Sliding glass doors provide both functionality and aesthetics to a home. Sliding glass doors flood your home with natural light and provide effortless access, adding both style and functionality. And the best part? You don’t have to compromise on energy efficiency to achieve a sleek, modern look!
Here are five steps to choosing the perfect sliding glass doors for your home that strike that perfect balance of energy efficiency and sleek, modern style.
1. Measure Your Space
When selecting replacement windows or sliding glass doors, choosing options that perfectly fit your allotted space is important. Any gaps around the perimeter of the doors can spell potential air leaks, which will negatively affect your energy efficiency as warm air escapes your home in the winter or penetrates through in the summer.
Take detailed measurements of the length, depth, and height of the space you have for your sliding glass doors, or contact professionals to ensure accurate specifications! At Rolox Home Service, our team will come and measure your existing sliding glass doors (or the space where you plan to have them installed) and provide an exact custom fit for your home. Our doors are available in configurations up to 12 feet wide with a sliding center section and two stationary side panels. The possibilities are virtually endless with fully-customized sliding glass doors by Rolox!
2. Choose Energy Efficient Materials
The materials make the doors, so choose good ones that enhance energy efficiency rather than detract from it! Every little bit counts when it comes to energy-efficient sliding glass doors, from the frame to the glass to the hardware.
Framing Materials
Sliding glass doors are most commonly made from vinyl, which is low maintenance, affordable, and relatively energy efficient. However, fiberglass is the best material for energy efficiency and durability for sliding glass doors. While vinyl offers decent energy efficiency, fiberglass reigns supreme in insulative properties and durability, longevity, and versatility. You may also find sliding glass doors constructed with aluminum or wood, but these tend to have high maintenance costs and offer less insulation.
Beyond the external frame, look for high-quality insulating materials and weather stripping to enhance energy efficiency further. Rolox sliding glass doors have polyurethane insulation and quad-seal weather stripping, offering twice as much protection as the industry standard!
Glass
If you’re looking for energy efficiency, your sliding glass doors should have double-pane or even triple-pane glass to add more of a barrier between the interior of your home and the outside world. Multi-pane glass has an insulating gas fill — usually argon gas — to reduce heat transfer through the glass. Sliding glass doors and replacement windows from Rolox have a krypton gas fill, which is six times denser than argon gas fills, for even better protection against heat transfer.
For even more energy-efficient glass, look into different advanced coatings and treatments that may enhance the performance of your sliding glass doors! For instance, Rolox windows come with an interior thermal coating that reduces thermal heat loss and reflects heat directly back into your home during chilly winter months.
Hardware
While not as important for energy efficiency as the glass and framing materials, hardware can still help by keeping your sliding glass doors tightly sealed when shut. Rolox sliding doors have a three-point locking system for optimal security, a tight shut, and a galvanized steel lock stile reinforcement that increases structural strength and resistance to thermal deflection.
3. Check Energy Efficiency Ratings
If you really want to dig deep into the energy efficiency of your sliding glass doors, look at the energy efficiency ratings! Most glass doors and windows should have energy performance ratings through both ENERGY STAR and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). For more energy performance ratings for Rolox glass doors and windows, check out our windows brochure.
4. Choose Finishes
Now that you know what to look for in terms of energy efficiency, it’s time to consider what you want your sliding glass doors to look like and find an option that gives you the look you want with the efficiency you need! From elegant wood grains to classic white to paintable or stainable pine graining, Rolox has plenty of options for interior finishes in addition to over a dozen options for exterior finishes. Don’t like what you see in the brochure? We offer custom colors to match your existing styles perfectly!
5. Call the Professionals!
The makeup of the sliding glass doors is nearly as important as who you choose to install them! Fiberglass doors, in particular, require professional installation, and experts like our team at Rolox Home Service will add value to your new sliding glass doors through excellent custom fitting, full-coverage warranties, and installation you can count on. Contact us today for a free consultation!
