Construction Resources

The benefits of installing storm doors on your home today are much greater than they use to be. Older homes were usually automatically equipped with them. This door was really a second outside door that included two glass panels and a screen. They were routinely installed on the outside of all exit doors in a home. The main objective was to protect the inside door from the damaging elements of nature. In addition to this, a resident of the home could confidently open the inside door while still being guarded from any driving rain, damaging hail and gusty winds that might be occurring outside at that time.

With the energy crises in full bloom, energy efficient storm doors not only act as a barrier between the inside and the outside, but they also are available with fully sealed insulated tempered glass. This insulated glass minimizes the transfer of hot air to cold or cold air to hot; thus saving on your heating and cooling energy costs.

Perhaps most importantly, storm doors give the homeowner an extra measure of security. Today, substantial dead bolt locks are usually installed on nearly all good storm doors during the manufacturing process. The tempered glass panels render the glass almost unbreakable under ordinary circumstances. Its’ ability to be locked adds another measure of safety to the homeowner against any would-be intruders, especially at night. As an added benefit, small children will have a more difficult time running out of the house without their parents knowing it.

Therefore, installing an energy efficient storm door on your home will keep you and your family safer while lowering your utility bills.

Shopping for a sliding glass patio door can be a little overwhelming. Just visit any home center or big box hardware store and you’ll find several dozen choices on the floor, and possibly hundreds more options in special order catalogs. How does the average homeowner know where to begin? In the following article, we’ll explain what you need to know before you go shopping for a sliding glass patio door for your home.

One of the first things you’ll want to pay attention to when shopping for a sliding door is the frame. Factory constructed patio doors come in several different frame styles. Solid wood frames are a very high end option, and are usually only found on custom manufactured doors. Many factories have gone to what’s called a wood clad frame. This is an aluminum frame with a fitted outer wood cover. This reduces the cost of the door, while still giving the illusion of a high end wood frame. For the most economical of patio doors, you’ll likely be looking at basic aluminum frames. Single part hollow aluminum extrusion is usually the frame of choice for lower priced models of patio doors. One thing you might want to look for is a thermobrake aluminum frame, which is essentially constructed in two pieces, so that in very cold weather, you won’t get frost on the aluminum inside panel.

The type of glass used is the next important consideration in buying your patio door. Glass panels come in either single or double panes. Double pane glass, also known as an IG unit, is preferred. This glass will be tempered, meaning that if it breaks, it won’t shatter and create a safety hazard. One of the newest trends in windows and doors is Low-E, or low emissivity, glass. Low-E glass is used to create very energy efficient doors and windows, because it reflects heat back to its source rather than absorbing and transmitting it inside your home. The other benefit to Low-E glass is that it will help reduce ultraviolet light transmission, which will prevent your carpet, furniture, and window coverings from fading and discoloring.

The last thing to consider when comparing sliding glass doors is the type of hardware used. Most sliding patio doors feature a single point lock, which is usually a hook style latch that locks by hooking into the patio door frame. Single point locks are not very secure, because the patio door can usually be lifted right out of its frame, even when the handle is in the locked position. A better alternative is a double point lock, which means that there are two hooks, pointing in opposite directions, locking into the door frame. This prevents the possibility of the door being lifted out of its frame.

If security is a concern, there are various aftermarket products that can be added to your patio door to make it more secure. Blocking bars can be added, that extend across the stationary side of the sliding door, blocking the door from being opened. If the blocking bar is made of a substantial metal, it will provide a good degree of security. Most blocking bar systems have mechanical attachment methods. Another add-on security option is a security pin. These devices are usually installed at the very bottom or top of the inside of the door, to prevent the door from opening when pinned.

Most dog doors are cheap and you can purchase cheap dog doors from your local home improvement store or door store. A cheap dog door has a feature that self-locks after the pet returns to the house. They usually have plastic frames with acrylic flaps.

Dog doors are made from strong aluminum, sturdy thermo plastic or vinyl. It comes in different shapes and sizes. Electronic, 4-way locking deluxe, automatic, and magnetic are the various options. The doors can be placed in walls, windows, screens, and patios. Usually, cheap dog doors come with limited features. They are made of cheap materials and are not meant to last long.

At times, cheap prices do not exactly mean low quality products. Usually, these are found in local pet stores or hardware stores. The stores sometimes have clearance sales at regular intervals to clear old products to make room for fresh items. This is the time to purchase good quality dog doors at cheap prices. The quality and brands of these dog doors will be exactly the same as ones in the department stores. These are more reliable than the expensive ones.

You can also buy cheap dog doors online. The internet is an ideal platform for finding the finest prices for these items. There are a good number of manufactures providing cheap dog doors. Almost all stores offer online services for selection, ordering, and purchase of these items. There are several websites that carry high quality dog doors at cheap prices. The online companies are able to provide their products at a low cost because they do not have to pay monthly rent for store space like the department stores do. To increase the sale of cheap dog doors, most manufactures provide discounts and free shipping.