Your patio glass door is the gateway to an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. In addition to creating easier access to outdoor spaces, they also let daylight into your home. And they act as a protective barrier from environmental factors. It is no wonder that many Virginia homes have sliding doors for their patio to be able the four seasons and especially during warmer weather.
However, patio sliding glass door replacements can be one of the most challenging door repairs. Replacing patio door glass yourself can be an extremely difficult and dangerous, if you don’t know what you are doing―save money and time by hiring an expert.
Here at Advanced Window & Glass Repair, we offer the most affordable glass replacement and repair services at different locations in Northern Virginia, including Woodbridge, Stafford, Springfield, Burke, Fairfax, and Manassas just to name a few.
The process of choosing a new patio door glass replacement can be a difficult one, regardless of whether it’s for aesthetic reasons or if it needs to be replaced for functionality. It isn’t just a matter of updating your home- you want it to blend in seamlessly with your existing decor. Here are a few steps to help you make a good decision.
Glass Patio Door Replacement: How to Tell if It’s Time
When your sliding glass door wears out and needs to be replaced, you can tell easily. Telltale signs of replacement for sliding glass doors include:
- It gets stuck when the tracks are misaligned.
- Broken or shuttered glass.
- Fog builds up on the glass panes because of the moisture trapped within them.
- There is difficulty opening and closing the doors. The slider may need to be repaired or replaced if this occurs.
- The patio doors or the frames of the doors have a gap. You can improve your home security and decrease your energy costs by replacing it.
- Depending on the season, you feel a warm or cold draft coming through the sliding glass door.
- Grit and grime buildup in the sliding glass door track damages the rollers.
- The frame appears to be damaged.
- Water leaks into your home every time a heavy rainstorm hits because bad weather has already damaged the weather stripping.
Does your door need to be repaired or replaced? Shuttered glass, for instance, can be repaired. However, if the door has been damaged by hail, impact, or some other accident, you will need to replace the patio doors. Because repairing the damage of this type is impossible.
What to Know Before Sliding Door Glass Replacement
Even for DIY experts, replacing patio door glass is a time-consuming and expensive task. The process could further damage the door without the glass being properly removed and put back correctly. It could even lead to the need to replace the entire door if the glass is not taken out and reinstalled correctly. So, it’s important not to cause injuries and break the glass while disassembling and reassembling the door panel.
Although doing it yourself may save you money in the short run, choosing quality glass solutions that are built to last may save you more in the long run.
Choosing the Right Patio Door Style
Don’t go along with the stale old sliding doors glass style just because you’ve had it for years. Patio doors come in other types and work differently.
- A hinged patio door, or French door, opens and closes like a regular door. The doors can swing either forward or backward, and you can choose which direction they open.
- A folding patio door opens and closes in accordance with a track, similar to a sliding patio door. The doors are folded and stacked at the edges of the doorway, providing a wide, unhindered opening.
In addition to your wall and patio space, you will need to consider whether to use folding, sliding, or hinged doors. There are different ways to install doors into an opening for each type. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the transition, the patio door’s operations, and the area available for the panels after the panel is fully open.
Glass Panel Selection in Exterior Door Sliders
There are two panels of glass sliding doors for the patio: one that remains stationary and one that slides on top of it. However, you’re not limited to traditional two-panel designs.
Depending on your wall space, both multi-slide and multi-fold patio doors can accommodate up to 10 glass panels. Additional panels may be possible even if your sliding glass door remains the same size. It is possible to customize patio door panels as well. When the panel size is narrow, you might be able to add more panels, creating a distinctive three- or quadruple design.
Choosing Between Wood, Fiberglass, and Vinyl Patio Doors
A sliding glass door may come standard with your home, but the design isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you explore all the patio door configurations and options, you’ll be able to create the indoor/outdoor space you want. There are three types of sliding glass doors: wood, fiberglass, and vinyl:
- In addition to its natural beauty and versatility, wood is also an energy-efficient and natural choice. To match your interior design, you can stain or paint it however you like. Composite materials such as fiberglass combine the strength and durability of painted wood textures.
