Use the change in the room to explain the fault
Start with the event you know: carpet was fitted, wet weather began, a hinge became loose or the panel suddenly became difficult to move. A repair request saying that the bedroom door only catches at the floor gives a clearer starting point than asking for a new door. Mention whether it still latches and whether the gap around it has visibly changed. Avoid repeatedly forcing the fitting to reproduce the symptom.
A door that catches after flooring work needs its construction and available clearance checked before trimming is agreed. A window that swells repeatedly calls for attention to moisture and surrounding timber, not just the rubbing edge. If several openings change together or nearby cracks also change, include that information. The assessment may need to extend beyond the moving hardware.
Decide what can stay before ordering a replacement
Repairing a serviceable frame and replacing a worn component are different from installing an entirely new door or window. Ask which parts are suitable to retain and what evidence supports the proposed replacement. For a sliding door, a new roller may not solve a distorted or damaged track. Conversely, difficult movement does not automatically mean the whole door has reached the end of its useful life.
Explain any apartment lift, balcony access or building permission needed for the visit. Heavy glass, mirrored panels, security products and fire-rated doors need their own handling and work requirements checked. Keep people away from unstable panels and leave dismantling to the appropriate repair team. A written scope should distinguish hardware, timber, glazing and finishing so that each part of the job is clear.
Sticking internal doors and hinge adjustment
A door that rubs after new carpet needs a different assessment from one that has dropped on loose hinges. Record where contact occurs, whether the latch lines up and what recently changed. The frame, hinges, door construction and floor clearance all affect the proposed repair. Do not assume trimming is appropriate for every door. Security and fire-rated components have specific requirements that must be checked before modification.
Timber windows swelling after wet weather
If a window becomes difficult to close after rain, describe the timing and any visible damp, cracked finish or soft timber. Moisture entry may affect the sill, frame or surrounding materials. Planing or repainting without assessing the cause may leave the same fault recurring. Hardware, sash movement and glazing can involve different repair scopes. Do not force a swollen or unstable window simply to make it shut.
Sliding doors hard to open: rollers, track and alignment
Dragging can come from worn rollers, track damage, debris or misalignment. Identify whether the affected panel is glass or an insect screen and whether it has left its track. Roller replacement does not necessarily require replacing the whole door, but compatible hardware and a serviceable track matter. Heavy glass and mirrored panels require appropriate handling. Keep clear of unstable panels rather than lifting or forcing them yourself.
Repair, replacement and access details
Tell us the door or window type, the symptoms, how long the fault has been present and what you want retained. Existing photos are useful but not required. Include apartment lifts, parking, building access and the person authorised to approve work. A written quote should distinguish adjustments, replacement hardware, timber work, glazing and finishing. Repeated moisture or movement needs to be considered before choosing a cosmetic repair.
Common Repair Questions
Why does a timber door stick in wet weather?
Moisture can affect timber and its finish, but hinge or frame problems may also be involved. Note when it sticks and where it rubs. Assessment should consider the cause before trimming or repainting.
Does a damaged sliding-door track always need replacement?
Not always. The extent of damage, panel alignment and available compatible components determine whether local repair or replacement is appropriate. Roller work alone may not correct a damaged track.
Should I call a handyman, carpenter or glazier for a window repair?
Describe whether the fault affects the frame, hardware or glass. We provide window repairs and glass replacement, and confirm the repair plan after checking the window.
Sticking Internal Doors & Door Hinge Adjustment
Who can fix a door that will not close in Perth?
We can inspect a door that will not close and assess the hinges, latch, frame and clearance. Tell us whether it rubs, drops or misses the latch. A local adjustment and installing a new door are different scopes; the inspection determines which is appropriate.
Can you assess a bedroom door rubbing after new carpet?
Yes. Mention the flooring change and show where the door catches. We check the clearance, hinges and door construction before proposing an adjustment. Fire-rated and security doors need their specific requirements checked; they are not treated as ordinary internal doors.
Sliding Doors Hard to Open & Worn Rollers
Can sliding door rollers be replaced without replacing the door?
Often the rollers can be assessed separately from the door, but the track, frame and matching hardware also matter. We check what has worn and whether the panel is suitable to retain. Heavy glass panels require an appropriate handling method, not force to release a jammed door.
My apartment balcony door is jammed. What details should I provide?
Tell us whether the glass panel or insect screen is stuck, whether it can close securely and if it has left the track. Include apartment access and building approval requirements. Keep clear of an unstable panel and arrange an assessment before trying to lift it.
Sticking Timber Windows & Damaged Window Sills
Who can repair an old timber window in Perth?
We assess old timber windows, including the frame, sill, moving parts and hardware. Explain whether the window sticks, leaks or no longer closes securely. Local timber and hardware repairs are considered alongside any glazing or more extensive replacement work required.
My timber window swells after rain. Can you assess the cause?
Yes. Describe when it sticks, where water appears and whether the sill feels soft. The assessment considers moisture entry as well as the moving parts. Repeatedly trimming or repainting the window without addressing moisture may not resolve the recurring fault.
Pet Flaps in Timber Doors & Ordinary Flyscreens
Can a pet door be fitted into an existing timber door?
We assess the door material, panel construction and product before fitting a pet door. Tell us the pet size and proposed position. Glass, security screens and fire-rated doors require their specific requirements to be checked, rather than treated as a standard timber cut-out.
Can you replace a cat flap in an ordinary flyscreen?
Yes, subject to the screen condition and a suitable product. We check the opening, frame and mesh support before confirming fitting. Explain if the screen is also a security door so its safety and security requirements can be assessed separately.
Can you install a pet door in glass or a security screen?
We check the panel type and safety or security requirements before agreeing the installation. Some glass installations need a purpose-made replacement pane. We confirm the appropriate installation method, components and price before work begins.
Can a pet door be cut into an existing toughened pane?
Do not drill or cut an existing toughened-glass pane. We assess the opening and pet-door product, then confirm whether a purpose-made replacement pane is needed.
Could a pet door affect a security door?
Yes. The alteration can affect the complete security product. We check the product and applicable work requirements before agreeing any change. Do not assume fitting a pet flap preserves the door’s security performance.
Related Repair Services & Guides
Discuss the fault with Ellis Perth →
If the problem is a dragging patio slider, damaged track or worn roller, our sliding door repair service explains the repair options, compatible parts and panel-handling assessment. Tell us which panel is affected; photos are optional.
For hinges, latch alignment and a rubbing hinged door, see door repairs. Tell us where it catches and whether flooring or earlier repairs changed the clearance. Patio glass sliders need their own roller and track assessment.
What to take from this guide
The useful distinction is between a clearance change, a hardware fault and a problem in the frame or surrounding material. Wet-weather sticking may return if moisture remains unresolved; dragging rollers may continue to catch on a damaged track. Record the timing and point of contact, then arrange assessment of the affected fitting. Use the FAQ questions to compare door, window and sliding-panel problems, and the door repair service for hinges and latch alignment. Do not force an unstable panel while waiting.