Doors and Windows - metal frame around the sliding glass panel

20 yr old front storm door, no brand name anywhere, 2 track, glass on top, screen on bottom in one track fixed and sliding glass panel in second track. The metal frame around the sliding glass panel has given out at the top 2 corners where the spring loaded lever slides into the 2nd door tract to secure the panel into the storm door. I can't afford a new door now, so I'm hoping to fix the metal frame. Advice please. Could a glass shop reconnect the aluminum frame back together? What to do. Thanks.

I'm not exactly sure what sort of door you have, but it sounds like you're talking about an external mounted sliding storm door of some sort, that's likely made from aluminum. Almost all of these that I've run into have been put together with screws at the corners. I'm willing to bet that you have a screw loose. Well, not you, but maybe the door. Sometimes those screws will work loose and completely fall out. Other times the screws might become stripped and fall out. Examine the corner that is still holding together, and see if the opposite side has the same number of screws, and that the screws on both sides are tight.

If you don't feel you can fix this yourself, then yes, I'm willing to bet that a glass shop could repair the door. Perhaps even your local hardware store could do it, as some of them repair combination windows and such.

Thanks for your reply. It's not a side sliding door, it a front storm door with a sliding [up and down] glass panel to raise when I want to have the screen portion in use. There are no screws at all in the metal frame that's come apart. I said it was aluminum cuz it looks like it is. It's just a regular storm door. I was wondering if some type of internal clip was used to hold the mitered corners of the metal frame together?

Ben....
Most of the frames use a metal or plastic "corner key" that slides into the cut ends of the metal frame around the glass. Many screens use plastic, and many glass panels use metal. Depends on the manufacturer. Sometimes the keys slide in, and then the frame is dimpled to lock them in place.

Most any place that does screen and storm window repairs should be able to help.

You could do it yourself, but getting the right part and paying the shipping fee, then waiting for it to arrive might be worth paying someone to take care of it. I'd guess around $20 if you carefully remove the panel and take it to their shop.

Around here we have several small shops that do nothing but that kind of work.

Ben, I follow you now- sorry that I misunderstood your question. For some reason I thought the problem was with the door frame! DOH

Thanks Gunguy... that sounds smack on what I need, so I guess I'll be calling some local shops to find out who might have have those plastic corner clips and can do the repair. That's ok sleeper, you prolly just need a lil more rest :-)

Thank you