Guide To Home Improvement - Why Choose Sliding Glass Doors?

Tired of your rusting, cracking, plain-looking old doors? Looking to let in a little sunshine, update your home's appearance, and add a little functionality while you're at it? Sliding glass doors offer an easy update to your home.

New options for sliding glass doors are easing the old worries of energy efficiency. Whether you're looking to replace drafty old sliding glass doors or change the whole look of your house, sliding glass doors are becoming an attractive option.

New SlidingGlassDoors and Energy Efficiency

Older models of sliding doors, with their single-pane glass and thin frames, offered a host of problems to homeowners. Poor sealing and insulation lowered energy efficiency, while aging frames could creak and separate from the home. Fortunately, new sliding glass options are worlds away from their ancestors.

Newer sliding glass doors are made with the same energy efficiency standards as top-of-the-line windows and French doors. For you, that means a beautiful, modern sliding door that can actually save you money on your monthly energy bill. With sliding glass doors, professional installation is recommended to avoid the problems that arise with a poorly balanced do do-it-yourself (DIY) door.

Choose Professional DoorInstallation

The Bonneville Power Administration's Energy Efficiency department recommends professional installation for double-paned sliding glass doors. A proper installation "requires the temporary removal of some house siding around the door opening and, sometimes, slight modifications of the door opening itself to make the new door fit," their guidelines state. "Installations must be square and plumb, or the door will not function properly."

The bottom line on sliding glass? Properly installed sliding glass doors offers beauty, energy efficiency, and an updated look for your home. Modernize your front porch or backyard in a day with a stylish new door.

About the Author:

Amelia Gray is a freelance writer in Austin, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University and an MFA from Texas State University.

Source(s):

Bonneville Power Administration Apr 19, 2004