Help! I need to redo my wall o'windows...soon!

15 years ago

Hi all! I have suddenly found myself in the unenviable position of needing to replace my sliding patio door(s) in a 1960 addition to my 1928 traditional home. As you will see in my pics, we live in the cold, snowy midwest, and the current doors are terribley inefficient and cold, so replacement is necessary, but now that the glass is broken in one, the need is more urgent. I am getting estimates from Marvin and Andersen.

My question is, what would you do bring this 60's style addition more into the traditional (but casual)style of the rest of the home? I have included pics of the family room, as well as some from my living and dining rooms, so you can see the style of the rest of the home. We'd like to change the fireplace and then make the rest of that wall built-ins/entertainment center...but not at this time, as the windows will wipe us out for the time being...

As for my wall of windows, I *think* I might go with a pair of french doors that hinge inward to replace the double slider, then where the triple slider is, go with double-hungs that are similar in style to our LR and DR windows, maybe 24" off the ground, along the entire wall.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Pictures? I'd really appreciate it!

Kerry

Here is a link that might be useful: photos of family room

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Comments (5)

oruboris
15 years ago
Quite a conundrum! Have you spoken to your local window guys to find out what's available? I have in-swing andersen doors in several rooms, and they seem to seal shut nicely. But they originally came in without the ordered Prarie style grids, and it took a couple months to get that straightened out.

So if you want anything custom, you may have to have the broken one boarded up for a considerable period...

My doors aren't paired, but my sister has an andersen set that is. One panel comes in, the other goes out. She'd have prefered both going out, but then the snow can block them from opening.

The in-swings eat a huuuuuge amount of floorspace, though: it looks like your room would be pretty compromised if you couldn't put any furniture within 3 feet of those windows.
golddust
15 years ago
We went back from that era in our breakfast nook that used to be a porch in our 1912 era home.It was a scary update. Wormwood walls and doors that didn't slide and collected moisture inside the dual panes that never looked clean because of left over moisture spots.

We tore out the sliding doors, retro fitted the outside siding (historical section of the building store cha-ching!) and ended up with a single, antique glass door from Ebay. Our aluminum doors sucked big time. They were drafty and noisy during storms.

The 1960's weren't kind to solid construction or energy savings. I'd board it up for winter and deal with it come summer. Survival.
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wifetojoeiii
15 years ago
All that glass must be very cold throughout the winter I am in the NE) - I think I would try & build more wallspace. I like the wall in your living room with the window & built ins on each side - maybe try & replicate something like that? I also like french doors but agree with the previous poster regarding the swing in & space necessary.
jmck_nc
15 years ago
If you like the look of french doors, look at Anderson's Frenchwood Gliding doors. We have had them in two homes...they look elegant but allow for better furniture placement since they don't swing. I thought they sealed pretty well against cold. We were in MA then.
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busybme
15 years ago
What a terrible time of year to have to deal with this problem, eh? If it were me, I would select one of the sections and replace it with an elegant french slider (saves floorspace) and then I'd build up the walls from the floor up and put in some matching windows. I think that would go a long way towards bringing the room in step with the rest of your decor.

golddust's idea (board it up and wait for spring) might be a good one, given the current temps. It must be cold in there!

Sandy

Help! I need to redo my wall o'windows...soon!

Comments (5)

oruboris

golddust

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