Sliding glass doors are a great way to add more natural light and a modern touch to your home or business. The right sliding patio doors will save you space, be simple to use, and increase the value of your property, real estate, or rental units. However, the price of sliding glass doors can vary widely based on several factors.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to consider before purchasing your sliding glass doors, including the size, materials, and customization options you can select from.
Whether installing sliding glass doors for the first time or replacing your existing ones, you need doors that look amazing and will last for years to come. Vetrina Windows specializes in designing and manufacturing sliding glass doors, aiming to develop products that harmonize with nature, people, and spaces around them.
To learn more about Vetrina or to inquire about our efficient and modern sliding glass doors, contact our manufacturing company today to request a quote.
Benefits of Sliding Glass Doors
There are several benefits to installing a sliding glass door. They are aesthetically pleasing, offering a mostly uninterrupted view of the outdoors and flooding your home with natural light.
They also provide homeowners and businesses with easy access to their backyard or patio, perfect for entertaining guests or creating a flow between the inside and outside of the property.
Factors Affecting Sliding Glass Door Cost
While the national average cost of a new sliding glass door is a little over $2,000, multiple factors can make the final cost of your sliding glass door more or less expensive.
Door Type and Size
In addition to the standard sliding glass door you may be familiar with, several other patio door options are available. Your choice may depend on your budget, personal style, or the space available in your home.
For instance, Vetrina offers 4200 model COR Vision and 4600 model COR Vision Plus sliding door models. Both are durable, elegant options, but the 4600 COR Vision Plus is wider, taller, and offers triple glazing — making it more expensive than the 4200 COR Vision.
Additionally, the more panels in your bifold door, the more moving sashes, fixed sashes, and rails you’ll need to ensure it’s sturdy and properly installed. Each sash and rail is individually priced, so the more your installation requires, the higher the price will be.
Two, Three, and Four-Panel Doors
Standard sliding glass doors may come in two, three, or four-panel options to accommodate larger or smaller spaces. While some homeowners or real estate investors may consider more frames and panels an obstacle to their view, adding panels can be much more cost-effective than purchasing a door with a very large single pane of glass.
French Doors
French doors are another patio door option popular among homeowners. They are a set of two hinged doors that open outward. While you may be considering French doors for their look, they are often more expensive, less energy efficient, and less safe than traditional sliding glass doors.
Bi-fold Doors
Similar to sliding doors, bi-fold doors slide on a track to be opened and closed. The key difference, however, is that the panels on a bi-fold door fold in on each other accordion-style.
Where sliding doors cost an average of around $2,000 total, bifold doors can be nearly $2,000 per linear foot, making them a much pricier option.
Telescoping Doors
Telescoping doors are a popular choice for commercial properties and office buildings. They are a type of sliding door with several panels of thin glass that, when fully opened, stack on top of one another.
While most traditional sliding doors only have tracks built for one panel to slide in front of the other, telescoping doors take up significantly less space when opened, thanks to their thin glass panes and unique track system. However, this design can make them a very high-end option in terms of price and style.
Glass Type
There are several types of glass that you can choose from for your sliding glass door. While most modern sliding doors use heavy-duty, breakproof glass for safety reasons, you still have a few options that can affect the final cost of your sliding glass patio doors.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is one of the safest types of glass available. It is created using two or more panes of glass with a layer of thin plastic or polymer layer between the panes. If this glass is cracked, it will not break into large pieces, as the polymer layer will keep the glass intact.
Laminated glass is often used for automotive windshields and may be preferred for commercial buildings or storefronts with a higher risk of attempted break-ins. However, this is one of the most expensive glass options for sliding doors.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is another type of safety glass. Making tempered glass involves heating the pane to temperatures above 1,000°F and then quickly cooling it down in a process called “quenching.” If tempered glass breaks, this process ensures that the glass shatters into small chunks rather than large shards.
Tempered glass is about four times stronger than regular glass, making it much more resistant to cracks or breakage. Due to its safety features, it is commonly used for sliding glass doors, shower doors, skylights, and patio furniture.
Built-in Sun Protection
Laminated glass does block some UV light, but you can also purchase glass specifically designed for built-in sun protection. These types of glass block UVA and UVB rays, which
can regulate indoor temperatures, prevent furniture from becoming sun-damaged, and protect your family or your customers from harmful UV rays.
Glass with built-in sun protection can be especially useful for homes or commercial buildings with large sliding glass doors that let in a lot of natural light.
Decorative Glass
For residential properties, decorative glass can be an eye-catching focal point of your home that increases your property value and adds a personal touch and some extra privacy to your home or construction project. For businesses, choosing decorative glass for your sliding doors can help build your local brand and make you a recognizable location in your community.