- Fiberglass isn’t available for hinged patio doors. A folding patio door can only be made out of wood. Whether you prefer vinyl’s ease of maintenance or fiberglass’ durability, a sliding patio door offers the most design options.
- Simple yet sleek, vinyl is a great choice. In addition, it has a long lifespan and requires little maintenance.
Costs of Replacing Sliding Doors for Patio
When it comes to replacing sliding doors for the patio, you might have a rough idea of your budget. For a more accurate estimate of patio door pricing, you will need to know what style, how many panels, and what material you prefer.
Decide what you want and rank them according to priority. Do you have a preference for wood patio doors? Are you interested in upgrading to more than one panel? A sliding glass door replacement costs depend on each of the following factors:
- Style – Patio doors that slide offers the most value for your money. The hallmarks of folding and hinged patio doors are premium materials and high-end looks.
- Panels – It’s not hard to figure out. A patio door with more panels of glass will likely cost more. Bifold doors are more expensive than single French doors, but sliding patio doors with three and four panels are more affordable than standard sliding doors.
- Size – You may need more glass when the opening is more expansive. Consequently, large patio doors are more expensive compared to small ones.
- Materials – The cost of wooden patio doors is higher than the cost of vinyl patio doors. In terms of aesthetics and price, fiberglass is comparable to wood, which is more cost-effective. All materials except vinyl are affordable.
- Features – After configuring the main features, you can customize them further. You will have to pay more if you want to replace a patio door with hardware, grilles, glass, or in-glass blinds.
- Glass options – Glass is a great way to add both style and functionality to sliding doors. Different types of glass will cost different prices.
Glass Patio Doors Replacement Options
Advanced Window & Glass Repair isn’t just about installing patio doors glass; we’re about installing the most durable glass patio doors on the market. In addition to being virtually maintenance-free, these sliding glass doors offer numerous advantages, including:
- Triple-contact weatherstripping and an all-uPVC multi-chamber design designed to withstand harsh climates
- With a spring-loaded frame and an enamel finish, these screens are strong, self-cleaning, and spring-loaded.
- Solid, steel-reinforced door panels for a lifetime of smooth, trouble-free use
- Dual synchronized wheels that are adjustable and self-lubricating
Our Replacement Glass Sliding Patio Doors Process
When you call Advanced Window & Glass Repair, we make it easy to provide you with the best glass repair and replacement service:
- After a consultation with our glazing specialists, our glass expert will measure your patio doors, and we will provide you with a quote.
- The price and project details will be detailed in an upfront, flat-rate quote. As soon as you approve the quote, we will start making the glass unit and get it ready for installation.
- It will be our responsibility to clear the work area and give you instructions on how to care for your new patio doors after the glass have been replaced.
Options for Glass for Sliding Patio Door
When replacing the glass on your exterior sliding doors, you have several quality options, including
- Sidelites with decorative glass
- Glass with energy-saving properties
- Glass laminated to withstand hurricanes
- Low-emissivity (low-E) windows for lowering glare and filtering UV rays
At Advanced Window & Glass Repair, our designs and configurations can help you maximize your space, light, and flexibility and give your home a facelift. We can repair, replace, and install all types of exterior doors, including patio, French, sliding, and more. Besides repairing and replacing your glass, we make sure to give you multiple options in order to save you time and money.
FAQs
What are patio glass door replacement solutions?
When should I replace my patio glass door?
Can patio glass doors be customized during replacement?
Are there energy-efficient options for patio glass door replacement?
How do I maintain new patio glass doors after replacement?
Get in touch with us at (571) 351-3692 and get your patio door glass replacement done.
Useful Links
Glass Education Center: https://glassed.vitroglazings.com/topics/how-low-e-glass-works
National Glass Association: https://www.glass.org/
Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-is-tempered-glass-mad/
