How to install a patio door

Home improvement stores carry a wide selection of patio doors and there is an endless number of online sources, so finding the right door for your home may require some patience. When choosing the door, you will need to consider the size and insulation rating.

Installing a patio door that has thermally insulated or Low-E coated glass is important if you live in a cold weather climate. Not only will the glass help keep the heat inside your home in winter, it will help block the sun’s heat from entering in the summertime.

Sliding-glass doors and French-style patio doors are also available. Before you get too attached to them, double check that you have the space to install a wider door, and room within your budget as they are quite a bit more expensive than a single-framed door. Read the entire article

Other Useful Sites:

Patio door guide

Splendour in stained glass

There is so much stained glass adorning the windows of Bob and Judy Stinson's home that new guests can be forgiven if they feel they have just walked into a church. Vintage stained glass panels are found on the exterior doors, windows, skylights, transoms above doors and even the kitchen cabinet doors.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Splendour+stained+glass/2929213/story.html#ixzz0m1uYk9la

Basic sliding door prevention measures could save your homes from being burglarized

VIDEO: Basic prevention measures could save snowbirds from having their homes burglarized

• By RYAN MILLS

Sliding glass doors

• Sliding glass doors are the perfect entry spot for burglars because they’re usually located behind the home, out of sight from the road, and because they’re relatively easy to break into, experts say.

  The locks that come with the doors are not strong enough to resist much banging or prying.

  “If you want to get in that, all you need to do is pull it hard and it will break,” Collins said.

  To make matters worse, sliding glass doors typically consist of multiple panels, which burglars can simply lift off their tracks. Huff suggests that people install deadbolt-style locks, which are specifically designed for sliding glass doors, and can be purchased at most hardware stores. Some may require professional installation.

  Home Depot sells the “Door Guardian,” deadbolt-style lock for $26.

  A less-expensive, but still effective alternative are pin locks, which can be purchased at most hardware stores for about $2. They pin two sliding glass door panels together, making them difficult to lift off their tracks.

  “I’ve had people come in and say ‘They took the door off the track. They literally lifted it up, set it aside and walked in,’” Collins said. “If you’ve got two doors pinned together, you’ve got to have a very strong person.”

  larm systems

  They’re not cheap, but they’re effective, which is why crime prevention experts recommend alarm systems.

  Huff said he only recommends monitored alarm systems with contact sensors on all windows and doors, and at least two motion sensors inside the home. Alarms that simply set off bells or whistles aren’t as effective.

  “What you’re doing is relying on somebody else to think, ‘Gee, what is that? Maybe I should call the Sheriff’s Office,’” Huff said.

  For an average Southwest Florida home, hardware and installation could run $500 to $600, with monitoring fees that range from about $25 to $35 a month. Huff suggests people shop around.

  Other home security tips

  ■ Don’t leave anything of value where it can be seen by someone looking through the windows.

  ■ When away, leave curtains and blinds in the same manner you would when you are home. “I’d like to see the house so it looks like it’s lived in,” Huff said.

  ■ Stop your mail and newspaper delivery if you’ll be gone for awhile. Ask neighbors to keep an eye on your home and to remove any free newspapers from the driveway or sale fliers hung on the door. “That’s a dead giveaway that I’m probably not home,” Huff said.

  ■ Home watch companies provide a valuable service, but do your homework. All the local law enforcement agencies will also check on your home for free, on a time-available basis.

  The Collier County and Lee County sheriff’s offices and Naples and Marco Island police departments also offer free home security surveys for residents. For more information contact crime prevention at 239-252-0700 (Collier), 239-477-1400 (Lee) 239-213-4890 (Naples) or 239-389-5050 (Marco).

  Other usefull information;

  Practical Patio Door Guide
  Aluminum Door Guide

By Staten Island Advance
March 18, 2010, 11:49AM
Spring is a great time to give your home a check-up. The cold, ice and snow of winter can be tough on a house. You may be able to make a few small fixes now that will save you big money later. And if everything checks out perfectly — great. You’ve just given yourself peace of mind for the rest of the year.

