Patio Doors

Jack’s Mom asked:


I have an estimate and wanted to compare it with others to ensure I have a good one. I would personally get more estimates, but only one company in my area offers free estimates - everyone else charges for them and I am cheap.

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David Brooks asked:


Sliding glass patio doors are a wonderful idea, they create a sense of extra space by bringing your patio and backyard inside. Plus they can be a great source for sunlight. But you probably don’t want your view open all the time, so window treatments are often needed for the times when you do need privacy, light control and even insulation.

Patio door window treatments can be a challenge, so here are a few expert suggestions. The traditional choice would be vertical blinds or curtains on a traverse rod, which emphasize the dramatic dimensions of your patio door while providing complete privacy and light control. Aluminum, vinyl or cloth vertical blinds come in any color—matching them to standard horizontal blinds on your other windows is a good idea—and can provide a chic, modern accent for any room. Vertical blinds also come in faux wood, which is a good match with wood or composite blinds. Another interesting option you might want to consider are ceiling mount verticals, which would eliminate a potentially annoying gap between the ceiling and the door frame.

There’s also Levolor’s exclusive BackStacker feature that keeps sometimes-unruly vertical vanes neatly and discretely stacked when open. Another consideration is insulation. Glass patio doors offer a lot of surface area for cold air to get in, and investing in either vertical cellular shades or heavy insulated curtains is an easy way to save on your heating bill.

But if you’re in the market for patio door window treatments and vertical shades just aren’t your thing, don’t worry, you’ve still got options. Sliding panel track blinds are a novel offering now available in a wide range of materials from natural wovens to fabric to solar screens. As an aside, panel track blinds can also be used as a decorative room divider. You can also consider using multiple horizontal window blinds or shades to cover the area: splitting the shades per-pane (i.e. two if it’s a full-glass sliding door) allows you to independently control your two shades. For example, the stationary shade can be lowered while the access shade is raised. In this situation, solar shades are an intriguing option, they’ll screen out glare and UV rays while keeping your picture window view, and they’re available in a wide range of patterns to compliment any interior environment.

If you are considering measuring and installing your vertical blinds or curtains, I would recommend utilizing the various “how to measure and install window blinds” videos available on websites like You Tube. The advantage of doing it yourself is predominantly cost savings. It easier than you might think.

Also, if you haven’t checked out the various online retailers of window treatments, you may want to do some poking around on the internet. The major advantage of purchasing online is selection. Most of the top internet retailers offer the top brands, like Hunter Douglas, Levolor, Bali, Graber Comfortex and Kirsch, at discount prices. If you are like me and have trouble buying without seeing, you can go to a traditional brick and mortar store. You can purchase your window treatments there or take the information back to your online search armed with more specific information.



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Adriana N asked:


Over time, patio doors tend to become worn and tattered looking. The patio door components will often start to break off making the door difficult to open and close. This is often an indication that it is time to replace the patio door. Replacing a patio door is not difficult for the novice handyman. It just takes patience and following all the steps involved with installing the doors.

The following is a guide to replacing a patio door.

1. One should remove the old patio door by dissembling it and removing it in pieces.

First, remove the sliding door and fixed panel. Remove the screws from the top and bottom of the fixed panel.

2. Pull off the panel that is stopping the door from being lifted. Lift the door from its track. Remove any screws that are in the panel, including the screws are around the track system.

3. Remove the second frame the same way that you removed the first frame. Remove any remaining screws and then remove the tracks from the frame. Lift the rollers by slipping the tip of the screwdriver under them.

4. Remove the second frame. Pull the metal flashing out. Clear out any wood pieces, nails, and screws so that everything is smooth,

5. Shim the wall frame. Make sure all sides are level and shim each side to meet the new patio door’s size requirements.

6. Install the new patio door. First, install the interior molding. Nail the molding to the frame.

7. Place the top edge of the door in first, placing the rollers back into the track. Move the bottom of the door in line with the track at the bottom of the frame. Most bottom rollers are spring loaded so they are easy to install.

8. Nail and screw in the door frames and molding. Make sure that you seal the outside joints with caulk.

9. Once the door is in the frame, adjust it so that it is line with the rollers. If necessary, re-position the lock.

10. Make sure you reinsert the screws. Patch and finish any damaged spots. Add the trim.

11. When finished, test the patio door in the track by sliding the door open and then closing it.

Depending on what type of new patio doors you have purchased, there are a number of ways to install them. When installing the doors, make sure you understand the type of doors you have in case there are specific steps that must be taken in order to install them properly. If you are unsure about installing the patio doors, you should hire someone who has the skill and experience to install them.

Patio doors make an attractive feature to one’s home. They have become extremely popular and patio designers have made many improvements in style and design. As well, safety glass is now used to avoid injuries, particularly children who may accidentally run into the doors. Patio doors increase the value of your home so it is important that when you replace old doors with new doors, it is done properly.



Heat Pump Ratings

We1shi asked:


I have patio doors in my living room (they are about 7ft tall). I need to install an air conditioner because the heat in the summer is too un-bearable to live with. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can install one OR has anyone seen a patio door fixture that can accomodate an air conditioner?

Outdoor Solar Lighting

Sola123 asked:


This aggravating thing! I am selling my house, and although this lock never worked when I bought the house, the inspector for the new buyer says it has to be fixed.

