If the frame is structurally sound, this is usually a glass-only repair — the insulated glass unit's seal has failed and needs replacement, not the whole window assembly. On an impact-rated window, the replacement glass has to match your original unit's tested rating, which we verify before ordering the part.

In most cases it's a repair — worn rollers, a track full of debris, or hardware overdue for lubrication are the most common causes of a slider becoming hard to operate, and all three are fixable without replacing the door. A full replacement is usually only warranted if the frame or glass itself is damaged.

It has to match — the frame and glass on an impact-rated window were tested together as one assembly, so replacement glass needs to carry the same NOA or Florida Product Approval rating as the original, not just be similar-looking laminated glass. We verify the original product's certification before sourcing replacement glass.

It depends on what's actually wrong and what the windows are. If they're older single-pane or pre-code aluminum units, they were never tested to current impact standards regardless of condition, which affects both storm performance and insurance eligibility — that's usually a stronger case for replacement than repair. If they're impact-rated units with an isolated hardware or seal issue, repair is often the more sensible call.

Most commonly it's a hinge that's sagged slightly out of alignment, or a multi-point lock that's fallen out of adjustment — both are typically fixable without replacing the door, though we diagnose on-site to confirm rather than guessing over the phone.

Active water intrusion, glass that's cracked or compromised, or a door/window that won't close and seal at all are emergency-priority issues. Cosmetic damage, minor hardware stiffness, or a unit that still closes and seals properly even if it looks rough can generally wait for a scheduled repair visit rather than an emergency call.

Repair alone doesn't change your wind mitigation credit one way or the other — the credit is based on whether the installed product meets the protection standard, not on whether it was originally installed as new or repaired later, as long as the repair restores it to its original certified condition.

Potentially, yes — if cumulative repair work across the home exceeds roughly 25% of your glazed openings within a rolling 12-month period, that can trigger a requirement to bring the full scope up to current code, the same threshold that applies to phased replacement projects. It's worth mentioning your full repair plan up front so we can flag this before it becomes an issue mid-project.