Patio Door Shades

If you have more questions about window treatments for sliding glass doors, you’ve come to the right place! And…you’re not alone. Many homeowners are facing the same challenges, finding the best ways to cover glass doors with blinds, shades, shutters or curtains. Let’s take a look at the most commonly asked questions about glass door shades for Austin area homes.

How Do You Block the Sun from a Sliding Glass Door?

Does this question remind you of your own home? Sliding glass doors are an amazing way to bring light and views into our homes. They don’t take up space from swinging open. But…when they bring in light, they bring in SO MUCH light. Not only that, but the heat of summer increases ten-fold when you have sliders in your home. We often recommend vertical blinds and shades to cover sliding doors–the adjustments of these window treatments match the movement of the door, hanging down from a track above. If it’s the heat that’s getting to you, consider vertical honeycomb shades that stop the light and heat at the window. Just be careful when you’re choosing window treatments for sliding glass doors–you may want to block the harsh light, but blocking it all can cause its own frustrations. Consider light filtering shades that will soften the entering light, prevent glare and protect your home from UV rays. See this Austin home that chose roller shades for sliding glass doors that lead out to the pool.

How Do You Cover the Window of a Door?

Both patio doors and french doors often have large portions of glass in the middle. Even entryway doors can have a portion of glass window installed in it. When covering glass doors that swing open, you’ll want to think about the function of the door–the direction it opens and the handle or lever used. The last thing you’ll want is to create problems with the way your door functions so you can get light control and privacy. Your window covering specialist will be a great resource in evaluating possible layout obstacles and can advise which custom cut-outs you may need for your door handle. You’ll also want to consider the issues you’re having at the door. Too much light? Not enough privacy? These unique issues will be a great place to start when you’re selecting solutions.

Can You Use Blinds on Doors?

The short answer is…Yes! Window blinds can be used to cover patio and french doors in most cases. Door blinds and shades are typically installed with hardware into the door above the window portion. See a recent installation of woven roman shades for french doors that we did here in Austin. Most doors require outside mount, since the window trim for glass on doors is so shallow. One option to consider if you don’t want to drill into your door, or it doesn’t seem like there’s room, is the TrackGlide system, which allows a window covering track to adhere to the frame of your door, just next to the glass.

More questions? Reach out to our team of window covering specialists! We’d be happy to help.