LEVERING OPEN A STIFF PATIO DOOR

TO MAKE Attach a flat piece of wood measuring about 36" x 3" x 1/4" to the WALL FRAME of the sliding door, a couple of inches above the floor, by a 2" wood screw. (See right arrow) Drive a second 2" wood screw (the fulcrum) into the adjacent vertical side of the WINDOW FRAME about 5" higher than the first screw. (See left arrow.) Pushing the top of the wooden lever to the left will put a 6:1 advantage on it and even the heaviest of doors will slide open easily.

EXTRAS

1. Smooth off the wood and make the "handle" easy to manage.
2. Drill a hole in the wooden lever before installing to make it rotate smoothly when screwed on the wall frame.
3. Tie the handle of the lever with a cord attached to the wall so that it leans only as far as is necessary to open and does not fall to the floor when returned to "home base."