It's incredible how a single upgrade in your home can freshen up your space, make it appear larger, add intimacy or capture the attention of guests. Glass sliding doors ensure a seamless transition between rooms, deliver instant privacy when you need it, and give you access to outdoor areas like a patio or backyard.
Glass sliding doors can make for excellent room dividers that give visual privacy and curtail foot traffic. The clear glass panels allow light to shine through to create a warm and inviting space. Stylistically, sliding doors are a nice contemporary touch and elevate any space. These doors are minimalist but still offer a touch of sophistication. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about glass sliding doors, such as where to use them, which door frames to choose, whether to add pocket installation and how to maintain them and add security to them.
Where Should I Use Glass Sliding Doors?
The beauty of glass sliding doors is that they can be installed virtually anywhere in your home. They are most commonly found in the kitchen or other rooms that lead to the garden, yard, or patio. However, your options aren't limited to these areas.
Glass sliding doors are perfect for areas that receive a lot of foot traffic. Since the door recedes into a slot, it gives more space for people to move through, which smoothens the transition between each room. Here are some ideas to inspire you so that you can use sliding glass doors to jazz up your home:
1. Brighten up your bathroom.
Homes with large bathrooms can significantly benefit from sliding doors. You can separate the shower area from the sink or toilet. Or perhaps, if you have a sauna or hot tub, you can place the sliding door there as well. Besides the functionality of how the door fits into the bathroom, it also adds a lovely elegance. Most bathrooms generally have light colors inside, so a clear glass door provides elegance and luxury.
2. Between your dining area and living room.
Partitioning space between the dining and living area can be great for guests are over. This helps distinguish the area for eating and the area for relaxing and entertaining. Since these doors don't swing outward like regular doors, they won't disrupt your floor plan.
3. Add light to your balcony.
The room that connects to the balcony should offer amazing views outside your San Diego home. For example, if your office space connects to a balcony, having a glass sliding door can add light to your room. Not to mention, it's nice to grasp a view of the outside without actually needing to step out to the balcony.
4. Between the dry and wet kitchen.
The dry kitchen area is the space where the refrigerator and kitchen island is. Conversely, the wet kitchen is where the heavy cooking is done. By separating the two, you can prevent smoke and grease from affecting other areas of your kitchen. This is great for homes with large kitchens. It can prevent other home occupants from disturbing the chef when food is being prepared.
5. Create a walk-in closet or wardrobe.
Modernize your closet by swapping your regular door with a sliding glass door. This allows you to see your wardrobe without stepping inside visually. If you have a large bedroom, you can dedicate extra space to your closet by adding a sliding door as well.
6. Provide a smooth transition between your living room and bedroom area.
Small homes are ideal for sliding doors that separate the bedroom and living area. For example, a studio space can feel much more spacious if a sliding door is added.
6. Create a walk-in closet or wardrobe.
Modernize your closet by swapping your regular door with a sliding glass door. This allows you to see your wardrobe without stepping inside visually. If you have a large bedroom, you can dedicate extra space to your closet by adding a sliding door as well.
Frame Options
Frame materials can set the mood and design of your sliding glass door. Some materials look more traditional, while others are more contemporary. Additionally, materials vary in other factors such as durability, energy efficiency, and ease of maintenance.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a very sturdy and robust material designed to last a long time. Unlike other metal materials, they are very light, reasonably priced, and energy-efficient. Additionally, they can withstand scratches and corrosion. However, the lightweight characteristic of the material can lead to potential dents in the frame.
uPVC
uPVC, otherwise known as unplasticized polyvinyl chloride doors and windows, is a popular option widely used in homes. They are a cost-effective option that is energy efficient and can withstand outdoor elements. uPVC tends to hold up well to inclement weather without corroding, flaking, rotting, or peeling. Not to mention, it's more robust, durable, and easier to maintain than wooden frames. The material has a thermal resistance that traps heat so that it won't interfere with the air conditioning in your home. However, despite their robustness, these frames can be prone to sagging due to their lightweight characteristics. Furthermore, it doesn't have as many color and texture options as aluminum doors.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is constructed from a glass-based material, except it mimics the look of wood nearly perfectly. As a result, fiberglass doesn't have any of the flaws that wood has. Also, it's energy-efficient, requires no upkeep, and handles weather conditions well. Fiberglass can withstand even extreme weather without deteriorating, rotting, or warping. Generally, it conducts minimum head and cold, which prevents your energy bills from going up.
Wood
Woods offer a classic and traditional style to the door. It has a distinctive finish that provides a cozy ambiance to your home. Generally, wood can be repaired easily; unfortunately, it can be prone to water damage. Since wood is a natural material, they tend to require more upkeep. Furthermore, extended exposure to sunlight can cause the wood to fade. The advantage of wood is that it provides the most insulation out of any material.
Should You Consider Pocket Installation?
Pocket installation means keeping the original frame, casing, siding, and trim intact while only adding a door. A pocket door is an ideal solution for closing off an open area of your home or office. They disappear into the wall when these doors are opened instead of taking up space.
Reasons to choose pocket doors.
Pocket doors are beneficial for small rooms where you don't want to lose wall space. An average hung door will take up a lot of walls and floor space that can't be used for anything else. A standard door sweeps a half-circle arc that measures the radius of how wide the door is. This area must be clear of furniture or anything else, which could be a nuisance for small spaces. A standard 2ft 6 inches swing door can result in a loss of 5 to 10 square feet. Also, since the pocket door doesn't need wall space, you can have the piece of furniture right by the entrance.
Additionally, pocket doors work wonderfully as room dividers to separate a large room into two smaller intimate rooms. For instance, you could add two double pocket doors to convert a large open plan dining room and lounge into two smaller rooms, creating greater intimacy between the two spaces.
