Ever replaced a sliding glass door?

**Consultant** · 06-12-09, 11:07 AM

I know we've got some handy members, so I figured I might ask this here...

My house has a very big sliding glass door. I am unfamiliar with their standard sizes but I believe mine is something like 110 inches wide...I want to take it out and replace it with a pair of french doors.

Problem is, standard french doors are narrower than the sliding glass door opening - so what should I do?

The way I see it, I have a few options...

1. Frame in the opening and size it so that a standard french door fits.

I lose some light and maybe make the room look a little smaller with this option.

2. Put in a standard french door and some sort of side-light column of windows.

A little more of a custom job but something I could still get done I think.

3. Complete custom door to fill the entire opening. Wider than standard doors to split the wide opening.

More money, but might look nicer...I dont know.

Any thoughts?

**w4jchosen** · 06-12-09, 11:10 AM

Go with option 2. Best bet if light is an issue. I have a set up like that and loved the extra light coming in. It looks better too.

**Blakeman** · 06-12-09, 11:11 AM

Frame it in would be my suggestion, I helped my uncle re frame a wall that had a series of 3 windows and we put in french doors. Had to cut through brick but the doors provided plenty of light. It will be stronger by framing than putting in side light windows.

**w4jchosen** · 06-12-09, 11:17 AM

You can certainly do something like this. Shouldn't be hard to do.

Example Only

**HYBRIDKILLA** · 06-12-09, 11:19 AM

I would just re frame the doors your not going to lose than a few inches on both sides...

**Gonzo0100** · 06-12-09, 11:23 AM

I actually helped my pops do this about 6 months ago. Pulled out OLD POS slider. Framed it in, always make sure to pre-buy the doors so you know tolerances. We basically created what chosen posted.

Doors that come with jams FTW. This way you dont have to plane the doors and all that. The door comes in the jam so you just have to make sure your framing is square and it will close like butter when finished. It was an all weekend project (with lots of beer and laughs)

**Muqtar SGT_Clintok** · 06-12-09, 05:24 PM

I guess you guys are better men than me. I had to pull out bi-fold doors to put in two six panel doors in my closet. Had to cut the wall to make it fit. Me and my dad did it in about 4 hours, but getting the frame into the hole in the wall, square, plumb, all that shit was like riding a unicycle on top of a basketball.

I swore off hanging doors if at all possible.

But now that you mention it that would be a good project for next ye.......baby.

Never mind.

**Cojiro** · 06-12-09, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Muqtar SGT_Clintok

But now that you mention it that would be a good project for next ye.......baby.

DOH!
never too early to learn some handy work :P

**cityboy2977** · 06-14-09, 08:54 AM

Consultant, go with a side light. i would suggest a 30 inch side light for that size opening. that will keep your doors under 4 foot each
which will be less sagging problems in the future.
if you have never done this before i would suggest hiring a professional to do your framing and hanging the new
door(s). 1 guy that knows what he is doing can have this done within a couple hours.
get shit in writing, and get references......make sure you call those and get the real story of his work.

i do construction and remodeling for a living and fix other peoples shit all the time. a big pain in the ass when it isnt done right the first time.
feel free to send me a PM with any questions or needed suggestions.

**Saltspring** · 06-14-09, 09:50 AM

If you worry about the French doors sagging double or triple the studds on either side and blocking the top and bottoms away from the doors it can also be a very good idea particularly if you go with the side windows to pu a couple small metal plates connecting the top of the studs to your top blocking. that should almost completely remove the potential of saging, do not go with an overwide custom set of French doors as they will only lead to grief and be very expensive. And make sure if you wish to do the side windows to carefully calculate the sizes that will work particularly since you will really need to at the least double the studs alongside the doors if you have side windows to give some rigidity.