Missing glides scratching the pavers or pool deck

Chairs that scrape, leave gray marks on the pavers or rock on a flat deck almost always have missing or worn glides. Glides cost about $1 to $2 each in parts. A glides-only visit typically runs a $75 small-job minimum, and with a sling or strap job it is just the parts.

Check this first (five minutes)

1. Turn each chair over and count the glides. Note any missing, cracked or worn flat.
2. Look at the tube ends where a glide is missing. If the aluminum is ground at an angle or worn through, the glide has been gone a while.
3. Measure one tube. Glide size is usually set by the tube’s outside diameter; a few go by the inside diameter. Note the shape too.
4. Pull a surviving glide and take it with you if you are buying replacements.

What is usually wrong

Prices match the pricing page.

Why it matters

Tropitone’s care guide says glides are sometimes lost or worn with use and should be replaced for stability and safety. Without them the bare tube sits on concrete, pavers or a coated pool deck. It scratches the surface, grinds the tube end, and leaves the chair rocking, which loads the leg welds unevenly; see wobbly chair or cracked weld.

Why they go missing

Glides are small plastic parts, and dragging chairs across rough concrete and pavers grinds them down. Once one goes, the chair rocks and the others wear faster.

Doing it

This is the one repair most owners can do themselves in ten minutes if the size is easy to match. Where we earn the money is odd sizes, worn tube ends, and doing a whole set during other work. See glides and feet replacement, or add glides to a vinyl strap restrapping or sling replacement job.

When to call

Call if the tube ends are damaged, if the glides are an unusual shape you cannot match, or if you want the whole set done alongside other repairs.