Here are some spring maintenance tips from Marvin Windows and Doors.

Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean. If your gutters or downspouts are blocked, water can infiltrate your home through the eaves. And if your downspouts don’t carry water well away from your foundation, you could get water in the basement during spring rains.

Look at your roof. The freeze-thaw cycle can lead to cracked or broken shingles. Also look for shingles that are missing, curling or cupping. If you have a flat roof, look for any pools of water
— a sign that your flat roof isn’t draining properly.

If you can do it safely, check the flashing around chimneys and vents, and in the valleys between roof pitches. This is a common area for leaks.

CHECK CAULK AND SEALS

Check the caulk and seals around your window frames, both where the window glass meets frame and where the frame meets the side of your house. If there are any gaps, seal them with caulk or a foam sealing product.

Test your windows from inside the house to make sure they’re operating smoothly. Check to be sure the weatherstripping is in good shape. Lubricate the mechanism with a dry lubricant
— oily lubricants attract dust and dirt, which can eventually restrict the window’s movement.

Give your patios and decks a pressure washing. Also check your patio door. As with the windows, inspect the caulking where the door frame meets the side of the house. Make sure the tracks are free of debris and check to see that the door slides smoothly.

TAX CREDIT

If your windows or patio doors need replacement, remember that the federal government is offering a tax credit of up to $1,500 for energy-efficient products purchased in 2010.

Look at the siding on your house. For wood siding, make sure the paint is in good shape and check for loose nails. For vinyl siding, look for cracking, warping or gaps between the panels.

If you have brick siding, check for “spalling.” That’s when the face of the brick chips or pops away, leaving the interior of the brick exposed to moisture.

If you have air conditioning, clean away any leaves or debris that have accumulated on the outdoor condenser unit. Then get the AC inspected and serviced by a professional contractor.

TRIM SHRUBS

Trim the shrubs around your home so they’re not touching the house. Make sure the ground slopes away from your foundation to drain away water. If there are depressions or gaps, fill them in with stones and soil.

Change the air filter on your furnace and check around the base of your water heater for leaks. And don’t forget to get your barbecue grill out of the garage!

Other resources:
Practical Patio Guide
Aluminum Door Guide

Caples Constructions Inc Phoenix

Caples Construction Inc Phoenix, NY en Yahoo! Video

Glass patio door care, Fast and easy techniques to care for your glass patio doors.

If you’re an owner of a glass sliding door and you want to know how to care for it you’re self, then you’re in the right place. As a glass door owner my self, I know the hassle and need to maintain these doors working properly.

When looking to care for you sliding glass door many things need to be kept in mind. One of the most common problem with glass sliding doors can be the handles or latch mechanisms as they can wear out sooner than most part in the entire glass door. As for a door handle, this probably one of the easiest things to replace. You can actually go to a local hardware store and get an entire set with instruction. My suggestion is to un-mount the broken handle and take it to the hard wear. This will ensure that get the right handle for your door, and prevent countless visits to you hardware store for the same job.

Keep in mind that when you’re replacing any parts you will have the ability to not only replace but also upgrade to a better handle or latch. Always remember security. I can not stress that enough. I’ve had friends that do their own replacements yet they don’t focus on the security of the new handles or latch they’re replacing.

Washing

Another aspect of glass door care is cleaning and washing your glass doors. What I do normally is that I use a garden hoes and wash the glass door down with a very soft brush, and dish washing detergent mixed with warm water. (The warm water makes it easier for harden particles to come off)

Finishing touch

Make sure to wipe the glass door thoroughly with a damp rag. After the glass door is completely dry you can apply wax to add a very shiny gloss finish. Most car wax will do, but I personally use turtle wax my self.

So there you have it. This is what I do for my sliding glass doors. Its brought mw great success.

More useful resources.

www.patiodoorssliding.com

aluminum-sliding-doors.blogspot.com/