Tired of your old, drafty sliding glass doors? Breathe new life into your home with Glass Doctor's comprehensive guide to stylish and functional glass door covering ideas and solutions designed to enhance the beauty of your home.
Whether you're looking to improve energy efficiency, add privacy, or simply create a more modern aesthetic, Glass Doctor has the expertise and options to transform your space from ordinary to outstanding.
From sleek glass replacements to innovative home window tinting and film applications, this guide covers a full range of possibilities to elevate the form and function of your sliding glass doors.
Glass Doctor uncovers some great possibilities for styling your home, starting with your sliding glass doors!
- Most Common Types of Glass Doors
- Window Coverings for Sliding Glass Doors
- How to Measure and Install Glass Door Covering
Most Common Types of Glass Doors
Not sure what glass door style fits your home’s aesthetic? Let’s walk through some of the most common options for covering glass doors, along with some creative choices that may bring some extra charm to your living space:
Sliding Glass Doors: The Universal Go-To
French Glass Doors: The Worldly Gateway
Dutch Glass Doors: The Cottage Charmer
Understanding Window Coverings for Sliding Glass Doors
Choosing the right coverings for your sliding glass doors goes beyond figuring out what looks good. Whatever window covering or tinting choice sees the light of day, it’s an investment that pays off in comfort and style.
Here are some ways the perfect window treatment can make all the difference:
Privacy Control: From sheer to blackout, the choice is yours.
When choosing your sliding glass door coverings, make sure to nail down these factors:
Design Inspirations for Sliding Glass Doors
We understand that every space is unique, and so are your needs. From classic curtains to modern blinds, our guide will simplify the decision-making process. Window coverings are also a chance to show your creativity and help you showcase your personal aesthetic.
Drapes
Did you know that layering drapes with other window treatments is a popular and effective way to maximize both privacy and temperature control in your home? Let’s peel back some of the benefits of a layered look:
Dial Up the Privacy:
Temperature Control at its Finest:
Bonus Benefits:
Here are some popular styling combos for layering drapes:
Lined Curtains & Blackout Curtains
Want a well-rounded solution? Fully light-blocking curtains or blinds, often referred to as blackout curtains, offer a full palette of positives that go beyond simply blocking out light – they even have the power to improve sleep, boost privacy, and energy efficiency, and even protect your belongings from sun damage.
Shutters and Wooden Panels
Want a window covering that stands the test of time? Both wooden panels and window shutters have an extensive history — which shows their value and adaptability. Here's a quick rundown of the benefits of window shutters and wooden panels:
Benefits of Window Shutters
Benefits of Wooden Panels
Vertical Blinds
V is for versatile. Vertical blinds offer a flexible and stylish window treatment solution, but choosing the right ones can feel overwhelming with the wide selection of colors, textures, and materials available. Here's a guide to help you navigate our vertical blind selection:
Colors:
Textures:
Materials:
Roman Shades
Looking to dial up the charm? Roman shades are a classic choice for window treatments, offering a blend of style and functionality that can make any room in your home unwind-worthy.
Roman shades are also privacy professionals. Unlike traditional curtains, Roman shades fold upwards when raised, taking up minimal space when open, making them ideal for small spaces.
Bonus Benefit: They are a safe choice for homes with children and pets – unlike curtains with a cord that can be hidden or put out of reach.
Roller Shades
Looking for a minimalist window treatment? Roller shades are a fantastic choice for homeowners who want to maximize their view while maintaining a sleek and stylish aesthetic.
Roller shades shine with a clean and uncluttered design. Roller shades retract fully, so you can fully enjoy the view and natural light that comes with it.
For a truly convenient and minimalist look, you should consider motorized roller shades. Easily controlled remotely, these shades let you adjust the shade height and maximize your view with the push of a button.
Frosted Glass
There’s more than meets the eye with frosted glass. Unlike clear glass, frosted glass provides a crucial layer of privacy while still allowing natural light to filter through – ideal for areas like bathrooms, bedrooms, or even office partitions.
Like security films, frosted glass can filter unwanted attention and excessive UV exposure, contributing to a feeling of security, especially in areas like basements or ground-floor windows. As a bonus, it can help protect furniture and artwork from fading.
