If you currently have a sliding glass door with single-pane glass, or patio doors that are more than twenty years old, we recommend replacing it as soon as you are able. It’s not possible to insulate glass, and using an aftermarket film cannot compete with the energy efficiency of today’s modern patio doors.

Because the bulk of any patio door is glass, we recommend double-paned glass, Argon gas insulation between the panes, and at least two low-e coatings to reflect heat. If possible, more than two are suggested, such as low-e3 or low-e4.

Be sure to discuss energy efficiency options for your patio door when meeting with a salesperson. They can share their expertise about the pros and cons of different material and glass choices, and help you understand the ratings of various product options within your budget.

Yes, glass in a door that swings, slides or folds must be tempered glass for safety reasons. If a child or adult can walk or fall through the glass, having it break in shards is the last thing anyone wants. It needs to crumble, instead of fracture. If the glass is decorative instead of functional, however, then it does not have to be

Safety rules are different for windows, however. Tempered glass is generally used when a window is within 24 inches of a door, or sixty inches of a bathroom tub or shower, and if the bottom of the window is less than eighteen inches from the floor.

Sliding glass doors and French doors are the most common types of patio doors, and both are commonly sized at 72 inches wide by 80 inches tall. However, they are easily ordered in a wider variety of sizes, based on two-inch increments. Need something wider? Narrower? Taller? Shorter? We got you covered.

Completely custom doors are also available. We can install any size, all the way up to the entire height and width of a wall in a range of styles, including pivot, multi-slide or folding door designs.

DunRite Windows & Doors measures all door products to order, we don’t purchase anything pre-made in a standard size. Therefore, anything we install is guaranteed to fit. We also include a lifetime installation warranty for as long as you own the home. We’re happy to discuss any questions you might have at an in-home appointment; schedule one today!

If you have sliding glass doors, replacing them with French doors will add more security to your home. They’re braced on the top and bottom of each door with locks that snap into the framing at the top and bottom of the opening, and use standard entry door locking hardware and deadbolts. They also have more door and less glass than a sliding glass door, which gives it more substance.

All of these factors make them more difficult to break into, improving security of your home. Plus, a panel can’t be lifted out of the frame, which is possible with sliding glass doors.

Given a choice, we always recommend French doors over a sliding door.

If you don’t have an option and are having a sliding glass door replaced, be sure to look at the various security offered by different manufacturers before making a decision, and ask the installer what methods they use for installation to prevent panels from being easily removed.