On average, patio door replacements cost about $2,500. It may cost you more, depending on the type of replacement you’re having.
This isn’t a small amount, by all means, so you need to be careful. Trying to save and doing it yourself can cost you more in the long run. It may be dangerous for you, too, as the average homeowner wouldn’t know the proper procedure.
What’s the proper installation process for a patio door replacement, anyway? To better educate yourself, keep on reading to know the whole process.
1. Considering the Patio Door Style
Looking to spice up your home with a new patio door? Check out your options below and see what works for your home.
Sliding Patio Door
Sliding patio doors are some of the most common of all door styles. They have at least one panel that slides over the other.
This type of patio door is the most popular because of its benefits. They make it easy to come in and go out, which is useful when you’re grilling, and you need to run in and out of the house.
Most sliding patio doors have glass panels, allowing them to let in as much natural light as possible. It can brighten any room, and your indoor plants will thank you for it, too.
You can keep it open for good ventilation, as well. Don’t like bugs? Then you can choose a sliding door with a screen to keep the bugs out while letting some fresh air in.
Its biggest advantage, however, is its space-saving features. Because it doesn’t swing in or out, you don’t need to save some room around the door.
Hinged Doors
More commonly known as French doors, hinged doors have two panels. They both swing either inward or outward or both.
It’s not typical for French doors to have screens. This can be a problem if you want to keep them open to take advantage of the nice weather.
Another drawback is that they take up valuable space. You can’t put furniture or anything in front of them that can interfere with the path of the doors.
Center Swing Door
This type of patio door looks much like French doors, but one panel is permanently fixed into place. The door swings back into the fixed panel.
It can save you some space in that you won’t have to worry about having any room in the adjacent wall.
You can have two sets of center swing doors so that it looks like you have a French door in the middle. You’ll need ample wall space for this, though.
Folding Patio Door
Folding patio doors are perfect if you want to make a statement but they’re best for wide spaces. As they fold like an accordion, you’ll need several panels on a single wall. You can have at least two panels to eight, but it looks better when it has more panels.
Folding doors are a great way to open up the indoors to the outdoors, connecting them in a way other types of doors couldn’t. You can open them slightly or in full, removing the divide between two spaces.
Glass
Alternatively, you can have only the glass of the door replaced. This is an option for when you have a broken glass,or when you want to upgrade to double-pane or tempered glass.
A double-pane door has two layers that give the door better insulation properties. It will help reduce energy consumption and, in turn, lower your energy bills.
Tempered glass is also a popular choice because it’s at least four times stronger than the regular ones. You’ll have better protection against break-ins, and it has a safety feature that allows it to crumble into less dangerous pieces when broken. That means you won’t have to deal with sharp glass shards, making for a safer and faster clean-up.
2. Selecting the Right Patio Door
Knowing your options is one thing, but choosing what works best for you is another. How do you choose among all the possible options? Follow our tips below.
Consider What You Already Have
To keep the replacement costs at a minimum, consider getting a patio door that’s similar to your current one.
Doing this, you don’t need to spend on removing or adding a part of the wall to accommodate a door with new dimensions. You already have the frame; you’ll only need to pay for the door and installation.
If you’re still happy with the style of the door, you can opt for glass replacement instead.
Measure Your Space
You also have to consider if the mechanism of the door will work in your space. Measure how much space you have on both the interior and exterior sides. Also, look for furniture that might interfere with the door opening.
Can they accommodate a swinging door? Should you get an in-swing or an out-swing patio door? When you have limited space, sliding doors will work better.
The wall space matters, too, especially for huge installations like accordion-style doors. Determine how much wall space you want to give up to install the door. Note that the contractor will have to break down the walls to install a bigger door than the one you have now. This will add to the total patio door replacement cost.
Find the Right Look
The aesthetics should be a priority, too. Choose a patio door that matches the look of the interior and exterior so it doesn’t look out of place. This applies to all the patio door replacement parts, including the hardware and frame.
Folding doors, for instance, would look great on a modern home. French doors would be perfect for traditional homes, but they can work with contemporary styles, too.
You should also pay attention to the color and material of the frame. Patio doors come in different materials and colors, so this shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Evaluate Your Needs
Next, determine whether you need full glass or other types of designs. Full-glass patio doors give you maximum light, and they’re appealing, too. However, they’re harder to maintain, and they may not match the look of the house.
3. Preparing for the Patio Door Replacement
Once you have chosen the right patio door for you and your space, it’s time to prepare for the replacement.
It’s better if you prepare the area ahead by moving away furniture that might get in the way of the crew. As for the door itself, leave it to the professionals.
The contractor’s team will take out the old door first, taking care not to cause damage to the surrounding area. Companies like Renewal by Andersen of Denver also use drop cloths to catch dust and debris during the installation.
Depending on the replacement, it can take a while before the walls are ready to accommodate the new door. For example, they may still have to make a bigger opening when you want a bigger door replacement.
4. Installing the New Patio Door
Once the opening is ready, they will then install the new patio door.
They may have to install the frame first if they took it out while preparing for the replacement.
If they’re doing a pocket installation, then they only have to slide the door into the existing frame. It usually takes only an hour or so. This option is available if you’re replacing the door with the same type and size.
A full door replacement takes more time and effort. They’ll have to take out the frame and trim to install new ones. It’s worth it, though, especially if you’re upgrading to a better and bigger door.
5. Sealing and Insulating the Door and Frame
The next step is to seal and insulate the door. They’ll use caulking, spray foam insulation, weather-stripping, or whatever works for your specific case.
Insulating the doors prevents air from coming in or going out through any opening. Small cracks on windows and doors can cause expensive air leaks. Your HVAC will struggle to keep the indoor temperature stable.
It will help keep the cold air out and the warm air in, saving you from high energy bills and keeping you comfortable.
This is one of the most important parts of the process. Glass is a poor insulator, so it loses more heat than other types of doors. Sliding glass doors are hard to insulate, in particular, because of their mechanism.
Find a team that will provide the best insulation possible, no matter what type of patio door you choose.
6. Cleaning up the Site
Don’t worry, the crew will clean up any debris or dust that have accumulated during the installation. They’ll also do a final inspection to ensure proper installation, making sure there are no issues.
This will also be the time when they’ll give you instructions on how to maintain your new doors. Pay attention and ask as much as you can.
Choose a Reputable Contractor
The most important thing in this process is choosing the best contractor to do the patio door replacement. You want a flawless result with great insulation; otherwise, you might be paying more to get it fixed.
Don’t fret, we’ve got more home improvement tips to help you out! To discover all the home repairs and maintenance tips you need, feel free to go over more of our guides right here!
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