Replacing picture windows with door - suggestions please?

15 years ago

Hi! We are replacing our west-facing deck with a sunroom (unheated/cooled so will be more like a 2-3 season I guess, still more than is used now).

These picture windows are original, and drafty, and serve only to let light into the living room. They are never opened. We had replaced nearly all of our other home's windows a couple of years ago with white vinyl, but these we left alone as we had planned the deck re-do and a change-out of the windows anyway.

The living room is 20 feet long (x 14 wide I think); ceiling is vaulted. There is a standard door on the same wall; this door will remain functional as the sunroom will have an open section of deck off that end for the grill.

The windows total 80 inches in width - too big an opening for standard 6 foot slider door without a lot of patching and matching (interior walls are textured, exterior board and batten).

We have four kids so usable floor space is at a premium... I was really hoping for a sliding patio door to minimize floor space loss versus French doors. Would an 8 foot door be too big, though? I've been told a new header will need to be installed. I think I can handle all that openness/view (trees, overlooking back yard), but is it safe do you suppose?

Also wondering if door brand will make any difference, since it will be essentially an "indoor" door - not being exposed to rain (at least it had better not be!).

Thumbnails of pictures below (please click to enlarge, sorry for the clutter/blurriness/lighting). Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

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Comments (8)

ron6519
15 years ago
You don't mention where you live. Whether the door is an, "interior door" or not would be predicated on winter temps. What door you choose isn't just decided based upon rain exposure.
If you can handle the structural element of enlarging the opening, go for it. Just be aware, there could be significant weight involved. The roof rests on that wall.
Ron
roflol
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for responding Ron, and sorry! I'm used to the seed swap forums where my zone posts with my screen name - I'm in the Kansas City, Missouri, area where we spin the wheel to determine the next day's temperature. Zone 5a/b USDA, zone 6 Arbor Day Fdtn, if that helps any.

I called it an interior door because it will lead to the sunroom which will be enclosed and insulated, although it will not be heated/cooled. I realize it won't truly be interior. :]

If there are options (that don't involve 8" of patching/matching or a custom slider door) that would use the existing opening, I'd love to hear them. *Is* there an attractive way of putting a 6' door in an 80" opening?

I am concerned about the strength issue as well. Is one type of door stronger than another? French sliding doors *look* more substantial than traditional sliders... is there any reason to believe they are stronger?
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User
15 years ago
I just Googled sliding patio doors and Jen-Weld has an 80" door assembly.

If you replace the window---which already has a header spanning the width---with a door, why would you need another header?

Also, if you had to use a more narrow door assembly, you could have a sidelight installed.
roflol
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the input, handymac. Where are you finding the 80-inch door? I do find Jeld-Wen but what I find indicates it's the height that's 80 inches (or 96 inches is an option), with widths of either 60, 72, or 96 inches; I'm looking for a door with width of 80 inches which is a tweener... if you found one, please share the link? :]

The header replacement is because the current windows are 80 inches wide. If we can't come up with a solution workable with a 72 inch door, may have to use a 96 inch door and that's where the new header comes in.

The sidelight is an interesting thought - but is it secure to put a sidelight next to a sliding patio door with no wall between? (I can just see a burglar pushing on the frame between the two and voila, they're in my house.) Other than the header and the floor, what are they holding on to? (I'm not building savvy, it's all sort of creepy to me to be knocking down and tearing out and replacing).

Thanks for your further consideration.
joed
15 years ago
A side light is no less secure than a glass door. A burglar can smash either one.
fusion866
15 years ago
80" including your trim? if so 6' door with 3 1/2" trim, 1/2" reveal on each side... was trying to look at the casings on the door off to the left in your pic. couldnt quite make it out tho, so idk if that width would match well enough with other casings in the room
roflol
Original Author
15 years ago
fusion866, I think 80 inches is the rough opening - measured inside the trim to inside the trim. Current trim throughout the house is 2.5 inches. Does that make a difference in what you were thinking?

joed, I hadn't even thought about smashing, lol... however, besides that, is a sidelight butted right up against a patio door tight/secure/sound? :]
roflol
Original Author
15 years ago
Just a quick browse of sidelights today - Anderson's smallest size available is 15" wide... if that's the case industry-wide, I might as well just go with the larger door.

What are your feelings about installing a row of glass block on the stationary side of the patio door if we stick with the 6 foot version? Is this just getting ridiculous, or is it a reasonable option if we can figure out a way to do it? I personally like the look and I know of people who have used it as exterior windows, but I've never had it on a house of my own before so I don't know how it holds up. :]