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Building a Home Design Dilemma

12' sliding glass doors in family room or 12' ceiling?

4 years ago

If you had to choose between 2 upgrades.......either 12' sliding glass doors in family room or a 2' bump-up in ceiling in the family room, which would you choose? It's an open concept house & the kitchen ceiling is 10'. Unfortunately, we can't do both because of cost. Thanks.

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

4 years ago

Never a higher ceiling, who wants the extra heating and cooling costs for no purpose, Windows always and sliding doors even better.

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Comments (10)

houssaon
4 years ago
Depends on the view.
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User
4 years ago
Will the sliding glass doors replace a solid wall? Will you still have a good furniture/TV layout with a wall of glass? Open spaces without enough walls can create cavern feeling. Will you have places for art? lamp lighting? proper shade/sun lighting?
live_wire_oak
4 years ago
Neither.
vinmarks
4 years ago
Is there a view? If not I would do neither.
julievan
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Lisa, if I didn't do sliding glass doors, it would be three 6 'windows with transoms on top and one single glass door to exit into patio. The sliding glass doors would not pose a problem for TV/ furniture placement.
live_wire_oak
4 years ago
Plopped on Mr.Potatohead features are dumb upgrades. To make it a smart feature requires a lot more analysis and thought for the plan as a whole. A12’ ceiling plopped on is a stupid bad upgrade, no matter what. That has a huge add on of ancillary problems starting with needing a much bigger HVAC system and circulation ducting.

What climate are you in? 12’ of a R-4 freezing intrusion into the warm zone in MI is stupid no matter what. What direction does this face? West? Worst ever glare and heat gain. Bad, no matter what. North? In the South, where AC use is far more than heat, maybe. What are the plans for exterior landscaping? Decks? Outdoor kitchens? What is the connection to the kitchen? Dining? You have to analyze traffic flow.

Neither option sells itself as an “upgrade”. They both add problems.
julievan
Original Author
4 years ago
We live in Scottsdale, AZ.
PRO
ProSource Memphis
4 years ago
Not enough information. Post the house plan.
btydrvn
4 years ago
I would always go with higher ceilings...for heating and cooling there are simple solutions..also big sliding doors weigh a ton and then you have all those awful runner channels on the floor to trip on and rattle and deteriorate and fill up with detritus...over time.....I have lived with both of your options for 20 years and i have never regretted the high ceilings...

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