Sliding glass doors open a living space to the outdoors and allow natural light to flood in. They are popular in modern, transitional and coastal homes. They are also safer than hinged window designs that can break into sharp shards.
Choose Energy Star-qualified windows with low U-factors and high visible transmittance ratings to lower your energy bills. You may even qualify for a federal tax credit.
Energy-efficient windows
Sliding glass doors blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces and can help bring natural light into living areas. These windows come in a variety of styles, but it is essential to choose ones with ENERGY STAR certification ratings to save on energy costs and improve comfort. These ratings indicate how well a window insulates against heat transfer, which helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer during winter.
Renewal by Andersen caters to eco-conscious homeowners with its wide array of energy efficient windows. Its insulated frames use warm-edge spacers to reduce thermal transfer around the frame and flex with glass expansion and contraction to ensure a tight seal for the life of your new windows.
Tinted windows reflect the sun’s rays to maintain cooler indoor temperatures and reduce reliance on air conditioning. They also minimize fading of furniture, area rugs and other interior items. The glass in ENERGY STAR-certified windows uses Low-E coatings to reduce UV rays, which helps protect against fading and preserve colors over time.
Increased curb appeal
Sliding glass doors offer a sleek and simple style that harmonizes with most architectural styles. With their mirrored surface, they instantly make your home look bigger. The large glass panes also allow natural light to flood into the room, reducing your need for electric lighting during the day and saving energy.
The wide open views that sliding doors provide are perfect if you want to see the kids playing outside or take in a picturesque view of your backyard. Moreover, you can open the door to let in a breeze or fresh air without leaving the house.
To further increase your home’s curb appeal, plant colorful flowers in your parking strip or front yard. Easy-to-grow plants such as lilyturf, tulips, and daylilies will add a pop of color to your entryway. Also, painting your house’s trim or adding a decorative door knocker are other ways to elevate your home’s exterior curb appeal. Lastly, upgrading your lighting fixtures can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your home.
Convenience
Sliding doors offer a continuous view of the outdoors, which makes interior spaces feel larger. They also allow sunlight to flood in during the day, which cuts down on energy bills and enhances interior decor.
They don’t require extra space to open like hinged doors do, which is useful for homes with limited floor plan square footage. They also create the illusion that a room is bigger than it really is due to the mirrored surface of their glass panes.
Because sliding doors slide horizontally along a track, they can be placed in areas where hinged windows wouldn’t be able to fit. This includes spots facing walkways and porches that would make it difficult to swing in a traditional door.
They’re also more convenient for families with kids who often come and go on different schedules. Because they open quietly, family members can exit or enter without waking the others or disrupting video calls or online classes.
Safety
Sliding glass doors are a popular feature in many homes because they provide beautiful views, let in natural light and add resale value. These doors are available in a variety of styles and configurations to suit each home’s needs. They are a great way to increase indoor comfort while decreasing energy costs and protecting furniture from harmful UV rays.
However, because they have large panels of glass, these doors can also give potential intruders a clear view into your home. To address this, consider adding security features to your sliding glass door.
For instance, a security bar can be installed over the top of your door to prevent it from being opened. A sill ramp is another good option if you have family members with mobility issues that need to enter through the doorway. It’s also a good idea to invest in a comprehensive home security system with door and window sensors, 24/7 monitoring and alarm systems.