There are different types of doors and each has something different to offer, which is why it often gets difficult to choose the right one. Among the most popular types of doors are hinged doors and sliding doors and even though you may have a personal preference, you must consider good and bad points of both to reach a conclusion. In this blog, we have listed the pros and cons of glass sliding doors which are becoming highly popular in houses and apartments.
Pros And Cons Of Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors, also referred to as French doors, are made up of a frame that is either metal or aluminum and a glass panel fixed in the frame. The door is placed in a fixed straight path and slid to open and close. Because of the rollers in the hangers at the top and bottom of the frame, it is easier to use sliding doors in houses for anyone from kids to adults.
When you are looking for doors, there are different aspects that you have to pay attention to such as cost. You can invest in different kinds of frames and glasses but the better the material you use, the higher the cost will be. Such glass doors can be used in different areas such as the patio, separating the dining room from the drawing-room and kitchen.
Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of sliding glass doors and see if these are right for you or not.
Pros Of Using Sliding Glass Doors
Here are a few pros of using sliding glass doors.
- Saves electricity bills
- Saves space
- Chic and smart design
Saves Electricity Bills
Most homeowners prefer sunlight over artificial light. For such homeowners and houses, sliding glass doors are the best option because they will allow maximum sunlight in the house even if it’s windy outside. It is just like having a huge window without any grills. In winter when it’s a nice sunny day, it will let the natural heat and sunlight enter the house. However, you may need to invest in blinds for the summer months to keep your house cool.
Saves Space
For a hinged door, you need space for its undisturbed movement on the fixed path to open and close the door. The benefit of a sliding glass door is that you need much space to open and close it since it only needs to slide in a straight line and that will only take a few inches in width of the room. These doors are best suited for small rooms in houses and apartments.
Another reason for using a sliding glass door is that you can add it as a partition between two rooms such as the dining and drawing-room. Upon need, you can open the door which will make the room look even bigger. This is a more practical way of using sliding glass doors in rooms to make them look more spacious.
Chic And Smart Design
Having sliding doors in your house gives it a contemporary touch and using sliding glass doors is only smart. These doors let you see the outside of the room as well as maintain your privacy. Of course, you can always use a blind to block the inside view but your voice will be damped inside. The sleek design and modern look of these doors which can be painted according to the aesthetics of the room can add a bit of panache and style to the room and house.
Cons Of Using Sliding Glass Doors
Now let’s see what are the downsides of using sliding glass doors.
- Security problem
- Delicate for extreme weather conditions
- Maintenance and cleaning
Security Problem
As practical and modern French doors look, they also have a huge security flaw. You cannot use this door as entry and back doors and expect to be secure and protected inside. These can be broken easily and at the very least, these allow outsiders to take a peek in your house. These doors have bolts that can be opened after jiggling the door a few times making it flawed in terms of security.
Delicate For Extreme Weather Conditions
If you live in a city or area where weather is unpredictable or can get extreme, you may want to go for a safer option. Sliding glass doors will not prove to be reliable and durable if there are storms, winds, snowfall or high temperatures often. As a result of high-speed winds and storms, it is quite possible that the glass may shatter and create problems for you in such weather.
Maintenance And Cleaning
The life of the rollers is only a few years after which the door will not slide properly, make a screeching sound or get stuck. Due to negligence in cleaning, the dirt will get caught in its sliding path and keep accumulating until it cannot move anymore.
Similarly, if you have kids or pets in the house, you will need to clean it with a fresh cloth every day to remove fingerprints and other marks on it. You will also need to clean the track and its opening and closing to keep smooth and running.
Glass sliding doors are more delicate than other hinged wooden doors and require a lot of care and maintenance to maintain their look and functionality. We hope that this pros and cons analysis has given you a better understanding of sliding glass doors and helps you in making the right choice.
On a separate note, you can also check out our guide on the pros and cons of bifold doors and types of wooden doors in Pakistan which will help you in choosing the right doors for your home. If you have any questions or feedback for us, you can write to us at blog@zameen.com or else keep following Zameen Blog.
