Sliding Glass Door Replacement in Meridian, ID
We replace sliding glass doors in homes across Meridian, Idaho.
- Quotes in writing
- 16 areas covered
Meridian Window Pros replaces sliding glass doors in homes across Meridian. We measure the opening, have a new door made to fit it, take the old door out and set the new one in place.
When a sliding door needs replacing
We replace sliding glass doors that drag on the track, won't lock, let cold air in around the edges or have fogged glass. Before we quote, we look at the rollers, the track and the floor under it, and we tell you straight whether a new door is the right fix.
A doors fact sheet from the State of Illinois's Keep Warm Illinois program says that after years of use, a sliding door's weatherstripping wears down and air leakage increases as the door ages. When we say weatherstripping, we mean the seal along the edges of the door that closes the gap when it shuts.
Sliding or swinging?
The same fact sheet says that because of the way a sliding door works, it is impossible to stop all the air leaking around the weatherstripping while still being able to use the door. It says that when you replace patio doors, swinging doors give a much tighter seal than sliding ones.
We fit both kinds. For a door that swings open, see our patio door replacement page.
Safety glass in sliding doors
A federal safety standard, 16 CFR 1201, sets safety rules for the glass in doors, and it names sliding glass doors (patio-type) in its list. It says the rules are there to reduce the risk of death or serious injury when a person hits and breaks the glass. Every sliding door we fit meets that standard.
Glass for Meridian winters
The National Weather Service office in Boise calls the Treasure Valley a high desert, where nights cool down fast and days heat up fast.
The Keep Warm Illinois fact sheet says sliding glass doors lose heat much faster than other types of doors, because glass is a very poor insulator. It says more layers of glass and coatings on the glass make that 2 to 3 times better.
ENERGY STAR sets U-factor and SHGC limits for doors as well as windows, and your quote from us lists both numbers for the door.
The first rating, the U-factor, tells you how fast heat passes through the door's glass. The lower the U-factor, the less heat gets through, so you want it low.
The solar heat gain coefficient, or SHGC, is a rating for how much of the sun's heat gets through the glass. The lower the number, the less heat comes in.
The Department of Energy's buying guide for windows, doors and skylights says that in cold climates you want a low U-factor to keep heat loss down, and that a high SHGC is better there, to use the sun's free heat. So we look at which way your door faces before we pick the glass.
Why the fitting matters
ENERGY STAR says even the best windows and doors can let air leak in if they are poorly installed, and that some manufacturers will void your warranty if the installer doesn't follow their installation instructions. We follow the maker's instructions on every sliding door we fit, and we seal the gap between the new frame and the wall.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- The U-factor and SHGC of the new door's glass.
- A price split into labor and materials. ENERGY STAR suggests asking for this, and says certified products may cost more than others, but the labor should be about the same for both.
- The product warranty and the installation warranty. ENERGY STAR says a decent window product warranty should be at least 10 years, and preferably 20 years or lifetime. It says installation warranties are typically less than 5 years.
We price sliding doors for your house once we've measured, and you get that quote in writing.
Questions about sliding glass door replacement in Meridian
Do I need a permit to replace a sliding glass door in Meridian?
The City of Meridian says its residential remodel permits cover changes to the inside or outside of an existing home, and can include replacing windows and doors. We check what your job needs before we start.
Can you repair my sliding door instead of replacing it?
We can sometimes repair it instead. We check the rollers, the track and the lock first, and we tell you if a repair will do before we quote a new door.
My old sliding door has a metal frame. Is that a problem?
We check your old frame when we measure. The Keep Warm Illinois fact sheet says most modern glass doors with metal frames have a thermal break, which it describes as a plastic insulator between the inner and outer parts of the frame.
Should I add a storm door to my sliding door?
The fact sheet says storm doors for patio doors are hard to find but they are available. It says adding one to a modern energy-efficient door with several layers of glass is seldom worth the cost.
Do curtains help on a sliding glass door?
The fact sheet says insulated drapes are a good idea, closed at night in winter or on sunny days in summer.
Can you match the door to my new windows?
Yes, we can match the frame material and color to the vinyl or fiberglass windows we fit.
Get a quote for a sliding glass door
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and a note about your door. We'll measure, go through the options with you, and give you a written quote. To see the other windows and doors we fit, go to the Meridian Window Pros home page.
Ready to talk about your window job?
Send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.