Removing sliding glass door

warmwxrules · 01-26-13, 09:38 AM

Right now i have a south facing sliding glass door that leaks horribly. I have a full sheet of 3 mil plastic sealing it very well (no air is moving through it anymore). Without plastic I could feel a nice draft in the kitchen (room its in). I've tried sealing it in the past and have never had any luck. For what I understand, these things are not green and never will be. I think a French door would make more sense, but i'm thinking removing it entirely makes more sense.... The plan would be removing door, framing in an exterior 36" (probably mostly glass) door and then framing in a large casement (crank out) next to it (i love the light/just not the draft)... Any thoughts? I need a door there for access to a deck.

ecomodded · 01-27-13, 11:19 AM

It may well be easier and cheaper to put in a replacement sliding glass door.
If you picked up a used double pane sliding door with low miles/years on it you could have the job over in a day with costs of about a 100-$150. Just buy one the same width and it will be a piece of cake to install.

creeky · 01-31-13, 01:17 PM

I put in french doors, replacing leaky sliders. in the winter I had been double sheeting the sliders. one sheet of plastic outside and one inside. you should have seen the balloon inside when the wind blew from the north.

I found two benefits to the french doors. One, being new and installed with spray foam around the frame etc... nice and tight. And two. both doors would swing away leading to a really large opening. handy on moving day.

Mikesolar · 02-02-13, 05:33 AM

French doors are great, just don't get a cheap one. Because there is so much glass, the weight is high and the structure has to be solid especially if it is a 3 section one where the weight of one door hangs off a second one. The same holds true for the 36" door but I like the idea. Sliders are the worst windows ever so I try to replace them whenever I can.

01-26-13, 09:38 AM	#1
warmwxrules Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Removing sliding glass door Right now i have a south facing sliding glass door that leaks horribly. I have a full sheet of 3 mil plastic sealing it very well (no air is moving through it anymore). Without plastic I could feel a nice draft in the kitchen (room its in). I've tried sealing it in the past and have never had any luck. For what I understand, these things are not green and never will be. I think a French door would make more sense, but i'm thinking removing it entirely makes more sense.... The plan would be removing door, framing in an exterior 36" (probably mostly glass) door and then framing in a large casement (crank out) next to it (i love the light/just not the draft)... Any thoughts? I need a door there for access to a deck.

01-27-13, 11:19 AM	#2
ecomodded Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Vancouver Island,Canada. Posts: 1,037 Thanks: 116 Thanked 100 Times in 87 Posts	It may well be easier and cheaper to put in a replacement sliding glass door. If you picked up a used double pane sliding door with low miles/years on it you could have the job over in a day with costs of about a 100-$150. Just buy one the same width and it will be a piece of cake to install.

01-31-13, 01:17 PM	#3
creeky Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: a field somewhere Posts: 304 Thanks: 64 Thanked 44 Times in 31 Posts	I put in french doors, replacing leaky sliders. in the winter I had been double sheeting the sliders. one sheet of plastic outside and one inside. you should have seen the balloon inside when the wind blew from the north. I found two benefits to the french doors. One, being new and installed with spray foam around the frame etc... nice and tight. And two. both doors would swing away leading to a really large opening. handy on moving day.

02-02-13, 05:33 AM	#4
Mikesolar Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 958 Thanks: 40 Thanked 158 Times in 150 Posts	French doors are great, just don't get a cheap one. Because there is so much glass, the weight is high and the structure has to be solid especially if it is a 3 section one where the weight of one door hangs off a second one. The same holds true for the 36" door but I like the idea. Sliders are the worst windows ever so I try to replace them whenever I can.