Replacing your patio sliding doors is a project that’s at the top of the list for many homeowners. New doors can really open up your space, not to mention add style, energy efficiency, and long-term value to your home.
You want to make sure that your new doors not only complement your home’s architectural style, but also fit in with the surrounding neighborhood. For two homeowners in Dallas’s unique Little Forest Hills neighborhood, aluminum sliding glass doors from MI Windows and Doors were the answer.
What Are Aluminum Sliding Glass Doors?
Aluminum sliding glass doors are doors made with aluminum frames and large glass panels that slide horizontally. They provide expansive views and allow natural light to flood interior spaces. Aluminum is a strong yet lightweight material, making these sliding glass doors easy to operate, durable, resistant to corrosion, and low-maintenance. They can also feature energy-efficient glass options to enhance insulation and reduce energy costs. For all of these reasons, aluminum is an especially ideal material for patio sliding doors.
Why Choose Aluminum Doors?
Aluminum sliding glass doors are a popular choice for patio projects due to their modern look, durability, and ease of use. Here are some key advantages of choosing aluminum doors for your patio.
Sleek and Modern Design
Aluminum sliding glass doors feature slim frames and large glass panels, which gives them a sleek and modern appearance. The minimalist design allows for expansive views and a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Durability and Low Maintenance
Aluminum is a strong, durable material that resists corrosion and doesn’t warp, crack, or swell. This makes aluminum sliding glass doors and patio windows long-lasting and able to withstand various weather conditions. They also require minimal maintenance, with only occasional cleaning needed to keep them looking their best.
Energy Efficiency
Modern aluminum sliding glass doors come with energy-efficient features such as thermal breaks and low-E glass coatings. Dual pane sliding glass doors enhance energy efficiency even more. Combined, these features reduce heat transfer and can help lower your energy bills.
Easy Operation and Space Saving
The lightweight nature of aluminum makes opening and closing sliding glass doors smooth and effortless. Their sliding design also saves space, as the doors do not swing open, making them ideal for areas with limited space and providing unobstructed pathways.
The Perfect Home for Aluminum Sliding Patio Doors from MI
In the Dallas neighborhood of Little Forest Hills, a cool, Beatnik-like atmosphere fills the air. “Funky Little Forest Hills,” the locals call it. It’s an eclectic place where painters, poets, hikers, kayakers, song-writers, and bicyclists all feel right at home. It’s a place for anyone who likes to look at life differently.
It’s a place that’s perfect for MI Windows and Doors.
That’s what Tavis Westbrook believes. The part-owner of Superior Acquisitions in Dallas, Westbrook rebuilt a home and sold it to Mary Harmon and Shannon Conway. What was formerly a small bungalow with about 1,000 feet of living space now boasts 2,600 square feet. “I’ve pretty much only used MI Windows for the last several years,” Westbrook says. “We use them quite a bit on remodels.”
Choosing the Best Energy-Efficient Sliding Glass Doors
One of the most interesting components of the rebuilding project is the addition of six aluminum sliding glass doors from MI’s 400 series.
“Superior Acquisitions wanted to build an energy-efficient home with sliding glass doors, allowing a natural flow of light and air from room-to-room,” homeowner Mary Harmon says. “The sliding doors give us the freedom to not use the HVAC on days when the outside temperature is comfortable. When all the doors are open, the cooling breeze allows us to turn off the HVAC, which lowers our monthly electric bill.”
The home’s new windows — which are also manufactured by MI — and sliding-glass doors themselves are energy efficient. Both feature Low-E glass that helps reduce solar heat gain and minimize glare to improve interior comfort. “Tavis told us the windows and doors were energy efficient, but the results are beyond what we expected,” Harmon says.
Affordable Investment, Long-Term Savings
Harmon and Conway have already seen the effects the aluminum sliding glass doors have had on their budget. “Our windows and doors are truly energy efficient, as seen in how low our electric bill has been,” Harmon says. “The windows allow light to come in but not the Texas heat. And as seen in the pictures, our home has many windows and sliding doors for a house its size. But the energy bills haven’t increased.”
Westbrook likes MI’s aluminum sliding glass doors for their cost and performance. “When we designed it, the affordable costs of those doors were a big factor,” he says. “But the functionality of the sizes was also important.”
Aluminum Doors With Style
MI’s 400 series doors are available in widths up to 16 feet and heights as high as eight feet, allowing homeowners to dramatically alter the look and feel of their properties.
The aluminum sliding glass doors have greatly added to the home’s aesthetic charm.“It looks excellent,” Westbrook says. “Definitely an outstanding look. The concept of these houses was influenced by midcentury architecture: Bring the outside in.”
And now the home truly belongs in “funky” Little Forest Hills. What was once an area of hunting cabins and lake-side cottages has become a Bohemian neighborhood. “The house, along with its many windows and sliding glass doors, adds its own unique artistic vibe to the funky community known as Little Forest Hills,” Harmon says.
Discover Aluminum Sliding Glass Doors for Your Project
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, energy-efficient option for your patio sliding doors, look no further than MI Windows and Doors. Our aluminum sliding glass doors are versatile, in sizes up to 24 feet wide by 10 feet high, and customizable, with three interior and exterior colors. Plus, you always know you’re getting the highest quality from MI. Get started with your project by requesting a quote or contacting a dealer in your area for more information.
