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Harvard University’s LIRA report for 2022, predicts ongoing growth in the home improvement trend throughout 2022. Are you among the thousands of homeowners predicted to spend a total of $370 billion on home renovations for 2022?
If you’re looking for an upgrade that delivers convenience, ambiance, and natural light to your living spaces, French doors are the way to go?
Here’s how to convert your unwanted windows into French patio doors to achieve this effect.
Why Convert Your Windows to French Doors?
Although it’s possible to convert almost any window to a French door, it’s not without risks. You could inadvertently decrease your home’s energy efficiency, create a mold hazard, or break the glass in the process.
That’s why this job isn’t one for DIY enthusiasts. It’s best to get a professional replacement window company to help you with this alteration. These professionals know how to convert a window into a door with minimum risk.
It’s well worth the extra expense of getting a professional to assist you when you consider the benefits of this renovation. Not only does this alteration have enormous aesthetic appeal, but it also gives you an additional entryway.
When you have access via these doors, you can create attached outdoor space for entertaining or relaxing. When you do this, you increase the living space of your home and boost its value in the process.
The good news is you’ll pay a lot less for labor when you’re using an existing gap in the wall for your door instead of creating a new one, too.
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Choosing the Perfect French Door
Once you’ve made up your mind about installing a French door, the next step involves deciding on one that suits your lifestyle and your decor.
A sliding door works well if you don’t want to rearrange your furniture too much, but a double French door offers extra aesthetic appeal.
You can also choose from a range of materials when selecting your door. Wood is gorgeous, but it requires ongoing maintenance if you want to keep it at its best.
Steel’s a durable option, but it’s costly due to necessary anti-corrosive treatments. Untreated steel will rust if you live in a humid, high rainfall area.
If you like the look of metal, aluminum is a lightweight, rust-proof choice, but it won’t last as long as treated steel.
Other modern options include fiberglass and vinyl doors that offer superior durability and strength. You can also get these types of doors in a huge range of colors and designs, to suit the style of your home.
Composite doors are another nifty modern innovation that allows you to enjoy the beauty of wood inside your door, while the exterior comprises more durable materials.
What’s Involved in Converting a Window Into French Doors?
When you engage a window and door replacement company, they’ll inspect your property first to determine the best course of action. This initial conversation usually includes discussing your options as well as the procedure involved.
Typically, this type of home improvement involves the following steps:
The Paperwork
Whenever you embark on a home improvement project, it’s best to check whether you need a permit to carry out your ideas.
Depending on where you live, you might need to submit some documentation and get approval before you commence with your alteration.
Electrical Issues
Wires and pipes can put a damper on your day if you mistakenly drill into them, or if they cut through your planned doorway. Always get an approved contractor to trace the wall for plumbing and wiring before you start knocking down walls.
The Procedure for Converting a Window into a Door
Once you’ve negotiated the initial hurdles, you can leave it all up to your contractor. This is what to expect from the procedure:
Siding Analysis
Step one is making the area occupied by your window large enough to accommodate a door. This involves comparing the size of the opening in your wall with the size of the door you want to install.
You might have to remove some siding and amend it to fit back in place properly.
The procedure for removing and replacing vinyl or stucco siding is different from that needed for concrete or wood. You should discuss the contractor’s experience in this regard at your initial meeting.
Measuring Up
If your door and window are both standard sizes, you can usually leave your siding intact, resulting in fewer costs on labor. The door must fit snugly to prevent leaks, so don’t skimp in this area.
You should always keep a few sheets of plywood and 2-by-4 handy to cover up the gap left when the contractor removes your window. Your contractor will endeavor to complete the job as quickly as possible, but it’s better to take precautions.
In an ideal world, your new door will fit perfectly into the trim left by your window, too. In most cases, the contractor will need to strip the trim and install new materials.
Replacing the Window
Next, they’ll cut the base and siding molding to fit the trim and remove the window jamb and the lower framing assembly. After that, it’s easy for the contractor to install your door according to the best practices for its type.
All that remains is to clean up the worksite and patch up any paint they’ve disturbed in the process.
Enjoy Your French Doors
Whether you opt for sliding French doors or double French doors, they’ll open a whole new dimension of entertainment or aesthetics for your interiors.
Now all that remains is to arrange your furniture to suit your new French doors or build that patio you’ve been dreaming of for years.
Do you need some help with these final touches? Browse our blog for more inspiration on all kinds of home improvements.
