I have some potential customers in a newer golf development who have “cottages”, most of which serve as second homes. These smallish free-standing dwellings have two bedrooms and two baths. The living room has cathedral ceilings and has three 6-0 patio sliding doors to the exterior. Another slider is in the master bedroom, for a total of four 6-0 slider units per dwelling There seems to be a general sense of dissatisfaction with the units, which I believe are cheaper units with vinyl construction. They seem to leak a lot of air around the door panels and have a lot of condensation on the interior face of the glazing when the weather is below freezing. The owners are asking me for a quote on replacing the doors with better units. The dwellings are worth about $200k and the owners are looking for a moderately priced solution. I don’t think they want all vinyl doors again unless they are well recommended. So does anybody have any recommendation on brands and models of replacement doors to fit this situation? — Matt
There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. — Henry David Thoreau
Replies
freematt,
where are you located? I think I'd try and steer away from solid vinyl, It conducts the cold back into the building, unless they're made with a thermal break inside the frame. Anderson makes a good slider, Marvin, Pella, neither of which is inexpensive, but if your doing a large number of them maybe you could work out a quantity price break krom your supplier. Is this being done by the individual HO's or is there an association involved? Maybe you could do the one door in the master- bedroom for one or two units and see how they work out, then sell them a "group" package (agreed upon prior to the start of this whole deal) for the replacement of the rest of the units. My initial thought would be Anderson, since they have a wood interior and vinyl clad exterior, they also have good name recognition.
As to the condensation on the glass panels, that may or may not be from the doors leaking air, usually not since the air in winter is much drier, the condensation is from a build up of moisture inside the living unit, usually from a lack of proper venting and lack of sufficient make-up air(fresh air), since everything is buttoned up pretty tight to keep the heat in. You may want to investigate that first, before you install new doors, which may then have the same condensation problem, which won't make you look very good.
Hope this is of some help
Geoff
I was wondering about the condensation. I think it's pretty easy to load the air up with humidity in these 800 SF units through cooking and bathing. They have a lot of glass in the living room; two stories worth. Yet the condensation only seems to me on certain the doors, and some worse than others. I need to take a better look though. -- Matt There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. -- Henry David Thoreau