Decorative glass options include frosted, colored, or patterned glass that can add a customized look to your home or business. While these can drive up the total cost of your sliding glass doors, some property owners prefer spending a little extra for the aesthetic benefits.
Materials Used
In addition to the type of glass you choose, a few different materials can be used for the track and frame of your sliding doors. The cost of these materials varies greatly, from relatively inexpensive vinyl to high-end wood. Depending on your preferences, you may focus on finding a budget-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, or well-insulated material.
Aluminum
Aluminum is an extremely lightweight and versatile material used for sliding doors. Aluminum is one of the most affordable, energy-efficient, and planet-friendly materials available, making it a popular option for residential and commercial properties.
Composite
Composite frames combine a few different materials that make them highly resistant to rust, rot, and deterioration. Composite materials can be more expensive than their counterparts, but many homeowners find it worth spending more on a weatherproof material that will last.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is a naturally strong material that is resistant to weather and easy to use. It is often more expensive than vinyl or aluminum but is more customizable and stronger than many other options.
Vinyl
Vinyl is the most affordable and common material available for sliding glass doors. While purchasing a vinyl door can save you money, the frame can be bulky, difficult to slide on the frame, and appear weathered over time.
Wood or Wood-Clad
A sliding patio door with a wooden frame can be a beautiful addition to more classic or natural architecture. Most homeowners who opt for wooden doors do so for their appearance rather than for their longevity or weather resistance. Over time, wooden sliding doors can shrink or expand due to the weather, making them difficult to open.
Labor Fees and Customizations
Labor fees and custom options will obviously contribute to the final cost of your sliding door as well. If you choose to have a custom door designed and manufactured by a company like Vetrina Windows, you will receive the highest quality material and innovative design that will last you for years to come.
In addition to custom options, you will likely have to pay a professional to install your sliding door. If you are adding a sliding glass door for the first time, a professional will have to cut out an opening to install the door. Even if you are replacing an existing door, you must pay labor costs to have the new track and doors installed.
Additionally, the size of the opening will affect the cost of your door installation. Oversized units may require an upgrade to a more expensive door choice, and large glass sizes may need to be shipped from further away.
Though both issues can be resolved by reducing hte size of the moving system and placing fixed glass above or beside the door, the installation fees will still be higher than the cost of a standard-size opening.
The number of panels or doors needed can also affect pricing but may make the whole job cheaper in the long run. Though each unit is priced individually, that cost drops each time a new unit is added — meaning that you may be paying a higher price for more units, but each individual unit will cost less. This helps offset the price of larger projects, such as new construction or remodels.
Repairing vs. Replacing Sliding Glass Doors
If you’re upgrading a home with a damaged sliding door, you may consider repairing it rather than replacing the entire door. There are certain instances where your door can be easily repaired, such as if it has come off track or the rollers are worn down.
However, if the glass or frame of the door is cracked or broken, we recommend a complete sliding glass door replacement. Replacing your door can increase the energy efficiency, safety, and value of your home or business.
Professional Installation vs. DIY
We always recommend that you have your sliding glass doors installed by a professional.
Attempting to install a sliding glass door without the proper tools and experience could lead to damage or improper installation, which can cause poor insulation and an increased risk of injury.
Though more complex installations will increase the cost of your bifold door installation, professional contractors are licensed and have the proper equipment to upgrade your bifold doors with ramps or more structural support.
Additionally, if your installation extends below ground slightly (recessed), they’ll know the appropriate way to install additional drainage or change the pitch of the floor.
Attempting these kinds of installations yourself may seem like an effective way to save money, but incorrectly installed sliding glass doors can cost much more in the long run. Improperly sealed frames can lead to water damage, increased utility bills, and unstable frames that need to be replaced more often.
FAQs About Sliding Glass Doors
Can you replace a sliding glass door without replacing the frame?
As long as your frame is in good condition, replacing a broken door without replacing the entire frame is possible. However, if the frame is damaged, worn, or warped, we recommend replacing both.
What is the average cost of a sliding glass door?
The cost to replace sliding glass doors is between $1,051 and $3,414, with the national average being about $2,227. However, the cost can vary greatly depending on the size, glass type, and materials used for your door.
How do I know if I need to replace my sliding glass door?
A few factors will indicate that it is time to replace your sliding glass door. If your door is difficult to open, you can feel a draft coming from the outside, or there is structural damage to your glass or frame, we recommend searching for replacement options.
Get a Free Quote from Vetrina Windows Today!
Since 2007, Vetrina Windows has manufactured innovative, high-performance custom glass windows, doors, curtain walls, and storefronts. Our sliding glass doors are designed to install intuitively and use durable, lightweight aluminum to offer an environmentally-friendly and versatile option to home and business owners nationwide.
Request a quote from Vetrina Windows today to learn more about our custom sliding glass doors.
