Sliding glass doors offer many benefits, including the ability to create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. They also allow sunlight to flood the interior and can help reduce energy bills by keeping conditioned air inside when it’s hot or cold outside.
Sliding closet doors come in a variety of styles and designs. Choosing the right one for your home will depend on the size of your space and closet contents.
Aesthetics
Whether it’s for your home or business, sliding glass doors are a great way to add beauty and appeal to your property. These doors provide stunning views, open up the space to let in natural light and can easily be closed and locked when extra privacy is needed. Additionally, they can save you money on energy bills as they can be opened during the day to bring in fresh air and then closed to keep conditioned air inside when it gets hot outside.
Security
Sliding glass doors make your home feel brighter, but they can also be a target for burglars. They offer a clear view into the home, allowing burglars to see what you have and decide whether it’s worth their time breaking in to steal.
One way to address this is to install frosted films that obscure the door’s glass without interfering with natural light or the view. These can be smooth frosted, patterned with a hazy finish, or have an anti-reflective coating that is nearly invisible.
Another option is a metal security gate that fits the track of your sliding glass door system and can be locked in place with either a key or code. This provides a strong barrier against break-ins and prevents the jimmying of doors that many burglars use to gain entry. In addition, these locks often include an alarm that will sound when someone tries to open the door. This is a good idea because it gives you the opportunity to scare away a burglar before they can complete their break-in.
Energy efficiency
Unlike traditional hinged doors, sliding glass doors offer an impressive level of energy efficiency. They are insulated, ensuring they keep your home cool and comfortable during the sweltering summer months and warm during winter. They are also effective at keeping out dust, dirt and other debris.
Sliding patio doors boast expansive panes and narrow frames that capture stunning views. Their design allows you to gaze at your garden, landscape and pool from inside the house without having to open your door. This gives you a sense of bringing the outdoors in, creating a modern feel that is great for get-togethers with family and friends.
When selecting sliding glass doors, look for those that have been ENERGY STAR® rated and made from fiberglass or steel. The latter offers a hollow build that can be stuffed with insulation material, helping you achieve the highest possible energy-efficiency standards. Moreover, consider the use of low-e glass coatings that maximize solar heat gain during the day while keeping your home cooler in the evening.
Maintenance
Sliding glass doors offer many benefits, but they also come with the responsibility to keep them properly maintained. This can prevent costly repairs and extend the life of the door and tracks. You should clean the glass on a regular basis to remove stains, streaks, sticky residue from humidity build-up, and dirt. For cleaning, you should use a commercial cleaner that is safe for the material of your sliding glass door. Some products require special ventilation, cannot be mixed with other chemicals, and may require personal protection equipment.
Washing the door’s interior and exterior frame will keep them looking perfect, and will help to prevent weather damage to the outer frame seal. A light dust cleaning followed by a warm, mild soap water is adequate. You should consider re-varnishing wood frames if the original varnish has begun to wear out. Keeping your doors in good shape will protect the integrity of the wood and reduce the risk of wood rot, mold, and mildew.