Broward County Certificate of Competency 20-WD-21968-X
Sliding Glass Doors before the next storm in Lauderdale Lakes, FL
Sliding Glass Doors for homes in Lauderdale Lakes and the rest of Broward County. Free estimate.
Lauderdale Lakes sits about five miles inland, but salt-laden air off the Atlantic still drifts west and speeds up corrosion on exposed metal. On a patio slider, that shows up as rusty rollers, gritty tracks, a handle that sticks and a lock that no longer catches. A door that drags, jumps the track or won't lock usually means worn hardware that humidity and salt air have been working on for years. In a city built out between the late 1950s and the 1980s, many sliders are original or first-replacement units.
Cat 5 Home Shield repairs and replaces sliding glass doors in Lauderdale Lakes. We start with a free estimate to see whether rollers, a track or a lock will fix the problem, or whether the door should be replaced with an impact-rated unit approved for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. When a replacement needs a permit, we pull it, schedule the inspections and see the permit closed out.
Every Broward County property, Lauderdale Lakes included, is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so a replacement slider needs product approval for that zone, usually a Miami-Dade NOA. A slider is also the largest glass opening in many homes. Much of the city is low-rise condo and co-op housing from the 1960s to the 1980s, and association rules and post-Andrew and post-Irma wind codes shape what you can install. Near-daily summer thunderstorms during the May to October rainy season push water against the sill. Tired rollers and worn weatherstripping make that harder to manage.
Problems to watch for in Lauderdale Lakes
Door drags or jumps the track
Salt-tinged air and grit wear down rollers and pit the track, so the panel stops gliding. Re-hanging the door or replacing rollers often restores it, as long as the frame is sound.
Lock or latch won't catch
Year-round humidity corrodes lock cylinders and latches. A slider that doesn't lock is a problem to fix before hurricane season starts.
Water at the sill in heavy rain
Wind-driven summer storms can push water past worn weatherstripping or a clogged track. This is a common complaint with older sliders.
Original condo or co-op slider
Many 1960s to 1980s buildings still have original or first-replacement doors. Their hardware has spent decades in constant moisture.
No approved protection on the opening
A slider without impact glass or an approved shutter is a weak point in a strong storm. In the HVHZ, windborne-debris protection is a code concern for openings.
Damaged screen door
Bent frames, torn screens and worn rollers on the screen panel are routine on lanai and patio doors in a humid climate.
Cracked or fogged glass unit
If the frame is still sound, replacing just the glass unit can make more sense than replacing the whole door.
What we do
- Impact-rated slider replacementWe install two-panel to multi-panel sliders approved for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, usually with a Miami-Dade NOA, onto patios, lanais and pool decks.
- Roller and track repairWe re-hang doors that drag or jump the track and replace worn rollers so the panel moves smoothly again.
- Glass unit replacementWhen the frame is sound, we replace the glass unit instead of the whole door.
- Locks, handles and weatherstrippingWe replace corroded locks, handles, latches and worn weatherstripping so the door closes, locks and sheds water.
- Screen door repair and replacementWe repair or replace screen doors that no longer track or seal properly.
Permits, codes and licensing in Lauderdale Lakes
Broward County is entirely within the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so a replacement slider needs a product approval for that zone, usually a Miami-Dade NOA. A replacement normally goes through a permit from the city's building department, with inspections and a permit close-out. Repairs usually need no permit, but verify with the city's building department. Our work on sliding doors falls under Broward County Certificate of Competency 20-WD-21968-X, which covers windows, doors, shutters and garage doors. Contractor licensing is overseen by the Florida DBPR through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, with qualification and local registration also handled through the Broward County Central Examining Boards. Condo and co-op owners should also check association rules and get board approval where needed. On the wind-mitigation form OIR-B1-1802, completed by a licensed inspector, opening protection is one of seven categories and is evaluated across all openings. Florida law (s. 627.0629, Florida Statutes) requires insurers to offer discounts for wind-loss-mitigation features. Amounts vary by insurer, so ask yours. The free Wind Mitigation Credit Checker on this site can help you see where your home stands.
Sliding Glass Doors work is done under Broward County Certificate of Competency 20-WD-21968-X.
When to call
Demand rises ahead of and during hurricane season, which runs June through November and is busiest from August to October. It rises again in the winter months, when seasonal residents return and open up long-closed homes. A slider that sticks or won't lock is easier to deal with before either rush. Call (954) 906-1715 or use the estimate form on this page to ask for a free estimate.
We work throughout Lauderdale Lakes, including Oriole Estates, Oriole Gardens, Hawaiian Gardens, Somerset, Cypress Chase, the State Road 7 / US-441 corridor, the Oakland Park Boulevard corridor and the Lauderdale Lakes Mainstreet district.
Sliding Doors in Lauderdale Lakes: questions we hear
- Does a sliding glass door replacement in Lauderdale Lakes need a permit?
- Replacements normally need a permit from the city's building department, with inspections and a close-out. Repairs usually don't, but verify with the city's building department. We pull the permit when the work needs one.
- What does a Miami-Dade NOA mean for my slider?
- It is the product approval needed for products installed in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, which includes all of Broward County. We use approved products for replacement doors.
- Why does my slider rust and stick even though Lauderdale Lakes isn't on the coast?
- The city is about five miles inland, but salt-laden Atlantic air still drifts west, and humidity is high year-round. Together they corrode rollers, tracks and locks.
- I live in a condo or co-op. Can I replace my slider myself?
- Much of the city's housing is association-governed condo and co-op stock. Association approval is needed in addition to permitting, so check your board's rules first. We can discuss approved products during the free estimate.
- Will a new impact slider lower my insurance premium?
- Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for wind-loss-mitigation features, but amounts vary by insurer and we can't promise a credit. A licensed inspector records opening protection on form OIR-B1-1802.
Get a free sliding doors estimate in Lauderdale Lakes
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(954) 906-1715