Birmingham sliding glass doors are a beautiful way to bring in natural light and fresh air. They also add value to a home and enhance its overall curb appeal.
A sliding door is a movable rectangular framed sheet of window glass mounted parallel to a fixed-stationary neighboring wall. They slide horizontally and disappear into side pockets.
Energy Efficiency
Owning a home can be incredibly exciting, especially when you decide to invest in various projects that make it more of your own. Replacing sliding glass doors is a project that not only beautifies your home, but also makes it more energy efficient.
Generally speaking, sliding patio doors consist of one fixed-stationary and one mobile panel section that is able to slide open and closed. This movable section slides across a track and is parallel to the fixed-stationary neighboring panel.
Sliding patio doors are perfect for homeowners who love to gaze outside their homes. This is because their narrow frames and large glass areas are a great combination for capturing views. Additionally, they don’t require swing space that can interfere with entryways or furniture. This saves you valuable space and time. Moreover, they have excellent energy efficiency ratings as well. This is due to their multiple panes of glass that reflect sunlight and keep your home comfortable in the summer.
Durability
Sliding glass doors are sturdier than hinged doors and offer a more secure barrier against intruders. They also require less space than traditional hinged doors and are perfect for tighter spaces where swinging doors might not fit. Additionally, the glass panels create an optical illusion that makes the room look bigger and open up more natural light. Natural light increases energy levels and helps regulate circadian rhythms to improve sleep patterns.
The insulating properties of sliding glass doors make them great at keeping the home cool during summer and warm during winter, thus reducing energy costs. These doors can be fitted with a composite gasket, which further enhances their thermal efficiency.
They are also available in a range of designs, hardware and color options to complement any décor. Moreover, they are designed to resist high winds and other forms of weather. They feature a locking mechanism to keep them in place and can be fitted with a security bar to prevent the door from being lifted off its rails.
Aesthetics
Homeowners seek to add value to their homes and make them feel more like “home.” Sliding glass doors Birmingham AL allow homeowners to let in ample natural light, which brightens their living areas and makes the house look bigger. They can be opened during the day to bring in fresh air and closed at night to reduce energy costs.
Unlike hinged patio doors, sliding glass doors have large panes of glass and narrow frames. They are also easier to open. This makes them more convenient for families with young children to enter and exit the house. Choosing frosted or tinted glass allows you to control your indoor temperature, making them a good choice in warmer climates.
Sliding glass doors are often fitted with smart locks that grant temporary access to house sitters, dog walkers and cleaners. These are more secure than standard door locks, which can be jimmied open to gain entry to the home.
Security
A sliding glass door gives a home easy access to the outdoors and offers plenty of natural light. However, this design poses some security challenges.
Burglars can easily bypass the flimsy lock latches that most traditional sliding glass doors use. They can also use blunt tools to break the glass and get inside.
To protect your property, consider installing a burglar alarm. These systems are connected to your phone and will send you an alert if someone breaks the glass. They can even call law enforcement if necessary.
Another option is to add a jimmy plate to your sliding glass doors. These plates are designed to block the locks on your sliding glass doors, making them more difficult to open from the outside. You can also install a security bar, which works like a door brace and prevents the door from being lifted off its tracks. You can even buy a rotating security bar for your sliding glass doors that you can take with you when traveling, preventing burglars from breaking in while you are away.