Simple right? It appears that the receiving part is too high for the lock thingy to engage. I removed the receiving end that has a rectangle opening, but how to know where exactly to mount it?

I tried a little higher, a little lower. There must be a trick. I can’t see or mark exactly where to mount it, since it’s hidden when the door is closed. You can’t see the lock at all.

Could it be the ‘hook’ part itself that is not staying in the rectangle receptacle? How to know?

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated!! Thanks.

Outdoor Solar Lighting

bloom media asked:


On warm summer nights patios can be the perfect retreat to enjoy a glass of wine or a BBQ but to create the right effect in your outdoor space, you need to invest in the right patio doors for your home. These doors can connect the outside space of your home to the inside so to create a smooth transition between the two spaces, check out our top tips below.

Choose the right design and style

With so many options available, you can be sure that the perfect doors for your home are out there. It would be wise to bear in mind that the door you choose should complement the style and design of your home to help bring the outdoors, indoors. Clear glass is a very popular choice and there are a range of different designs in this material. There are also a large variety of etched glass or stained glass doors available in different patterns which can add a touch of uniqueness to your choice. There are a large number of colours available so it’s really up to personal taste and how sympathetic to the building you want your doors to be.    

Consider the type of door

There are two types of doors available and you can either choose gliding patio doors or hinged ones. Choosing the right doors for your patio is simple; just take a look at the room that you are fitting them into and make an assessment of how much space you have available.  If space is at a premium then you may want to opt for the gliding option as with these you don’t need to clear out any space for them or rearrange bulky furniture. If you are fitting them into a large room then hinged doors can create a stylish look and feel.

Consider type of material

You should consider the climate and weather conditions when choosing the right material. Doors with insulated glass are a wise selection as this type of glass can help you to keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. There are different types of materials available for the frames including wood, vinyl and aluminium. The benefits of aluminium is that they are low maintenance and generally cheaper. Wooden and vinyl work particularly well for insulating your home, wood in particular is a very popular choice as they tend to come in very attractive designs and add a touch of elegance to any house.

Choose a quality company

If you want to get the most value for money, it’s always wise to do as much research into local retailers and manufacturers as possible. There are a variety of expert manufacturers and fitters in the market so it’s always a good idea to get quotes from at least three different companies. You can find quality companies through word of mouth referrals from friends and family, by browsing the internet or by visiting some local retailers.

Before you make a purchase, always check with manufacturers what features and styles they offer and buy the best quality you can afford so that you can have the best doors for your budget.



Graco Paint Sprayer

Amy A Nutt asked:


Sliding patio doors make a wonderful fashion addition a home. They are both trendy, eye catching, and increase the value of a home. These doors will come with insulation but over time the insulation will become worn leading to outdoor air blowing through the edges of the door. The best way to check for air leaks is run your hand across the edges to feel for cold air coming through. If you feel air coming through, there are a number of things you can do to improve the insulation for the sliding patio doors. As well, a heat gun will tell you how cold the surface of the glass. You cam also check when it is cold and windy.

1. One very good method of decreasing energy consumption due to air blowing through the patio doors is to purchase curtains that insulate patio doors. Insulated patio door drapes are customizable to fit the situation. In the winter time you can use these insulated drapes which are available in a variety of styles and colors. In the spring, you can change to lighter drapes.

2. In the winter time, you can acquire the insulation effect by hanging a sheet of clear plastic over the entire opening which will block the air space between the plastic and the door. Sunlight will be able to shine through the house while the plastic blocks the air. You can cover the entire patio door with shrink plastic, but you will not be able you use the door until you remove the clear plastic.

3. A double pane window will also block the air from coming into the room. This will allow you to reduce the size of the space that is permitting the cold air to come in to the home. There are actually triple pane windows available on the market, but you will have to pay more.

4. In the spring, attach solar film on the door windows. Put it on the inside to minimize weathering. It will drastically cut the amount of heat coming through the door. This film can be purchased online. In the fall, assemble 4 shutter doors with inset hinges. At the unattached end, put a magnetic strip on the side facing outdoors and line it up with a similar strip on the adjacent framing. When closed, the door space is greatly reduced and keeps cold drafts coming from edges.

5. There are kits available that contain rubberized weather stripping. You can use this stripping to replace the worn seals around the door. These kits can be purchased online or at a home improvement store.

6. If you use vertical blinds, replace them with insulated vertical blinds.

7. There is foam weather stripping that can be used to seal spots where a draft can be felt. Make sure the seals around the edges are in place.

The purpose of a sliding glass door’s weather-stripping is to decrease cold air from coming into the home thereby keeping the home warm, comfortable, as well as lowering your energy costs. It is important to maintain these stylish doors so they remain durable for many years.



Graco Paint Sprayer

shootersanks asked:


Hey everyone,

I live in an apartment and I am getting ready for the winter months. In doing so I am covering all my windows with shrink film. Unfortunately I have a large sliding patio door in my place that has a carpeted floor. I would love to shrink wrap this as well but I am unsure if not being able to stick it to the floor will take away any usefulness I might have gained in the first place. I am just wondering if anyone has any ideas or 1st hand knowledge on how to deal with this. Thanks.

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