Patio Doors

Ellen Bell asked:


Installing a sliding glass patio door in your home may seem like a daunting DIY project for a homeowner to tackle, but it doesn’t have to be.  Almost any homeowner can complete this simple task successfully, provided that they can follow instructions and use some basic tools.  In this article, we’ll cover the basic preparatory steps leading up to a DIY patio door installation project that you can do yourself.

With any new patio door installation, choosing the appropriate location for the door is one of the most important decisions.  When thinking about this, there are a few questions you’ll probably want to ask yourself:

1.  What is the traffic flow in the room?  Does your proposed location fit the natural flow for entrance and exit from the room?  Often times, sliding glass doors are installed as a replacement for a single entry hinged door, and in this case ,  you will want to assure that there is no disruption of the structural integrity of your home when the door is installed.  Additionally, you will need to consider whether you need a right side slider or left side slider.

2.  What direction does the door face and what are the room’s lighting needs?  In some cases, the lighting in a particular room can affect the room’s use.  For example, if you are installing the door in a room where you like to read your paper in the morning, a glass sliding door facing east directly across from your favorite chair may not produce the desired effect.  If lighting could be an issue, you might want to rethink the door placement, or else purchase some very heavy, lined drapes that can be opened and closed easily.

At this point you will likely be ready to shop for your new door.  At your local building supply store, be sure to explain all your needs to a staff member and get their recommendations.  It will also be important to read the point of purchase literature from beginning to end, so you’ll understand the pros and cons of each product.  You may also want to inquire about upgrades such as high security hardware.  Patio doors are one of the most vulnerable points of entry for burglars and other intruders, so investing in a good security sliding glass door lock is well worth the money.

Once you’ve purchased the patio door that fits your needs, be sure to take some time to read the installation instructions thoroughly.  Having a good understanding of the manufacturer’s recommendations is critical to a successful installation.  There are also a number of how-to books on the market that detail the procedure step by step for inexperienced installers.  These books are excellent resources and may be well worth the small investment before you get started.  Many of today’s how-to books contain a wealth of information on many other home improvement topics, so this is often an investment that can help you with multiple DIY projects.

It’s important to realize that installing a sliding glass door is not a one person job.  One sliding door panel in double or triple glazed glass can easily weigh 70 or 80 pounds.  Consider that weight doubled for two panels, and you’ll understand that just the task of picking up the door from your local home building supply store will require some assistance.  Call up a couple friends or family members and see who can give you a hand.

With all these steps completed, you’ll be well on your way to a quick and easy patio door installation.  Remember, you don’t have to be a professional to do a professional quality job.  All it takes is a little time, patience, and good preparation to ensure a successful result.



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Nancy S asked:


I live in an apartment and it has white vertical blinds! YUK!

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Johnathan Gerber asked:


For some folks I will now be playing devil’s advocate. I’m a fan of curtains and blinds, but for argument sake, let’s assume I opt for curtains over blinds. Why would this be a good thing? I’ll give you 4 reasons:

Character and Class

Although blinds does do a good job in adding that little bit extra to your room, curtains tend to give that ‘X’ factor. Considering the fact that curtains are available in all sorts of colours and designs, as a decorator you have a lot to play with to liven up your room. With just the slightest difference in style, door curtains can dramatically change the look of a room.

Flexibilty and installation

Talk about changing the character of your room. Let’s face it, curtains are not expensive. As a home decorator you can literally buy 4 different curtain sets and alternate between them at different times in the year. In other words, with little effort you have the flexibility to change your room instantly for different seasons. Heck, who needs a season for a reason – just change it!

And don’t worry about changing your curtains being a big household chore. This can literally be done in 10 minutes flat. Testimony again of how great curtains are to work with.  

Insulation

Some decorators tend to focus their attention on the decorative attributes of any given window treatment as opposed to its other practical benefits such as insulation. There is of course a good case to be made for this, but let’s assume for a second that insulation is a factor. Patio door curtains do a very good job in this respect, and it does an even better job if you opt for thicker materials.

Costs

If you’re anything like most consumers, chances are you will be looking to save a bit of money along the way. The focus really as always should be on procuring quality accessories that will last you for years, but generally speaking, patio door curtains require less of an ongoing financial commitment as opposed to blinds. As mentioned above, this depends largely on the quality you purchase, so make sure to buy to the right things from the outset.   

These are just 4 reasons why you as a homeowner would rather go for curtains than blinds. A lot of it depends on how much money you have to spend, what the general theme of the rest of your house is, as well as your personal preferences. Both have benefits, both have downsides, but when it’s all said and done, patio door curtains (masterfully incorporated) can do wonders in achieving your decorating goals.



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son_of_glen asked:


We need one for our sliding patio door and we need it today. I live in the Laveen area, but I am willing to drive anywhere in the valley. Please help. I need a store that definitely sells them, preferably with a website so I can check before I go buy. Thanks.

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Carrie O’Labrador asked:


I think the door was off its track or something, as it was very hard to move and wouldn’t close completely. I got it working again, but I noticed the floor plate is sort of scratched and sharp. Is there an easy way to fix the damage on the floor plate, or is this a huge repair?

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bell1965 asked:


The door was purchased at Home Depot about 15 years ago.

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