How to Re-Caulk Patio Sliding Doors

Sliding glass patio doors are a great addition to any room where you want to be able to easily access the outdoors such as a room that faces the backyard or patio.  It is a good idea to check the caulk that seals your patio doors regularly to ensure that they are properly sealed.

1. Clean your patio door thoroughly using a mild detergent and a scrub brush to remove any dirt and debris that may be stuck in the area where your door is caulked. This will allow you to properly access the caulking on your patio door.


2. Use a toothbrush to scrub the area where the caulk is to ensure that you have removed all of the dirt and debris that are near the area thoroughly.


3. Check to be sure that your door is in good working order and slides easily. If your door is not in good working order, you will damage the new caulk as soon as it is applied. Be sure that all parts of your patio door are operating as they should be.


4. Scrape away any loose caulk around the frame of your patio door, as well as around the area where the glass is inserted. You want to thoroughly remove any caulk that is not properly sealed.


5. Inspect the caulking around the glass panels to determine if they need to be re-caulked. If the caulk seems to be intact, you will only need to re-caulk the area around the frame of your patio doors.


6. Purchase caulk and a caulk gun from your local hardware or home improvement store. 


7. Cut off the tip of the caulk using the nozzle cutter on your caulk gun, and then squeeze the trigger until the caulk rises to the top of the gun and is ready to be applied.


8. Fill in any gaps using a constant bead of caulk slowly working your way around the frame of your patio door.


9. Wet your finger, and then run it along the caulk applying slight pressure to ensure that it properly seals the areas that need it.


10. Remove any access caulk and then check to see if the areas are completely filled in. If they are not you can repeat steps eight and nine to apply a second coat of caulking to the frame of your patio doors.