Advantages & Disadvantages of Sliding Doors

20 Mar.,2024

 

Are you debating whether a sliding glass door would be best for your home or business or if another type would suit your needs? The truth is that sliding glass doors have come a long way from the drafty, difficult-to-slide doors of a decade ago, but let’s consider some pros and cons to make an informed decision.

What are the benefits of sliding glass doors?

Sliding glass doors offer many benefits over traditional doors and windows, especially if you’re dealing with a small space or want to improve the energy efficiency of your home or building.

They allow natural light into the space.

If you want to increase the natural light you allow into a space, you can’t go wrong with a sliding glass door. Sliding glass doors are often twice as wide as a standard door, and the frames are filled with glass panes. This means you won’t have to turn on as many electric lights in the room with the sliding glass door during the day.

They don’t take up any space in the room.

Standard doors swing when they open, and if they swing to the inside of a room, the door takes up space. Since sliding glass doors slide, they don’t take up any space in the room. This is especially beneficial if you want a door in a small room.

You can precisely control the amount of outdoor air you let inside.

If you want to take advantage of a cool evening or morning breeze or freshen the air in your backroom, you can open your sliding glass doors as wide as you want without worrying about preset stops. This means you can enjoy as much or as little fresh air as you want.

Sliding doors are energy efficient.

If you’ve previously owned sliding glass doors, you may have found them drafty. The good news is that the processes and technologies for sliding glass doors have significantly increased their energy efficiency. Here at Reynaers Aluminium, we have various insulation options, from non-insulated, which works best for sliding glass doors in the interior of the building, to passive-house insulation, which can help your facility achieve Energy Star ratings. You can also request various window glazing options to help further improve energy efficiency, such as from double to triple insulated.

Sliding glass doors are environmentally friendly.

Using sliding glass doors in your home or business is environmentally friendly, especially if you choose doors made from aluminum and glass. According to the Aluminum Association, aluminum is infinitely recyclable, and 75 percent of all the aluminum that has been produced is still in use today. According to the EPA, 31.3 percent of all glass is recycled, which amounts to about 3.1 million tons.

They help bring the outdoors inside.

Sliding glass doors can help create a seamless inside/outside transition. This is especially helpful if you have a sunroom leading to a garden or a courtyard. Sliding glass doors also help create a relaxing view of nature.

What are the disadvantages of sliding doors?

Modern sliding glass doors don’t have as many drawbacks as their predecessors. However, there are still a few. Let’s look at current and previous disadvantages and how you can mitigate them.

Raised tracks can be a trip hazard.

Some sliding glass doors still have raised floor tracks. This can create a trip hazard, which is dangerous or inaccessible for young children, those who use walking aids, and wheelchair users. The good news is that the sliding glass doors offered by Reynaers Aluminium are recessed into the floor, eliminating the tripping hazard. Recessed tracks also make it easier for individuals needing mobility devices to navigate through the doorway.

Sliding glass doors are a security hazard.

Suppose you’re worried about the safety and security of the sliding door. In that case, it’s important to pay attention to the security features of the door you purchase and take a few precautions. To prevent people from seeing inside your home, you’ll likely need to add lateral blinds or curtains that you can close at night and when you’re not at home.

You can purchase sliding glass doors with advanced locking systems that are harder to break, and you can buy sliding glass doors with multiple panes of glass as well as shatterproof coatings to prevent the glass from breaking.

The tracks and glass need a lot of maintenance.

If you’re used to sliding glass doors that get stuck and are hard to open and close, you’ll be pleased to know that modern sliding glass doors don’t have this problem as often. However, it’s essential to keep the tracks clean and lubricated. You’ll also need to clean the glass frequently if you want a spotless view of the outside.

Sliding Doors With Reynaers Aluminium

At Reynaers Aluminium, we offer aluminum and glass sliding doors for various opening sizes. We offer monorail, duorail, and multirail systems to suit your needs. If you’re looking for a sliding glass door that’s easy to open, we offer sliding, lift and slide, and motorized. You can even choose from our large selection of anodized and powder coating finishes to get the right color and protection for your sliding glass door.

Want more information on residential aluminum sliding glass doors, aluminium lift and slide doors? Click the link below to contact us.