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Sliding glass doors are a great addition to any house for extra, natural lighting and easy access to a porch or patio. Before deciding to install a set of glass doors, however, you should take into account the various factors that the new set will allow in aside from sunlight.
Sliding glass doors are frequently located to allow easy access to a yard, and for this reason they are often left open. During weather that is conducive to going outside, it is unlikely that an open door will cost you any extra money in terms of energy costs. An open glass door will, however, allow any number of pests into your house, from flies to mice. It is imperative that the installation of your set of sliding glass doors also includes a strong screen door. Screen doors tend to be easier to slide than glass doors, simply banging into place with minimal effort. This simple process can save a lot of money and headaches when it comes to keeping fast-breeding pests out of your home. You should also keep in mind that glass doors tend to increase the temperature of the room from which they lead. The rays of the summer sun are intensified by the glass, and the heat can become unbearable. For times during the summer when your patio doors are closed, also draw the drapes or pull full-length blinds down in order to keep your living area cool. Another way to beat the heat with your glass doors is to buy a set that is not entirely glass. Many sliding patio doors come with thinner sheets of glass divided by siding, and these are ideal in providing both a view to the outdoors and a minimization of heat intensifying glass surface. In the wintertime, sliding glass doors are more apt to have a draft than are conventional wood doors. If you have installed your doors yourself, there are two things that you will want to be sure you do in terms of weatherproofing before you call it a wrap. The first step in weatherproofing your glass door is to stuff fiberglass in between the door jamb and the wall framing, but don’t pack it in. Then add the outside trim and the interior casing. After the casing has been added, caulk the outside trim wherever it meets your siding. Everybody is becoming more energy conscious, and if you find that your heating bills have gone up from one year to the next, you might want to check the areas around the edges of your glass doors to make sure there are no leaks that are letting warm air out and cold air in. Glass doors are an excellent item to include in a home, but any time extra glass is added there is the risk of more energy loss.
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Exterior Doors