Installing a modern pocket door can add elegance to your space, especially when stylish glass is used. Thus, installing pocket doors is a great way to enhance the aesthetics of your interior space.
Reasons to not choose pocket doors.
The type of wall you have can dictate whether you have fit a pocket door or not. Solid masonry walls aren't ideal for pocket doors because these brick walls are too thick for the thickness of a standard sliding glass door. Pocket doors generally only work with drywall or stud partition walls.
With a timber stud wall, the thickness of the wooden header piece located above the door must be the same thickness and dimensions as the rest of the framing tinder. That's because the pocket door will hang from a rail fitted into the header. The timber must be able to support the weight of the door. Most pocket door kits usually provide recommendations for the size of the header piece needed to support the door.
Since the door slides into the wall cavities, the cavity must be free from obstructions. This means you can't have any wall fixings that would protrude into the cavity. Otherwise, this prevents the pocket door from opening and closing properly. Or it could damage the door as it moves past the wall fixing.
Some homeowners believe that pocket doors can be somewhat noisy. That's because the sound from impact when the door stops can make noise. The noise may be suitable for standard living rooms, especially soft furnishings and carpets to absorb the sound. However, the sliding door in a bathroom with only hard surfaces can be problematic. The only way to prevent this is to control the door opening and closing throughout the operation.
Contractors may not like to install pocket doors because they are challenging to fit. General contractors may struggle to fit the doors into the cavities of the wall during installation. Also, if the door is handled roughly, or if the supporting frame is moved, it derails the operation of the door. Fortunately, at US Window and Door, we offer a wind range of sliding doors that can be used for pocket installation. Furthermore, our expert team can provide custom door installation to suit your home's needs.
How Do You Maintain a Sliding Glass Door?
A sliding glass door looks incredibly elegant and can enhance your home's appearance. However, they require regular maintenance; otherwise, it could lead to problems such as glass breaking or rollers getting stuck. We'll give you tips and tricks on maintaining your sliding glass door properly.
Clean the glass area
The longer stains remain on the glass, the harder it'll be to remove them. Therefore, we recommend cleaning the glass on the sliding door at least once per week. A clean sliding door will enhance the clarity of the glass and ensure light can enter your home. Not to mention, the door will look cleaner, and your home will appear more well-kept.
Thoroughly clean the glass using a mix of water and dish soap. Use a hand rag to wet the entire glass and use paper towels to dry the glass. Next, use a glass cleaner and spray it along the glass.
Lubricate the tracks
If you have difficulty opening or closing your sliding glass door, it could mean that the roller tracks are plagued by grime or rust. Over time, rust can impede movement. This means you'll need to clean and lubricate the tracks routinely. With a wire brush, you can get rid of dust buildup along the rollers and tracks. You can use the narrow hose on your vacuum to clean the tracks and edges of the sliding door to remove as much dirt as possible. Use a sponge and cleaning brush to clean it off to keep it sparkly clean.
Lubricating the tracks is a great way to prevent dust buildup in the first place. Ideally, you'll want to clean and lubricate the tracks and rollers about once every six months for best results. If the doors are used for the patio or near a garden, consider cleaning them more frequently since it is prone to attracting dirt and grime.
How Secure are Sliding Glass Doors?
Criminals looking to enter a home may look to target sliding glass doors. A common concern homeowners have about sliding glass doors is that they might not be as safe as traditional doors. That's because glass can be sometimes broken, especially from bad weather or burglars.
Also, a sliding glass door has several ways of being broken into:
- These doors can easily be rattled, pulled off their rails, or shattered.
- Since the doors use clear glass, burglars will have a nice view of anything inside. They'll be able to see if there's anything worth stealing.
- The doors can be easily unlatched with a bit of jiggling. That's because many sliding doors use a latch rather than locks.
- Sliding glass doors are also predictably located on the sides or back of the house, which means they can enter through vulnerable areas of your home. This also means your neighbors won't be able to notice anything suspicious since the sliding door is out of plain sight.
With that said, you can maximize the security of your home by adding enhances to the sliding door.
Ways to Add Security to Your Sliding Glass Door
One of the most useful security features you can add to your sliding glass door is a smart technology or sensor. Some smart lock sensors connect to your smartphone and tell you whether your doors and windows are locked or unlocked.
Other ways you can enhance the security of your doors are to add a blocking bar, shatterproof glass, built-in blinds, or a monitored home security system. Using a higher-quality safety glass such as tempered or laminate glass can be helpful, especially for doors that provide access to the outside. Tempered glass breaks into small smooth chunks of glass, which are much safer than regular annealed glass. Laminate glass doesn't fall out when broken. Instead, this glass type is made from two panes of glass and vinyl or PVB sandwiched between. As a result, the broken glass is stuck onto the material; thus, it significantly reduces the risk of injury. Furthermore, these glasses are impact-resistant to prevent a rock or sharp object from puncturing it. Adding blinds in the interior of the glass door can deter burglars from peeking inside as well.
A blocking bar is placed on the track to prevent the door from opening. It can be great for keeping the door locked at night when intruders may be lurking. You could also use a double-bolt lock which keeps the glass door from accidentally sliding open. Using a security system can come incredibly handy since you'll see when a burglar is nearby. The system should detect suspicious events and immediately notify you. Some may even come with a glass break sensor that triggers an alarm if the glass is broken.
At US Window and Door, we're proud to offer the highest quality doors in the market. We partner with Milgard and Masonite to deliver stunning doors that add luxury and elegance to your home. Furthermore, the glass used protects them from mildew, warping, corrosion, and rotting. Being near the ocean, these are excellent features to have. If you're interested in adding glass sliding doors to your home, contact us today to discuss door installation or replacement services.
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