renovating and want a different door size, style, or glass specification
- The door has already been repaired multiple times and the frame is at end-of-life
- Energy performance is a priority and the door can't be adequately sealed
A note on age: A 30-year-old sliding door with a sound aluminium frame is still worth repairing mechanically — aluminium doesn't corrode the way steel does. Age alone is not a reason to replace. Structural damage is.
How We Fix Doors approaches the assessment
When we arrive at a job, we check the frame first. If the aluminium is structurally compromised, we'll tell you — and we won't carry out a repair that won't last. If the frame is sound and the problem is mechanical, we'll repair it and tell you what the door needs. We don't upsell replacements on doors that are repairable.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it worth repairing a sliding door or should I replace it?
- In most cases, repair. A full mechanical repair costs R850 to R1,200. A new door costs R8,000 to R25,000+. Repair is the right call unless the aluminium frame is structurally damaged.
- When should I replace rather than repair?
- When the aluminium frame has structural cracks or severe corrosion, when you're renovating and want a different specification, or when the same door has needed repeated repairs in a short period.
- How much does a new sliding door cost in Gauteng?
- R8,000 to R25,000 or more for a standard aluminium sliding door and frame, depending on size, glass type, and profile. Installation is additional.
- Will you tell me if my door needs replacing rather than repairing?
- Yes. We check the frame on every job. If a repair won't hold because the frame is damaged, we'll tell you — we don't carry out work that won't last.
Get an honest repair assessment today
Not sure whether to repair or replace? Call us — we assess the frame first and will tell you honestly if repair is the right call. From R850, no call-out fee, 6-month guarantee. Same day available.