Vertical Cellular Shades
Craving customized light control? Vertical cellular shades, often referred to as honeycomb shades, are a popular choice and a perfect blend of function and style.
Their signature honeycomb design traps air pockets, acting as a barrier against heat transfer, which can significantly improve energy efficiency and help regulate room temperature.
Additionally, the ability to tilt the louvers allows for complete light control, offering anything from gentle filtering to complete blackouts.
Exterior Shades
When it comes to sun control and outdoor living, the benefits of exterior shades extend far beyond simply covering a window. Here's why they might be the perfect choice for your patio, deck, or balcony:
All-Day Outdoor Comfort: Imagine enjoying your outdoor space without the relentless glare of the sun or the discomfort of scorching heat. Exterior shades act as a barrier, significantly reducing the sun's impact on your patio or deck.
Protection Against the Elements: Exterior shades offer more than just shade. They can protect your outdoor furniture and décor from harmful UV rays, preventing fading and extending their lifespan. Certain shades offer wind and rain protection, allowing you to utilize your outdoor space even when the weather isn't lounge-friendly.
Curb Appeal that Adds Value: Exterior shades come in various styles and materials, allowing you to customize the look and feel of your outdoor space. From retractable awnings to stylish fabric shades, you can choose an option that complements your home's architecture and personal taste.
Sliding Solar Screens & Decorative Solar Screen Panels
Looking for a creative way to beat the heat? Sliding solar screens and decorative solar screen panels may be the obvious choice:
Sliding Solar Screens:
Decorative Solar Screen Panels:
Vertical or Horizontal Privacy Sheers
Faced with the dilemma of privacy and light control? Look no further than vertical or horizontal privacy sheers. Both options have their own set of benefits:
Tinted Window Film
Want a quick and affordable enhancement to your glass doors but don’t know where to start? Glass door window film treatments act as an invisible upgrade by offering a multitude of benefits for both home and business spaces.
Here's how window film can bring out the best in your space:
Light Control:
Energy Conservation:
Privacy:
How-To Guide for Measuring and Installing A Glass Film Tint
Not thrilled with a do-it-yourself approach? Your local Glass Doctor can help. Our glass experts are pros when it comes to home window tinting:
Preparation:
Measurement Process:
Personalizing Your Window Film Treatment
Ready to customize your home's comfort and style with window film? Schedule an appointment with your local Glass Doctor today! From privacy concerns to sun control, don't settle for a generic solution – invest in comfort, style, and expert advice and service.
FAQ’s About Glass Window Treatment & Coverings
What types of window film are available?
There are various types of window film available, each offering different benefits: Solar control films can reduce heat and glare, privacy films like frosted and reflective add more privacy, while decorative films are great design choices for enhancing plain windows or blocking unimpressive views.
How much does a window film cost?
The cost of window film can vary depending on several factors. Different film types have different price points. Larger windows will require more film, increasing the cost, plus special considerations like curved windows may also impact the cost. Contact your local Glass Doctor for a free consultation to receive a personalized quote based on your specific needs.
Can I install a window film myself?
While it's possible to install a window film yourself, professional installation is highly recommended to ensure a long-lasting application. Your local Glass Doctor service professionals have the expertise and experience to ensure a proper and lasting installation, avoiding any potential issues like improper sizing or incorrect film application.
How long does window film last?
The lifespan of window film can vary depending on the quality of the film, the climate, and exposure to sunlight. However, high-quality films can last for several years with proper care and maintenance.
Does window film damage windows?
No, properly installed window film will not damage your windows. In fact, it can help protect your windows from UV rays and scratches. However, it's best to choose a reputable company like Glass Doctor that uses high-quality film and employs experienced professionals for proper installation and removal.
Can I remove a window film later?
Yes, most window films can be removed, but definitely reach out to a professional first.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices for sliding glass doors. Understandable! From breezy curtains to sleek blinds, the options may seem endless, but when you work with a Neighborly service professional like us, it allows you to create a space that's both functional, stylish, and uniquely yours.
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- Style: The most common glass door option is built with two or more panels that slide horizontally along a track, which opens and closes the doorway.
- Functionality: Offers a space-saving solution as they don't require space to open and close the door.
- Common uses: Patio doors, closet doors, room dividers, and shower doors.
