Downsides Of Sliding Glass Doors That No One Talks About

Installing a sliding glass door is a significant renovation project that can make your home feel more open and brighter. This backdoor solution seamlessly connects indoor and outdoor living spaces, making it easy to let the pets out when needed. Additionally, sliding glass doors transform your space into a perfect party hub, allowing guests to easily come and go without crowding your main entryway or tracking dirt throughout the entire house. However, there are some downsides of sliding glass doors that no one talks about. This includes having a limited opening, dealing with track debris and maintenance, and overall difficulty with cleaning.

It's important to note these trade-offs when considering the different types of doors to choose from, since the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and lifestyle. Do you prefer to have large glass panes that provide abundant natural light and expansive views? Or is the thought of spending your time cleaning the track and the large glass a deal-breaker?

There are a few things to know about buying new sliding glass doors. Since these panels are exposed to the elements and frequent handling, they require regular cleaning. Because this space is the length of the whole door (minus the casing, of course), this can be a time-consuming and physically demanding task. And if you are a pet parent or have small children, you can expect to see nose prints, paw marks, and smudges appearing almost constantly.

Along with dirty glass, you'll also need to clean the door track. This often-overlooked chore is crucial because the bottom track of a sliding glass door acts like a magnet for all sorts of outdoor debris, like dirt, dust, leaves, pet hair, and even small stones. If not regularly cleaned, this mess will impede the smooth operation of your door. In turn, you'll have a noisy or stiff door. And, this can potentially even damage the rollers, leading to costly repairs down the line. If left untreated for too long, it might be time to replace your sliding glass doors entirely, a much more significant expense than routine cleaning.

It's important to remember, too, that with sliding glass doors, you can only open half of the doorway at any given time, regardless of how wide the opening is. Unlike a French door that can be opened from both sides, your sliding glass door will always have one fixed panel, limiting the true open space. While this might not be a total deal-breaker, understand that you will be restricted with what can fit through the entryway.