A glass door installation is an exciting part of any home improvement project, and understanding what to expect during the process makes it even more fun.
Whether it’s a sliding glass door, an exterior bifold glass door, or a glass shower door, installing large glass doors in your home will completely transform your space. Not only will it improve the look and function of your house, but it also increases property value, making it a common home renovation project for many residential and commercial property owners.
While the glass door installation process is relatively simple, it should always be performed by a trusted and knowledgeable professional for the best results. But just because you, the property owner, aren’t doing the installation, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know what goes down during the process.
In fact, it is super important for the property owner to understand what goes on so you have a clear understanding of the process, ensuring both the client and contractor are on the same page.
Continue scrolling to learn more below.
What to expect during a glass door installation
If you’re considering installing large glass doors in your home or business, whether that’s an exterior bifold glass door, sliding glass door, or something else, it’s important to understand the process, allowing proper expectations to be made.
The process entirely depends on the type of glass door you’re installing. Here’s what to expect during the installation process:
Preparation process — A lot of work has to take place before you can install your doors and get a finished product. Here’s what you need to know:
Step 1: Clear the opening
This step is simple for some projects and highly complex for others. If you are simply replacing an existing glass door, this is relatively easy. If you are adding doors where a window is or there isn’t any opening(i.e., a solid brick wall), the process is a bit more challenging. Note that this step will significantly affect your timeline.
Anything that interferes with or obstructs your new track system or door jambs must be removed. This may include cutting into the floor for a flush mount and adjusting the sides and header.
Step 2: Installing the door surround
Once the rough opening for your door is cleared, it’s time to install the track or jamb. During this step, regardless of the type of glass door you are installing, your professional will weatherproof the area and drill weep holes to ensure proper drainage. Once this is done, your contractor can position and install your track or jamb.
Step 3: Take measurements
Your glass door installation professional will take measurements of the width and height of your door frame for the glass manufacturing and installation process. Accurate measurements are critical to both the functionality and aesthetics of your glass door, so don’t be surprised to see them use a highly precise laser measurement technique named “the phase-shift method.” This method is ideal for achieving exact measurements.
Step 4: Make your design selections
This part of the process is fun and exciting for some property owners. For others, it’s daunting and overwhelming. Regardless of which category you are a part of, you’ll need to select the style and look of your door.
You need to consider what style and color you want the hinges, handles, locking mechanisms, and other hardware you want for your door. You’ll also need to consider the type of glass inside your doors. Do you want clear or textured glass? Are you opting for double or triple-paned doors?
Now is the time to make these selections since the glass doors need to be ordered as soon as possible, which can take days, weeks, or even months in some cases (especially if it’s a highly customized order). The sooner you complete this step, the sooner you can dive into the rest of the project.
Glass installation process — Any experienced technician will make installing large glass doors look easy, but don’t let them fool you! It’s a bit more complex than they may lead on. Now that the preparation process is complete and your professional receives the doors, phase two can begin.
Step 1: Install the doors and hardware
Once we have all of the materials, your door professional will install your new glass doors, as well as attaching components, hardware, and anything else necessary.
Step 2: Testing, testing
Next, your skilled technician will make sure your door is level and properly aligned and make any necessary adjustments. To finish up, they will test the doors to ensure everything is working properly and as expected.
Step 3: Follow-up
Any good glass door installation company will follow up with you about your exterior bifold glass door or other glass doors. Knowing you are happy with your products and answering any followup questions is key for companies that care about you and their reputation. Your beautiful new glass doors are ready to use and enjoy!
Timeline — A traditional sliding patio door installation may only take a few days to a week to complete. However, other types of doors, like frameless glass doors or bi-folding doors, are much more complex. Complicated designs and large doors could take longer than a week, some even close to three or four weeks from start to finish.
Other — During a door installation, expect a lot of noise and moving parts. If you have kids, pets, or work from home, you may want to consider changing locations for the day. You’ll also have up to several contractors in your home.
Glass door installation: Valley Glass has your back!
Whether you need help with window replacement, auto glass, or glass door installation, the trusted and experienced team at Valley Glass is here to help.
Our team specializes in installing high-quality residential and commercial glass. We work with various vendors, allowing you to choose from an incredible array of exterior doors, window replacements, shower glass, and more.
Working with Valley Glass means working with seasoned installers and knowledgeable contractors who will complete your project on time, up to your standards, and within your budget. Our team treats every project with awesome attention to detail and expertise and will handle your project with precision and professionalism.
Valley Glass was built on three basic, yet foundational principles: customer loyalty, superior service, and quality products. Through these morals and core values, we live up to the reputation we’ve built in Utah and Idaho, and continue to operate by these guiding principles.
If you live in Salt Lake City, Layton, West Valley, Utah, or in Idaho Falls or Boise, Idaho, or a city in between, entrust your glass project to Valley Glass. Contact Valley Glass today to learn more.
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