- Style: Designed with a symmetrical pair of hinged doors that meet in the center and swing outward or inward to open. Often feature glass panels for maximum light and visibility.
- Functionality: Creates an open and airy feel, allowing for abundant natural light and easy access.
- Common uses: Entryways, patios, interior rooms, and double closet doors.
- Style: Characterized by a horizontal split, dividing the door into two halves, top and bottom.
- Functionality: The bottom half can be opened independently, allowing for ventilation, interaction with pets or children, or increased security while keeping the top half closed for privacy.
- Common uses: Entryways, kitchens, patios, and mudrooms.
- Light Management: While beautiful, too much light can cause glare, raise temperatures, and fade furniture and flooring.
- Energy Efficiency: The right window treatments can help insulate your home against extreme temperatures, which can translate to lower energy bills and increased comfort.
- Aesthetics: Window treatments are a key design element for your home. They add color, texture, and pattern to a space, complementing your overall décor.
- Protection for Your Home: Blinds, shades, or curtains can block these harmful UV rays, protecting your belongings.
- Your needs and preferences: Do you prioritize privacy, light control, energy efficiency, or aesthetics?
- Door function: Are the doors frequently used for access to an outdoor space? For these, ease of operation becomes vital.
- Décor style: Choose a style that complements your overall aesthetic.
- Combining different opacities: By layering sheer curtains with heavier drapes, you gain the benefit of both.
- Adjustable light filtration: You can adjust the level of privacy by opening or closing either layer.
- Increased insulation: Layering drapes create an air pocket between the layers, acting as an additional barrier against heat transfer.
- Seasonal adjustments: During warmer months, you can use the sheer curtains alone for light and airflow, while colder months allow you to utilize both layers for added insulation.
- Style and versatility: Layering allows you to combine textures, colors, and patterns, creating a visually appealing and layered look that complements your décor.
- UV protection: Adding an opaque layer can help protect your furniture and artwork from harmful UV rays.
- Sheer curtains + blackout curtains: This classic combination provides both light control and privacy.
- Cellular shades + drapes: Cellular shades offer excellent insulation, while drapes add a touch of style and privacy.
- Roman shades + sheer curtains: This combination creates a layered and elegant look while offering light filtration and privacy control.
- Improved Sleep:
- Darkness promotes melatonin production: By blocking out light, especially the blue light from electronic devices and artificial lighting, blackout curtains allow your body to produce optimal levels of melatonin, leading to deeper and more restful sleep.
- Reduced distractions: Light from outside, such as streetlights or car headlights, can disrupt sleep, and these curtains create a calming and sleep-conducive environment.
- Enhanced Privacy:
- Complete blockage: Unlike regular curtains or blinds that allow some light to filter through, blackout curtains provide complete visual privacy.
- Increased sense of security: Blocking out visual access from outside can enhance your sense of security and privacy within your home.
- Energy Efficiency:
- Insulation properties: Thicker and heavier than regular curtains, this type provides additional insulation against extreme temperatures, regulating the room's temperature without added HVAC support.
- Reduced heat gain: During summer months, blackout curtains can help block sunlight, preventing excessive heat gain inside the room, contributing to lower energy bills and a cooler living environment.
- Protection for Belongings:
- UV ray blocking: Blackout curtains often block harmful UV rays from the sun, which can help protect furniture, artwork, and flooring from fading and sun damage.
- Light Control: Shutters offer excellent flexibility in controlling light levels with adjustable louvers or slats.
- Privacy: Shutters provide an additional layer of privacy, shielding the interior of your home from public viewpoints.
- Security: Particularly when built with solid materials, shutters can act as a visual deterrent to break-ins.
- Energy Efficiency: Shutters add insulation value to windows – helping keep rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
- Weather Protection: Exterior shutters offer sturdy protection against harsh weather conditions like storms, rain, and wind.
- Durability: Well-maintained shutters, especially those made from wood or sturdy composite materials, can last for many years.
- Aesthetics: Wooden panels add a natural warmth, rich texture, and timeless beauty to any space.
- Versatility: They can be used as wall paneling, ceilings, furniture accents, or exterior siding, offering a wide range of design possibilities.
- Acoustic properties: Wooden panels can offer some degree of sound absorption and insulation, contributing to a more pleasant acoustic environment.
