Patio doors maximize natural light to make rooms feel larger and brighter. They also blur the line between interior and exterior spaces to allow for seamless access to your backyard.
Whether you’re looking for a professional repair or want stunning new patio doors, local Burner Well specialists are ready to provide specialized services at prices you can afford. Schedule a free at-home assessment.
Laminated Glass
Adding the right door glass enhances a home’s beauty, security and energy efficiency. Sliding doors, with their two panes of glass that glide past each other, are better insulators than hinged doors. And if they feature Low-E coatings, they reflect heat and UV rays to reduce air conditioning use and energy bills.
Laminated glass, also known as safety or bulletproof glass, consists of multiple glass layers bonded together with PVB interlayers. It’s incredibly tough and difficult to break, offering greater safety than standard annealed or tempered glass.
The interlayers bind the glass fragments together when broken, so they don’t scatter across the floor. This makes it impossible to widen the gap, preventing forced entry. For additional security, choose a sliding door with side mount or overhead crisscrossing bars. These deter prying or kicking, and they’re easily stored when not in use. They can also be combined with keyed locks. Alternatively, choose a patio door with steel internal reinforcements to bolster the frame against bending and prying.
Low-E Coatings
Low-E glass significantly reduces thermal transfer, allowing heat from your furnace to stay inside during colder weather. This helps lower heating costs and improves comfort while reducing air conditioning demands in warmer seasons. It also blocks harmful UV rays that cause furnishings, hardwood floors, and draperies to fade, extending their lifespan.
Factory-coated Low-E glass is available in two and three layers, depending on the climate. Hard-coat Low-E 180 coatings are more effective at retaining indoor heat and may be preferable for north-facing windows in colder regions. Soft-coat Low-E 270 and 366 coatings, on the other hand, are better at minimizing sun’s glare while rejecting solar energy.
Look for patio doors with laminated glass built directly into the construction, rather than applied as a film or coating after production. Laminated glass protects against forced entry, delaying unauthorized access while blocking outside noise and dampening damaging UV rays. It provides critical delay time and withstands heavy blows from hammers.
Energy Efficiency
A patio door is a perfect way to bring in natural light and enjoy your outdoor views while keeping your home comfortable. Today’s vinyl doors are easy to clean, durable and energy efficient. Some even have built-in insect resistance to protect your family from unwanted pests.
Patio doors can also improve your home’s energy efficiency by providing a tight seal and blocking out cold air and hot sunlight. Some homeowners choose swinging glass doors with insulating materials for optimal performance, but any style of patio door can provide high energy efficiency as long as the frame is well-sealed and installed.
However, it’s important to hire experienced professionals for a new patio door installation or repair project. Poor installation or cheap hardware can cause leaks, gaps, or other performance problems that drive up your energy costs. Contact a local Burner Well expert to schedule an in-home consultation, assessment, and estimate for your specific patio door service needs.
Security
The front door receives the most attention when it comes to securing homes against unwanted intruders, but patio doors and sliding glass doors offer unique security challenges. These door styles can be easier to breach if not properly reinforced.
Fortunately, there are a few effective ways to improve resistance to forced entry attempts without requiring costly replacements. Targeted reinforcement methods like frame and hinge reinforcement kits, keyed locks, and integration with home alarm systems help improve resistance to attack. Maintaining landscaping to eliminate hiding spots near doors and investing in impact-resistant glass for French or sliding patio doors are additional strategies to consider.
When you’re ready to upgrade your Mandeville LA home with new replacement patio doors, trust the experts at US Window & Door. We have an unparalleled working knowledge of what performs best, and we can help you choose the right product for your needs. Call today to get started! We’re here to answer any questions and provide a free, no-obligation estimate.