Sliding Patio Door Installation, Labor Only — You Buy the Door
A new slider sitting in the garage and an old one that drags and leaks. We set it in a pan, square it, and make sure the screen and lock work before we pack up.
JMB Builders does sliding patio door installation labor only across the Twin Cities metro. You buy the slider at Menards, Home Depot, Lowe's or a window dealer; we pull the old door, check the subfloor and framing, set a sill pan, flash the sides and head, set the frame square so the panel glides and locks, foam and seal it, trim inside and out, and haul the old door away. Priced per door, quoted from photos within one business day.
- Priced per door, labor only
- Sill pan, flashing tape and foam included
- Old slider hauled away
- Quote from photos in 1 business day
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
A sliding patio door is the biggest, heaviest, most exposed door in the house, and the one that fails first. The old one drags because the rollers are shot and the track is worn through; the sill leaks because it was never set in a pan; the corners of the frame are dark because water has been getting behind the trim for years. Buying the new door is the easy half. Getting it into the opening so it slides, locks and stays dry is what we do.
The job starts with the old unit out and a look at what is under it. Subfloor rot at the sill is common on sliders that faced the weather with no pan, and we fix it before the new door goes in — we will not set a new frame on a soft floor. Then a sill pan goes down, the sides and head get flashing tape lapped the right way, and the new frame gets set. Out of square is the enemy of a slider: if the frame is racked even a little, the panel binds at one end and the lock will not line up. We shim it square, not just plumb, and run the panel back and forth before anything gets fastened for good.
After that it is foam in the gaps, sealant outside, the screen panel set on its track and adjusted, the lock and keeper lined up, and trim inside and out. Interior casing goes in primed and caulked. Painting is quoted as a separate line — or leave it primed and caulked and paint it yourself.
What you supply
- The sliding patio door unit with screen, in the size and handing that fits your opening
- The handle set or lock if the unit does not come with one, and a foot bolt if you want one
- Photos of the old door from inside and outside, and a photo of the sill area from inside
- Paint color if you want the interior casing painted — painting is quoted as a separate line
What JMB supplies
- Removal and haul-away of the old sliding door, frame and trim
- Sill pan, flashing tape, backer rod, low-expansion foam and exterior sealant
- Subfloor or framing repair at the sill when it is needed, quoted from the photos
- Frame set square and plumb, panel and screen adjusted, lock and keeper aligned
- Interior casing in a standard profile or matched to the room, exterior trim or brickmould
- Painting of the new casing when you want it done, quoted as its own line
- Photos of the finished door in your job folder
How it is priced: per door
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Straight swap in the same rough opening vs. resizing the opening for a different door size
- Rot or subfloor repair at the sill, which is the most common surprise on old sliders
- Two-panel vs. three- or four-panel units, which are heavier and take longer to square
- Exterior siding type — vinyl, lap siding, stucco or brick change how the outside gets trimmed and sealed
- Interior casing in a stock profile vs. matching the room, or a drywall return
- First-floor walk-out vs. a deck or elevated door that needs staging
- Painting the new casing, quoted as a separate line
Send a photo of the door label or your order confirmation along with the opening photos and the quote covers the whole job, no allowances.
How long it takes
One two-panel slider in a sound opening: most of a day. Add time for sill repair, a three- or four-panel unit, or stucco or brick on the outside.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Same-size replacement slider
The new door matches the old opening. Old unit out, opening checked, pan and flashing in, new frame set square, trimmed both sides. The most common job and usually done in a day.
Slider into a resized opening
Going from a narrow slider to a wider one, or the other way. We reframe the opening to the new rough size, add a header if the opening grows, and finish the wall and siding where the change shows.
Three- and four-panel sliders
Big multi-panel units for a walk-out or a deck wall. Heavier frames that need two people to set and more care to square, since a long track shows any dip. Same pan and flashing details as a two-panel.
Slider replacing French doors
Swapping hinged patio doors for a slider to get the swing out of the room. The opening is usually close to the same size; we confirm it from the photos and adjust the framing if it is not.
Sliding Patio Door Installation, Labor Only — You Buy the Door: questions, answered
Do you install sliding glass doors that I bought myself?
Yes, that is what this service is. Buy the slider at Menards, Home Depot, Lowe's, a window dealer or online, and we install it. We bring the sill pan, flashing tape, foam, sealant, fasteners and trim; you supply the door and the handle set if it is not included. If you are not sure about the size or the handing, send us the opening photos before you order and we will tell you what to buy.
What size sliding patio door should I buy?
Measure the width and height of the existing frame from outside edge to outside edge, and if you can, measure the rough opening behind the trim. Sliders come in a few common widths and heights; most replacements are a same-size unit. You also need the handing: standing outside looking at the door, note which side the sliding panel is on. Send us the numbers and a photo and we will confirm the size before you order.
What if the opening is out of square?
It usually is, a little, on an older house. We shim the new frame square inside the opening rather than following the framing, because a slider that is racked binds at one end and the lock will not meet the keeper. If the opening is out by more than shims can take up, we straighten the framing first. Either way we run the panel back and forth and throw the lock before the frame gets fastened for good.
What is a sill pan and does a sliding door need one?
A sill pan is a waterproof tray under the door frame, turned up at the back and the ends, that catches any water that gets past the door and sends it back outside. Sliding doors need one more than any other door because the track collects water and snow, and the old one probably did not have it — that is why the subfloor at the sill rots. We put one under every slider we set.
Will the screen door and the lock be adjusted?
Yes. The screen panel goes on its track and gets its rollers adjusted so it slides without popping off and latches at the jamb. The main panel gets its rollers set so it glides level and the lock hook lines up with the keeper without lifting or forcing. We do not leave until both slide with one hand and lock.
What do you do with the old patio door?
We haul it away with the old frame and trim. If you want to keep the old panel for a shed or a greenhouse, tell us and we will set it aside instead. Either way the opening gets cleaned out before the new door goes in.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 24, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All doors pages
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