- Durability: With proper care and finishing, wooden panels can be exceptionally long-lasting.
- Customization: Wooden panels can be stained, painted, or carved, allowing for unique and personalized design options.
- Neutrals: White, beige, gray, and black are timeless classics that offer versatility and blend seamlessly with various décor styles, providing a clean and sophisticated look for both home and business windows.
- Bold Colors: If you want to make a statement, consider bolder colors like navy blue, emerald green, or even pops of red or yellow.
- Patterns: Vertical blind patterns can add visual interest and create a unique focal point in a room.
- Smooth: Smooth finishes offer a clean and modern look, ideal for contemporary settings and easy maintenance.
- Textured: Textured finishes, like linen or woven wood, add visual dimension and a warm look to your window treatments.
- Fabric: Fabric vertical blinds are popular for their affordability, variety of colors and textures, and noise-dampening properties.
- Vinyl: Vinyl blinds are known for their durability, moisture resistance, and ease of cleaning. They are a good choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens or bathrooms.
- Faux Wood: Faux wood blinds provide the aesthetic appeal of real wood with the practicality of vinyl - being a durable, moisture resistant, and easy to maintain option.
- Aluminum: Aluminum blinds are known for their sleek and modern look, durability, and moisture resistance, which are ideal for high-traffic areas.
- Enhanced Energy Efficiency: These screens act as a barrier against the sun's heat, translating into a cooler interior and lower cooling costs, especially during scorching summer months.
- Improved Comfort: By blocking out a substantial amount of heat, sliding solar screens create a more comfortable living environment.
- Privacy and Sun Protection: Sliding solar screens offer an additional layer of privacy while protecting your furniture and artwork from harmful UV rays.
- Convenience and Versatility: The sliding mechanism allows for easy adjustment, letting you control the amount of sunlight entering your home, optimizing your comfort throughout the day.
- Aesthetics with a Purpose: These panels go beyond functionality, offering a decorative element to your home's exterior.
- Increased Curb Appeal: Decorative solar screen panels add a touch of elegance and boost your curb appeal.
- Sustainable Solution: Both sliding solar screens and decorative solar screen panels are environmentally friendly solutions.
- Vertical sheers: The ability to rotate the louvers allows for customized light filtering, while the vertical format minimizes fabric bunching at the bottom, for a clean and sleek look.
- Horizontal sheers: Ideal for smaller windows and offering a classic touch, they provide excellent privacy, light control, and a sense of spaciousness.
- Solar control films: Reduce glare and keep your space cooler.
- Decorative films: Customize the level of light diffusion and privacy without sacrificing natural light with creative patterns, textures, and frosts.
- Low-emissivity (Low-E) films: Reflect heat back towards its source (from a special coating), reducing heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter.
- Reflective films: Reflect a mirrored appearance from the outside for excellent daytime privacy while still allowing you to see out.
- Frosted films: Create a translucent effect and blur the view from outside while still allowing natural light to pass through.
- Schedule an appointment: Contact your local Glass Doctor to schedule a visit for measurement and consultation.
- Clear the area: Ensure the sliding glass door area is clear of furniture and obstructions to allow for easy access and measurement.
- Safety First: Glass Doctor’s service professionals begin by talking to you about your concerns and desired outcome for the window film treatment. They check for any potential hazards around the glass door before proceeding.
- Professional Tools: Specialized measuring tools, like laser measurers, ensure precise and accurate measurements.
- Detailed Measurements:
- Width:
- They will measure the inside width of the door opening, starting from the fixed panel's inside frame edge.
- They may also measure the width of each individual glass section if your door has a center mullion.
- Height:
- They will measure the inside height of the door opening, starting from the bottom edge of the fixed panel's frame and extending to the top edge of the same frame.
- Additional Measurements: Depending on the complexity of your door and the chosen film options, they take additional measurements, such as:
- Door frame depth: This might be relevant if a specific film installation technique is planned.
- Any unevenness or irregularities: Glass Doctor checks for any inconsistencies in the door frame or glass surface that could impact the film application.
- Width:
- Consultation and Order: After confirming the measurements, our service professionals will discuss the available window film options, answer any questions you may have, and help you choose the most suitable film for your needs.