Bringing More Sun Into Your Home
There are many people who have learned the new idea of mixing together indoor and outdoor living spaces. It is a great idea and there are ways that manufacturers have created in order to acheive this goal. One of the best ideas that they came up with was using long-span and corner-meet patio doors.
Dave Olmstead, the senior public affairs and code compliance specialist for PGT Industries stated that, “These doors enable you to open up walls up to 16 feet long and 10 feet tall, it can turn your dining room into one big area outdoors.” PGT’s SGD780 WinGuard and French-style SGD680 corner-meet doors, and Jeld Wen’s 90-degree door feature two perpendicular walls of glass panels without the obstruction of a center support post.
Unlike PGT’s aluminum sliding models, Jeld-Wen’s offering is part of its Exterior Folding Door System, which is available in fiberglass or custom wood. The panels fold back accordion-style to open the space without taking up much space. “We really wanted the effect to be dramatic,” says product marketing manager Shane Meisel, adding that these doors’ price tags also can increase dramatically.
“Because of necessary construction variances, we’re seeing these more in custom and high-end homes.” Lance Premeau agrees. “Depending on the number of panels, the price could be as much as $800 to $1,500 per linear foot,” says the product manager for Kolbe & Kolbe. The company just introduced its Lift & Slide long-span sliding patio door, as well as a single-wall folding door system.
Meisel, Olmstead, and Premeau want to make sure that people know that doors in this category are often better suited to new construction or additions than to retrofits. Without stud walls to add support, many structural elements will need updating to ensure safe installations. “If an architect, engineer, or builder has a working knowledge of how to strengthen load-bearing walls, there’s an avenue for remodeling as well,” Premeau says. “It’s important to remember that in some models, the panels ride on the sill and all the weight is held there.”